Dig It Projects is the "brainchild" of Richard Smith from Skelton and his business designs and builds allotment-style gardens for schools and local communities to encourage young people to grow their own and learn more about healthy eating and the environment. He started in May 2008 and employs 2 people; he feels that his web site and his offer of a "total package" including annual maintenance of the sites, will ensure growth in future years.

Buy mounted 10" x 8" prints (£15 each)

Stuart Varrall took advantage of winning a 6-month business sabbatical in the US provided by the University of Teessside Digital City, and on his return recruited an additional member of staff, which has now increased to 5 employees. Fluid Pixel is a media development studio specialising in mobile devices, dedicated to Flash Lite and iPhone platforms. With multinational clients such as Adobe, Nokia and IGT the future is bright, with increased turnover 4x in 08/09 and set to triple in 09/10!.

Buy mounted 10" x 8" prints (£15 each)

Managing Director Wayne Richardson completed a management buy out in April 2009, and has successfully turned his net loss into a net gain whilst increasing the manpower from 5 to 8; the company design and install renewable energy systems. The business has recently won an industry top heat pump installer award, and was a finalist in the national heating and ventilation awards.

Buy mounted 10" x 8" prints (£15 each)

Geoff Johns opened the first factory to mass produce the "Parmo" a calorie packed Teesside speciality. He says his biggest challenge has been cash flow and having to work a 120 hour week in the early stages to establish the business. His big break through was when he secured a contract with a local supermarket chain, which double the plants production and he increased his employees to 24.

Buy mounted 10" x 8" prints (£15 each)

Paul Callaghan M.D. lost his job late in 2007 when a local window installer went into administration, and he immediately decided to set up a new business to market the supply and fitment of high security GRP composite doors to the trade and domestic market. From the inception of the business the core aim was to be different and better than anyone else, with a strong emphasis on marketing and maximum use of web-based sales. The business employs 2 full time, and one part-time.

Buy mounted 10" x 8" prints (£15 each)

Luciano Borrelli started his first business in August 2007 from just a simple idea based on his culture and experience in retail, and immediately had to succeed in times when the country was in recession. The business offers a complete coffee shop, as well as a fully stocked deli counter, including local produce with their famous Yorkshire Ham as well as Italian cheeses and groceries.

Buy mounted 10" x 8" prints (£15 each)

Chris Petty and his fellow directors formed the company in June 2008 with a desire to get back to a more traditional approach to customer service in IT support, and they set about delivering 110% to their customers. The company employs 7 people, in a time of recession they offered a free "health check" to companies and a non contractual free month's support. In order to deliver the best possible service they researched state of the art equipment eventually settling on the flexible Sage CRM route.

Buy mounted 10" x 8" prints (£15 each)

Vinnie Morgan started his business in October 2007, and now employs 5 people; they specialise in the design, creation and implementation of bespoke online booking systems for the leisure and experience industry. They also operate a core development team of 3 in Shanghai, China. At 25 Vinnie is rightly proud of a company that has progressed steadily from small beginnings and now has key clients like Air-Sphere, Nottinghamshire Count Council, and in 2009 has won a number of national awards.

Buy mounted 10" x 8" prints (£15 each)