FEATURE
Big little brand – Resolution directors Dave Allan( far left) and Martin Walker( far right) with staff( from left) Shane Hopson, Millie Smith and Chris Garbutt.
Flying the Tees flag – Resolution directors Dave Allan and Martin Walker.
Fittingly, the Resolution office is located in one of Middlesbrough’ s most historic buildings, where pioneering ironmasters Henry Bolckow and John Vaughan once lived.
There, a small in-house team is ably supported by a crew of hugely experienced freelance writers, photographers and designers who add their expertise to the mix.
Resolution’ s stable of magazines and awards ceremonies includes the trailblazing Tees Businesswomen Awards, which have done much to raise the profile of women in business across the region.
More than 700 unique Tees businesses have been featured in Tees Business alone, with spotlights on 246 separate business leaders.
And when Dave and Martin say they support the Tees business scene by encouraging a“ stronger together” mentality, don’ t just take their word for it – those business figureheads agree.
Zoe Lewis, CEO and principal of Middlesbrough College Group, has worked
with Tees Business for the last 10 years, including headline sponsorship of the Tees Businesswomen Awards from the start.
She said:“ Tees Business has transformed business networking across the Tees Valley, making space for small businesses, tech startups, female-led and service sector organisations to meet, share ideas and collaborate with each other and with more traditional Tees Valley businesses.
" Their positive outlook and social media reach ensure businesses are kept up to date with news about inward investors, business and individual journeys, as well as highlighting growth opportunities and celebrating success. It ' s a shift in mindset that is benefiting our area.”
Frans Calje, CEO of another key client, Teesport owner PD Ports, added: " We are proud long-term partners of Tees Business – the publication leads the way in sharing news and insight into the region ' s business community. But beyond that, their efforts to bring people together and champion Teesside and its potential are exceptional."
It’ s an exciting time for the area, with new Investment Zones for Middlesbrough and Hartlepool and several major towns with their own marquee developments, including the redevelopment of Stockton town centre, a film hub at Hartlepool, the Darlington economic campus and Crown Square in Middlesbrough, where the town’ s old Gresham district will be transformed by a £ 200m scheme that includes more than 230 build-to-rent properties and student accommodation and the country’ s first Fairfield By Marriott hotel.
It should come as no surprise, therefore, to hear that Resolution played a key part in the Crown Square consultation process, leading on business engagement – always looking for ways to support the area.
Among its recent innovations has been Tees Skills – a magazine to inspire and inform the region’ s young people as they prepare to enter the world of work or further study.
Resolution is also launching the inaugural Tees Skills Careers Fair, which is set to take place in October at Middlesbrough FC’ s Riverside Stadium.
And as the business enters its 11th year, Resolution continues to be driven by a pride in Teesside.
Dave said:“ We may be a small business – we call ourselves Teesside’ s biggest little brand – but we’ ve always had big ambitions and a profile that goes beyond our size. At the start, we set our stall out to lead the business community, bring it together and drive it forward and publications such as This Is Tees Valley are a big part of that.
“ Ten years is a big landmark for us but we aim to continue to be the voice of business in the Tees Valley for many more years – uniting the region and sending a united message out to the rest of the country and beyond.”
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