Chloe Clover, Wander Films
The self-confessed ‘high school drop-out’ from Redcar made it onto the Forbes 30 Under 30 Europe list of rising business stars as co-founder and creative director of Wander Films. The company has become renowned for its work on social media and Chloe has been named Tees Businesswoman of the Year.
Jack Deverson, Evidence Based Education
Jack is co-founder of Sunderland ed-tech firm Evidence Based Education, which was awarded a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in 2019. The company won the innovation and technology prize at this year’s Sunderland, Durham and South Tyneside Business Awards.
Dan Ellis, Jam Jar Cinema
Originally named on our 2016 35 under 35 list, Dan Ellis helped kickstart a renaissance in his home town, Whitley Bay, when he set up the Jam Jar Cinema with a mix of cunning, determination and hard work. After multiple regional and national prizes, he was this year awarded the British Empire Medal for services to cinema.
Read more: voluntary sector celebrated at North East Charity Awards
Alex Nietosvuori, Hjem
Swedish chef Alex has become a star of the North East food scene after setting up Northumberland restaurant Hjem with partner Aly Thompson. The restaurant won a Michelin star in 2021 and retained it this year.
Sally Blake, Silent Games
Sally set up Newcastle computer games company Silent Games with Joseph Rogers in 2018, selling it to Swedish firm Amplifier Game Invest two years later. She also founded the Women Making Games group to support women working in her industry.
Steffi Smith, Chocolate Smiths
Steffi launched confectionery firm The Chocolate Smiths in 2015 and initially sold its unusual bars at Tynemouth Market. The company has grown significantly in recent years, partly as a result of the support of fitness guru Joe Wicks, who praised its social media videos and enthusiasm for what it does.
Isabella West, Hirestreet
First featured on our 2019 35 under 35 list, Isabella is the founder of fashion hire business Hirestreet. Since her first inclusion, Isabella has won a number of awards and this year secured investment from Marks and Spencer, as well as link-ups with a number of major fashion brands.
Sian Buchan and Cal Byerley, Pine
Partners Sian and Cal have set up Pine restaurant in Northumberland and have already been awarded a Michelin star. The restaurant, whch has wowed food critics, aims to use as much local produce as possible and is described as “a celebration of British ingredients”.
Ryan Riley, Life Kitchen
Ryan set up Life Kitchen in Sunderland to provide a cookery school for people suffering from cancer. Championed by Nigella Lawson, he is also producing his first cook book.
Charlotte Bailey and Sean Ali, Rheal
Charlotte and Sean set up health bar company Super U on the back of their own health struggles. After getting backing on Dragons’ Den that did not subsequently come to fruition, the pair have secured investment from crowdfunding and from Dragon Tej Lalvani and are now pushing into America with their products.
Mike Davies and Rob Simmons, Haystack
The founders (with Chris Bone) of Newcastle tech recruitment firm Haystack have secured significant backing from the North East Venture Fund to create jobs and push into new territories with its technology. The firm was named best newcomer at the 2021 North East Business Awards.
Jonathan Grubin, SoPost
Newcastle tech firm SoPost has gone from strength to strength after Jonathan first made our 35 under 35 list in 2019. With staffing trebling to around 80 and a turnover of £14m, the company is exploring new overseas markets while Jonathan himself has won a number of awards.
Mark Wong, Impossibrew
The former Durham University student left Dragons’ Den without the £50,000 he was hoping for his non-alcoholic beer company Impossibrew. But he has since celebrated big sales from the exposure and has gone on to secure much greater investment to grow his company.
Zoe Philipson, Tyne Valley Ices
Zoe grew up working in the family ice cream business and this year took the biggest prize in that industry after winning the Ice Cream Van of the Year title. Judges praised her exceptional customer service and dedication both to the industry and her local community.
Sam Black, Coastal Hampers
Sam Black created Coastal Hampers during lockdown in November 2020 after work as a primary school supply teacher began to dry up. Within a year he’d quit his career to focus fully on the enterprise, which creates all-year-round gift hampers and which also showcases products from small businesses across the North East.
Greg Miles, Bumbl Creative Limited
Greg launched digital marketing agency Bumbl in 2015 after graduating from university. Since then, together with his wife and Bumbl business partner Lois Miles, the company has grown into a seven-strong agency working with national and international brands on various campaigns.
Joe Evans, Marlish Water
Joe Evans established Marlish Water on his family’s Northumberland farm, working alongside his cousin, Elizabeth Walton. The biochemistry graduate, who worked in pharmaceuticals before setting up the business, has taken on drinks giants such as Coca Cola to build Marlish into a brand offering a range of flavoured spring waters, tonics and mixers.
Tom Etherington, Evolved Search
Tom joined the Newcastle search marketing company in 2017 as head of search and progressed to board level before becoming managing director in early 2022. A journalism graduate from Teesside University, he has also worked for Newcastle agency Silverbean.
Matthew Mahatme and Jordan Palmer, Lixir
Newcastle University graduates Matthew Mahatme and Jordan Palmer quit their jobs to set up Lixir Drinks in 2018. The pair have since grown Lixir’s range of tonics and mixers which are sold in 18 markets, and earlier this year announced investment of £1.1m to support expansion plans.
Tom Schott, Schott Packaging
Tom Schott incorporated his packaging firm in 2016, specialising in home moving kits. The Darlington-based business, which has earned plaudits from eBay, now employs 16 people and offers a wide range of products.
Ollie Simpson, The Sole Scene
Ollie launched The Sole Scene and its website solescene.com three years ago, turning his rare trainer hobby into a business after buying and selling to his classmates ever since he was a teenager. The firm turned over £1m in its first year and has a pop-up concession in Fenwick.
Richard Shell, Doxford Group
First included on this list in 2019, Richard Shell has seen his Doxford Group grow to include Doxford Barns and the Charlton Hall estate. This year a major funding package from NatWest has enabled the firm to set in train plans for a new hotel, restaurant and bar.
Alice and Andrew Hall, Rowen Homes
Following the success of her Pink Boutique company, Ms Hall has teamed up with her husband to launch interior design company Rowen Homes. The company was named best newcomer at this year’s North East Business Awards and saw multimillion-pound growth during the pandemic.
Alex and Jenny McFadden, Pretty Mama
Sisters Alex and Jenny McFadden launched Pretty Mama in 2018 after spotting a gap in the market for feminine and comfortable maternity clothing. The brand has since grown, and in April the pair secured the backing of Sara Davies, Steven Bartlett, Peter Jones and Touker Souleyman after appearing on Dragons’ Den.
Charlotte and Sophie Wilson, Yana,
Sister Charlotte and Sophie Wilson founded their fashion fitness company in December 2019 providing sustainable activewear. Both graduates of Newcastle University - though seven years apart - the pair used personal savings and money from full time jobs at separate engineering companies to get the business off the ground.
Jack Griffiths and Joel Pierre, Snuggy
School friends Jack Griffiths and Joel Pierre, both from Teesside, started their entrepreneurial activity in the playground selling sweets to friends. The pair’s luxury loungewear company became popular during lockdown, having found favour with Geordie Shore and Celebs Go Dating stars.
Dehenna Davison, MP and Minister
Dehenna Davison was 26 when she was elected as MP for Bishop Auckland, a seat that had been held by Labour for more than 80 years. She has become a prominent voice within the Conservative Party with a slot on GB News, and was recently made a Levelling Up Minister.
READ NEXT:
* Dragons' Den success for North East couple
* Hire company wins backing from M&S
