Get your entries and nominations in for 2026 Tees Tech Awards
With the entry deadline for the 2026 Tees Tech Awards extended to Friday March 27, the search is on to find the region’s top digital and tech leaders.
The Tees Tech Awards, organised by Tees Business, celebrate the businesses and individuals driving digital innovation and technological progress across the Tees region.
The seventh annual Tees Tech Awards will be held at Teesside University’s Digital Life building on the evening of Thursday, June 4, in association with Double Eleven.
Check out the Tees Tech Awards categories plus the questions to answer here: Award Entry Form – Tees Business
More than 300 finalists, sponsors and their guests attend the Tees Tech Awards each year, celebrating the very best local businesses and individuals in the region’s tech and digital sector.
With Digital Life providing the exciting new venue, Bob Cuffe MBE will return as host while funds will be raised for Teesside Hospice.
With games gurus Double Eleven announced as headline sponsor, category sponsors include Azets, Vistech Services, Middlesbrough College Group, Teesside University, Punch Robson and Outrank, with UKSE sponsoring the event programme and Square One the shortlist films.
With most category sponsorships now sold, the only remaining categories available for sponsorship are the Janice Webster Unsung Hero, Tech for Good, Small Business of the Year and Tees Tech Ambassador. View the Tees Tech Awards media pack here: Tees-Tech-Awards-2026-Media-Pack.pdf
Find out more about the various categories at the 2026 Tees Tech Awards below:
Individual categories
Business Leader of the Year
Sponsored by Punch Robson Solicitors
The Tees Tech Business Leader of the Year will be an exceptional individual who is shaping the future of the region’s digital economy. This is a bold leader, innovator or disruptor who has driven real impact through their organisation – and influenced the wider Tees Valley digital sector – particularly since the start of 2025. Please note: while nominations are welcomed for this category, no shortlist will be named. Instead, the category sponsor and a panel of former winners will choose the winner.
Winners’ rollcall: 2020: Lee Hutchinson (Double Eleven) 2021: Bob Makin (SockMonkey Studios) 2022: Malcolm Knott (ITS) 2023: Rich Himsworth (Salesfire UK) 2024: Jason Pritchard (Fitfactory Technology) 2025: Helen Stewart (Colewood Digital)
Rising Star
Sponsored by Middlesbrough College
This award recognises a rising digital star from the Tees Valley who is already showing exceptional potential. Whether through education, innovation or the early stages of entrepreneurship, it celebrates an individual whose passion and ambition signal a bright future in the digital sector.
Winners’ rollcall: 2020: Chloe Clover (Wander Films) 2021: Tim Ward (OPPORTUNI) 2022: Callum Duncan (Sencode Cyber Security) 2023: Scarlett Reeves (Brave Bold Digital/AeroCommerce) 2024: Peter Calvert (Embeddable) 2025: Ashley Wood (iConvert)
The Janice Webster Unsung Hero Award
Sponsorship available
Named in memory of an unheralded Tees tech pioneer, this award shines a light on one of the digital sector’s unsung heroes. It recognises an individual who has made an outstanding contribution within their organisation and/or across the wider sector – often quietly, consistently and without seeking the spotlight. If someone’s impact has been vital to business success or sector growth while remaining largely behind the scenes, this is your chance to celebrate the difference they make.
Winners’ rollcall: 2021: Darren Falcus (SockMonkey Studios) 2022: Kevin Mann (Double Eleven) 2023: Janice Webster (DigitalCity) 2024: Darren Cuthbert (Behaviour Interactive) 2025: Beverley Goodall (AbacusBean)
Company categories
Best Newcomer
Sponsored by Vistech Services
Open to digital organisations launched since January 1 2023, this award celebrates ambitious start-ups that are already making waves. If you’ve shown innovation, achieved early success and created real buzz within your first three years, you could be one of the region’s digital stars of the future – and we want to hear your story.
Winners’ rollcall: 2020: Salesfire UK 2021: Unforgettable Experiences 2022: SeerBI 2023: The Petite Agency 2024: Embeddable 2025: BearTech
Small Business of the Year
Sponsorship available
Please note: this category is for businesses with 20 employees or fewer.
This award celebrates a small digital or tech business that’s on an exciting upward journey in the Tees region. Judges are looking to recognise an organisation that’s showing strong ambition, growing confidence and clear potential – a business with the talent and drive to become a proud success story for the region’s digital sector and beyond.
Winners’ rollcall: 2020: Kraken IM 2021: Intasite 2022: Sencode Cyber Security 2023: North Digital 2024: Tricore Technical Services 2025: Servace
Tech For Good Award
Sponsorship available
Technology doesn’t just power businesses – it has the power to make a real difference. This award celebrates digital innovation that’s creating positive change, whether through a product, platform or initiative that’s improving lives, supporting communities or championing charitable causes. If your work has helped make the world a better place, especially since January 2025, this is your chance to share your story and show how the digital sector can be a force for good.
Winners’ rollcall: 2020: Code 4000 2021: InStudio 2022: Verve Group 2023: Alt Labs 2024: Pocket Sergeant 2025: Labman Automation
Innovation Award
Sponsored by Teesside University
This award celebrates a digital organisation that’s pushing boundaries and turning bold ideas into real-world impact. The winner will have stood out for innovation across ideas, products or services – whether through a cutting-edge launch, a market first or a series of smart, creative breakthroughs. If you can show clear examples of genuine innovation and measurable success within the digital sector, this is your opportunity to shine.
Winners’ rollcall: 2020: Salesfire 2021: Everflow Tech 2022: Rockliffe Construction Service (NE) 2023: V-LAB 2024: Better Brand Agency 2025: Salvify
Digital Transformation Award
Sponsored by Azets
This award celebrates organisations outside the traditional digital or tech sectors that are harnessing technology to drive real change. We’re looking for businesses that have embraced digital solutions to transform operations, improve performance or create new opportunities – especially if they’ve been making a real impact since the start of 2025.
Winners’ rollcall: 2020: Everflow Group 2021: Sapere Software 2022: Mersen 2023: Recruitrite 2024: Nite Light 2025: Southern Asset Management
Tees Tech Business of the Year
Sponsored by Double Eleven
Please note: Entrants must have more than 20 employees.This award celebrates the Tees region’s most outstanding digital or tech company, recognising remarkable achievement since the start of 2025. We’re looking for an organisation with an inspiring story – one of ambition, innovation, progress and success – backed up by clear results and impact. Any Tees Valley company using digital or tech to drive real change is encouraged to enter and showcase how they are leading the way.
Winners’ rollcall: 2020: Mabo 2021 Salesfire UK 2022: EnAppSys 2023: Fitfactory Technology 2024: Behaviour Interactive UK 2025: Labman Automation
Tech Start-Up Award
Sponsored by Outrank
Please note: entrants will be asked to pitch their start-up at pre-awards event at Flok in Middlesbrough, with a three-strong shortlist expected to pitch on-stage at the Tees Tech Awards event before a public vote among guests.
For this category, judges seek bold tech start-ups with proven innovation, real-world impact, scalable solutions, commercial traction, standout leadership, clear vision, measurable growth and ambition to transform industries.
Winners’ rollcall: 2023: Fireside 2024: TrustedPeople.com 2025: Assessable
Click to read about Double Eleven sponsoring the awards: Seventh heaven: Tees Tech Awards secures new headline sponsor and venue – Tees Business
Click to read about the 2025 Tees Tech Awards winners: Game-changing night for Tees Tech Awards – Tees Business
