Guardian Marine Testing was founded in November 2007. The company is managed by three individuals who have been exclusively involved in the business in excess of 25 years, Paul Livingstone, Andrew Shaw and Andrew McEwen. The company now employs 7 people. They specialise in global marine fuel analysis. The business provides laboratory analysis and commentary on the quality for marine fuels used by all seagoing vessels. The companies primary business is to test fuels used by ships, to confirm that they are safe to use. They have made a recognised brand and position for themselves in the last three years.

Andrew Shaw, Managing Director of Guardian Marine Testing said:

"The most immediate effect of winning the Best New Business Tees Valley award is the elation of being recognised outside the 'family circle' by an independent panel of judges who are taking a very open and honest view about your achievements as a company.

Formed in June 2008 from staff that have been working together for over 12 years for leading IT Services businesses, Cornerstone is quickly becoming the IT supplier of choice in the North East, with over 1000 users in the region.

We have also won a few awards for our commitment to offering the best customer service, we have won the Service Award at the Best New Business Awards 2009 and we also won the overall winner to be named the Best New Business in the Tees Valley. We were then shortlisted for a further 3 awards at the North East Business Awards and went on to win The Service award and came runners up on the Newcomer of the Year and Small Business award.

Our MD Chris Petty was then nominated for Entrepreneur of the Year in the “If we can you can campaign” hosted by the Entrepreneurs forum and went onto win this.

We have just moved offices to the prestigious MAP House in Preston Farm,Stockton on Tees and offer a full range of services including consultancy, system design, network installation, business management software, training and system maintenance.

As major partners for Sage, Microsoft, IBM, Lenovo, & Cisco, Cornerstone can ensure that your system is designed and built using the most trusted and reliable brands, but at extremely competitive prices.

Dig It Projects has been designing and installing "Allotment style Gardens" into schools and community networks to allow the children and parents to GROW their OWN fresh fruit and vegetables.

We can also provide a "Workshop Program" to assist and guide you throughout the year to cover the "Planting and Growing" aspects of the garden and produce.

These projects provide a new concept to learning with excellent results. They can be accessed by the parents allowing them to interact with their children whilst educating both on how to grow fresh fruit and vegetables, at the same time lead a Healthier Lifestyle.

Last year's Environmental Award winners were Darlington-based company Natural Warmth. Set up by Managing Director Steve Heslop, Natural Warmth specialises in designing and installing environmentally friendly, low carbon home heating and hot water systems using heat pumps. This offers householders who care about the environment, a low carbon alternative to heat their homes and have a plentiful supply of hot water, without damaging the planet.

Steve Heslop said: "Winning the Best New Business Environmental Award was a terrific achievement for us especially as we were still in our first year. Since winning the award, we have completed over 30 installations across the region and have exceeded budget expectations, with a turnover of £750,000. With orders coming in from places as far apart as Leeds, Harrogate and Catterick, we are convinced that the 'green' message is getting through - certainly in our part of the world."

Winners of the Best New Business Awards are often the rising stars of the Tees Valley start up firms. A great example is Global Transport Logistics – the 2008 winner.

GTL was the 2007 winner of the BNB awards after showing massive growth in its first year. With director Gary Smith at the helm the fast-growing port logistics firm started in 2006 and quickly expanded from a 15,000 sq ft facility to a 55,000 sq ft warehouse and topped £1million turnover in its first year.

Operating out of Teesport the company manages a supply chain business for companies moving product around the world employing 15 people in the UK and 2 in Hong Kong (GTL Asia).