Some of the InspiraTees 2023 cohort who were voted the Tees region ’ s most inspiring businesspeople .
education , training and therapy , the project has gone from strength to strength , offering the sort of invaluable support and advice that makes a real difference .
And it ’ s a measure of how well the Headlight message is getting through that Catherine has risen in the ranking from 14th in 2021 and sixth last year to be named overall InspiraTees winner in 2023 .
“ I don ’ t consider myself a business leader , certainly not in the category of the people on this trophy , people who run multi-millionpound businesses ,” Catherine modestly told Tees Business .
“ Our charity is a small charity that ’ s come from the worst of circumstances . Russ was my inspiration – he was an incredible leader of his family haulage business and really didn ’ t know how good he was . The sad thing is the charity ’ s only here today because we don ’ t have him .
“ But this award isn ’ t for me , it ’ s for the team that does the work day in and day out . It really is about who you surround yourself with and I ’ ll accept this very reluctantly on behalf of our wonderful team – Katie , Suzanne , Karen and Lucia , who are our central team , and the wonderful therapists that work day in , day out .
“ With the help of the Teesside business community , which has been incredible from day one , and Tees Business for shining a light on what we do , the support we ’ ve had in the past 12 months has put us on a completely different trajectory .”
Runner-up was Wilton Universal Group CEO Bill Scott OBE , who has never been out of the top four in the eight years the poll has been conducted , while third was last year ’ s winner , PD Ports ’ popular Dutch leader , CEO Frans Calje OBE .
Making up the top five were , in fourth place , Tees Components MD Sharon Lane and in fifth – and making her top 30 debut – the CEO of national charity CEO Sleepout , New Zealander but adopted Teessider , Bianca Robinson .
Bob Cuffe , one of the InspiraTees event hosts along with Aycliffe Business editor Martin Walker and his business partner Dave Allan , told the 160-strong audience how the leaders recognised by InspiraTees “ inspire others by showcasing the power of determination , hard work and talent , igniting a spark of possibility in others .”
He added : “ These leaders prioritise integrity and ethical decision-making , setting high standards for themselves and their organisations .
“ And through their inclusive leadership styles , they empower their teams and foster an environment of growth and innovation .”
A special guest at the event was undisputed world super-middleweight boxing champion , Hartlepool ’ s Savannah Marshall , who discussed her “ Off The Canvas – The Better You ” campaign to inspire and improve the physical and mental health of children aged 3-11 .
The InspiraTees Top 30 of 2023 :
1 . Catherine Devereux ( Headlight Project / Knights )
2 . Bill Scott OBE ( Wilton Universal Group )
3 . Frans Calje OBE ( PD Ports ) 4 . Sharon Lane ( Tees Components ) 5 . Bianca Robinson ( CEO Sleepout )
6 . Karl Pemberton ( Active Chartered Financial Planners )
7 . Claire Preston ( Power of Women / Halo Project )
8 . Bob Makin ( Behaviour UK – North )
9 . Steve Gibson OBE ( Middlesbrough FC / Bulkhaul )
10 . Chloe Clover ( Wander Films ) 11 . Gary Dawson ( AV Dawson ) 12 . Mike Racz ( Racz Group )
13 . Victoria Lynch ( Additional Lengths )
14 . Zoe Lewis ( Middesbrough College Group )
15 . Alastair Powell ( Cleveland Cable Company )
16 . Dean Benson ( Visualsoft ) 17 . Jo Davies ( HR Alchemy ) 18 . Mark Easby ( Better ) 19 . Jess Williams ( Just Williams ) 20 . Alison McGee ( Durata ) 21 . Charlie Nettle ( AV Dawson ) 22 . Kimberley Turner ( Double Eleven )
23 . Jane Armitage ( Power of Women / Jacksons Law Firm )
24 . Jane Reynolds MBE ( Tees Valley Business Club )
25 . Lee Bramley ( Endeavour Partnership )
26 . Lou Tonner ( Wander Films )
27 . Caroline Theobald CBE ( Bridge Club )
28 . Lee Flanagan ( Bespoke Financial ) 29 . Yasmin Khan ( Halo Project ) 30 . Nikki Sayer ( Casper Customs )
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