GILLIAN BAKER - Networker of the Year award: Winning her award was confirmation for Gillian Baker that the way she works is the way to grow a business.

Gillian is a partner in TSM Audio, of Brunswick Street, Stockton, which she runs with fellow partner, Tony Stewart.

She brings in a lot of the work through networking and it is an approach which was recognised when she was awarded the Networker of the Year award.

TSM Audio was created in July 2001 and is a multi-media production business which specialises in duplication of CDs and DVDs, primarily for the business sector.

It also operates a studio which can be used for businesses wishing to make commercial promotional videos.

Gillian believes that the key to achieving success has been keeping in touch with other people in business, which is why she is a member of several organisations and seeks information from the likes of Business Link.

She said: "Business-to-business is the main core of what we do and I get a lot of my information and contacts from being part of networks.

"Once you start to be part of a network, other people in that network keep you informed about what is going on."

It clearly works. At the moment the partners employ one part-time member of staff but Gillian said: "The way things are going, we are looking at expanding."

Winning the award stunned her. She said: "I thought they were talking about someone else. You never think you are worthy of an award and tend to think that there are lots of other people doing better than you.

"But when they started talking about the networks of which I am part, I realised they were talking about me. I am in a state of shock and disbelief: it was like the BAFTAs but at a business level."