SMEs go head-to-head in sales pitch contest at Tees Valley Business Summit

Six Teesside-based companies got a rare opportunity to deliver the ‘perfect pitch’ to a judging panel of key business figures.

Witnessed by delegates at the 2014 Tees Valley Business Summit, finalists in the ‘Lift-Off’ competition took to the stage to wow the judges with their pre-recorded pitching videos.

Following a ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ style judging process, validation service provider, Thermal Compliance, were crowned victorious.

Penny Maughan, director, Thermal Compliance, commented on her recent win: “Taking part in the NEPIC ‘LIFT-OFF’ project was a fantastic experience. It pushed me out of my comfort zone and as a result I have gained practical skills that will directly benefit the company.

“We are very proud to have been awarded winners for our ‘elevator pitch’. We would like to thank NEPIC and the Business Acceleration for SME’s programme who have continued to provide valuable business support for Thermal Compliance, and this is reflected in our achievements.”

The ‘Lift-Off’ competition was the conclusion to the ‘Elevator Pitch’ project, organised by NEPIC’s SME programme (BASME) in conjunction with Tees Valley Unlimited and Federation of Small Businesses.

Beginning at the start of the year the competition has already helped 40 SMEs on the BASME scheme refine their company sales pitches and ultimately win more business.

To develop their ‘perfect pitch’ participants had access to free coaching workshops, online training material, and individual one-to-one sessions with sales expert and coach Richard Lane at durhamlane. The businesses put their learning into practice and had their sales pitch recorded and entered into the competition.

The ‘Lift-Off’ competition finalists met with the guest judges; Stephen Catchpole, MD of Tees Valley Unlimited, Rupi Timmons, BDM of Industrial Thinking, Richard Lane at durhamlane, and Caroline Theobald, MD of the Bridge Club North at Tees Valley Business Summit to offer valuable feedback and announce the winner.

Felix O’Hare, BASME project manager said of the project: “The Elevator Pitch project and the Lift-Off competition are a novel approach to get companies to focus on their customers, and deliver a pitch that helps them to communicate that message.

“As BASME was able to cover the costs of the workshops and the filming, the companies involved were able to access expert coaching for free. Even the ones who didn’t make it through to the finals have gained valuable sales training and a video of their 60 second sales pitch that they can put on their website.”

Based on the success of the project BASME is already looking into running more workshops and competitions. If you want to get involved with the ‘Elevator Pitch’ project or find out more about

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