When I started this, my biggest worry was not having enough articles (written by actual professionals) to bump up the content each week, meaning it would be on me to relay some of the great things we see each week. I’m not a great writer (as you’ll find out), but I’m willing to give it a go to try to get some of these stories to a wider audience.
So… It’s great to start this week’s digest by focusing on an initiative that has helped so many businesses throughout the years. An initiative that has been a catalyst for the creation of hundreds of digital tech companies over the years. And, as such, an initiative that has played a huge part in creating some of these amazing stories.
This week, findings from the Higher Education Business and Community Interaction Survey were released. They showed Teesside University graduate enterprises ranked as the 7th highest in terms of turnover in the UK, with a collective turnover of over £94m. In addition, there were 133 graduate enterprises still trading after three years; a survival rate that is the highest of all North East higher education institutions included in the survey.
This is an incredible feat for Teesside University and specifically the Teesside Launchpad team. I’m sure many of you will have engaged with Steve, Lizzie, and Sue over the years, so you’ll have seen the hard work they put in on a daily basis to ensure we continue to see the SockMonkey’s, Radical Forge’s, SeerBI’s and Viral Effect’s of the future.
Congratulations to all - it’s lovely to see you get the recognition you deserve.
Middlesbrough Front End final warm-up
Last night saw the final warm-up gig for the long-awaited Middlesbrough Front End Conference. Sam Beckham and Peter Calvert of Embeddable took to the stage, with talks titled ‘Acting Chief of Staff to the CTO’ and ‘Building an Environment for Growth’.
There are now less than 30 tickets left for Middlesbrough Front End Conference! Over 170 have already made the purchase, so move quickly if you want to attend the inaugural event at Middlesbrough Town Hall on Wednesday 19th July. You can book your tickets here.
Huge shout out to the local digital tech firm supporting the launch of the MFE Conference; Alt Labs, Blend, Big Bite, File Sanctuary, Flok Coworking Space, LeadByte, and Stackup Digital. It’s awesome to see so many backing Jamie and Lewis’s vision.
Another award for Double Eleven
I’m not even sure what to say at this point. They’ve won another one.
Congratulations to the team at Double Eleven for winning ‘E-Commerce Exporter of the Year’ at the Northern Powerhouse Export Awards.
In the news
Vianet has 'weathered the storm' amid new contract wins
Drinks and vending tech specialist Vianet has returned to pre-tax profit and is now trading at pre-pandemic levels, its boss says.
New results for the Stockton firm show revenue increased 6.7% to £14.1m as pre-tax profit of £450,000 was reported, compared with a £170,000 loss last year. Across its bar management systems business, Smart Zones, Vianet said new contract wins contributed to its recovery.
Core Systems set for growth after creating a new CGI role
Core Systems Software, an innovative Darlington-based company, is poised for a period of significant expansion following its recent appointment of a computer-generated imagery (CGI) specialist.
This new addition to the team will help to meet the increasing demand from the Tees region and beyond, marking a pivotal moment in the company’s upward trajectory.
Good luck in your new role, Chris!
DigitalCity Summative Assessment shows the project has added almost £53m to the local economy
The headline figures showed that it's set to achieve a Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) of 11.44:1, meaning that for every £1 of investment into the initiative, it will bring £11.44 in economic returns within the Tees Valley economy.
Events
The wait is over! Tickets are now on sale for the Refresh Teesside Summer Party. One of the most anticipated events in the Tees Tech calendar, this year’s event has moved across to Middlesbrough Town Hall Fire Station and Courtyard. Expect an array of different activities, the opportunity to network with other professionals in the digital tech sector, and some cracking local delights. Sign up here.
DOTS Networking (discussion on the spot networking) returns to Flok on Friday 7th July. The networking format ensures you can speak to every business, and make some great connections for the future. Just find a dot to speak with a fellow business before moving on to the next. Sign up here
On the pod
I’m interested to see how this feature goes down, so please throw in a bit of feedback.
If you’re looking for a Friday afternoon listen, Kimberley Turner, CFO at Double Eleven, joined Sara Davies MBE, and Toby Bridges on the Entrepreneurs Forum ‘A Cast of Entrepreneurs’ podcast this week.
Check it out on your preferred platform here.
Always enjoy these 👍