PCP CHIEF PROUD TO GET AWARD RECOGNITION
Aycliffe Business Make Your Mark Awards
BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by
THE FINALISTS
LEE CHILDS( NC GROUP)
Pioneering Care Partnership chief executive Carol Gaskarth received the Businessperson of the Year award from Ian Proctor, representing Aycliffe Business Park Community.
PCP CHIEF PROUD TO GET AWARD RECOGNITION
An award for her inspiring leadership topped quite the night for PCP chief executive Carol Gaskarth.
Earlier, the wellbeing charity – founded in Newton Aycliffe back in 1998 and now a North-East wide organisation – had picked up the Services Business of the Year title.
But perhaps just as important to Carol as the awards was the table collection made for Together 21 – a project supporting young people with Down syndrome and their families and which is run from the PCP’ s Pioneering Care Centre.
She told the 300-strong audience at the Hardwick Hall event:“ We were already winners tonight because the support everyone has given Together 21 is phenomenal.
“ We support businesses across the North- East with things like the Better Health at Work Award, but please support Together 21 – let’ s get more businesses supporting our charity.”
Clutching her Businessperson of the Year award, Carol heaped praise on her colleagues, saying:“ It is completely down to the team we’ ve got.
“ We have brilliant staff, nine fabulous trustees – PCP is a volunteer-led organisation and our trustees give their time on a voluntary basis – and a senior leadership team of 10 who all work incredibly hard.
“ And particularly this week because we’ ve had a big bid to do, so thank you, team, for getting that over the line!”
As for what makes a good business leader, Carol said“ being a generalist” helped.
She explained:“ My strengths probably lie in cultivating partnerships. I chair various boards across County Durham and beyond around mental health and learning disabilities – so I like being a generalist and learning as I go.
“ I’ m a great believer in lifelong learning and not being afraid to say‘ I don’ t know but I’ ll learn’.
“ But, in general, it’ s about compassion, care, making sure you listen and taking people on the journey with you.
“ Also, you need to have a strong vision but create that vision as a collective, taking into account what people want and being visionary in terms of what’ s coming down the track.
“ Make sure you’ ve a good eye for what the future holds, no matter what business sector you’ re in, but having a great team is crucial.” And as an Aycliffe girl, she admitted the Make Your Mark awards meant a lot, saying:“ It’ s great to be recognised by your own community.”
Lee is a visionary leader whose exceptional contributions have driven both business growth and community impact.
As a skilled engineer and co-CEO, Lee has overseen key developments in skills for industry.
His entrepreneurial journey includes co-founding NC, where he has played an instrumental role in shaping its success and making it an awarding-winning independent training provider.
A key milestone in his leadership was the Outstanding grading in all areas from Ofsted, enhancing operational capacity and setting the stage for future growth and educational services on the business park.
MARCIA ATKINSON( BTS FACADES & FABRICATIONS)
The finance director at family-run BTS Facades and Fabrications, Marcia successfully steered BTS through the turbulent year of 2020, making some extremely difficult decisions along the way.
She has been instrumental in BTS gaining carbon neutrality, as well as her total investment in the success of the company,
Marcia is a firm believer in investing in the younger generation, from employing apprentices to building strong relationships with local schools.
In contrast to the corporate side, she is also extremely compassionate, always willing to take time out of her hectic days to talk to the staff about any issues they are having, whether personal or work related.
PREVIOUS WINNERS 2024: ANDY REED( SENSTRONICS)
24 | Aycliffe Business