EVENTS
Tees Business executive editors Martin Walker ( left ) and Dave Allan with Zoe Lewis , principal and chief executive of Middlesbrough College and Northern Skills Group , the headline sponsors for the 2020 Tees Businesswomen Awards . PICTURE BY CHRIS BOOTH
STAGE IS SET
Entries are in for third annual Tees Businesswomen Awards
Keynote speaker – Dragons ’ Den star Sara Davies .
The stage is set – and the entries are in for the third annual Tees Businesswomen Awards , in association with Northern Skills Group .
Organisers Tees Business have been working hard behind the scenes to make sure the now hugely-popular event goes ahead , despite the Covid restrictions .
They had been hoping for another super night of celebrations at Wynyard Hall to follow up the 2019 event , attended by 450 people in Wynyard ’ s marquee .
But due to the pandemic , they had to take the event online , with the event going out as live on the evening of Thursday January 14 2021 .
As with the inaugural Tees Tech Awards that went online in August , Tees Business is confident the Tees Businesswomen Awards will be another online hit .
Dragons ’ Den star and founder of Crafter ’ s Companion Sara Davies MBE will be the keynote speaker for the virtual event after she agreed to attend the original event and then the rearranged fixture .
“ I was honoured to be asked to speak at the upcoming Tees Businesswomen Awards ,” said Sara .
“ I ’ m beyond excited to open this dynamic event and , most importantly , share the phenomenal success stories of some of the incredible women in our region .
14 | Tees Business
“ The Tees Businesswomen Awards is only in its third year but has already become a prominent event .
“ It ’ s an evening of celebrating the women who are breaking the mould , who are inspiring people with outstanding leadership and paving the way with innovative businesses .
“ Whether you ’ re a business owner , working within a company or a charity or you ’ re just starting out in your career , the Tees Businesswomen Awards has lots of different ways to shout about the fantastic work that ’ s being done in your organisation , or to champion a brilliant individual who deserves to be recognised .”
The Tees Businesswomen Awards is , for the third year running , sponsored by Northern Skills Group , the training and apprenticeship arm of Middlesbrough College .
With the awards going from strength to strength , principal and chief executive Zoe Lewis sees the group ’ s ongoing support as a vital way of increasing the profile of the region ’ s businesswomen and to open doors for the next generation .
“ Anything that helps raise the profile of anyone who is underrepresented is a good thing ,” said Zoe .
“ The Businesswomen Awards have had , and continue to have , a huge impact . On the back of them , we ’ ve seen more women get into the annual Tees Business top 30 most inspiring business leaders poll than ever before .
“ The more people you speak to who are doing something different to yourself , the more I see it as ‘ stretching your spring ’.
“ Over time you stretch your spring and , though it goes back , it doesn ’ t go back as far . Keep taking yourself outside your comfort zone , keep stretching that spring to learn and develop .
“ That ’ s where I think the Businesswomen Awards come into their own . They expose more women to networking opportunities , allow them to make connections and to hear what other businesses are doing , which is then helping them develop their own careers .”
Awards results revealed as live on the evening of January 14 , 2021 .
The Awards
Individual Awards CATEGORY Businesswoman of the Year Lifelong Inspiration Breaking the Mould Inspiring Others Best Newcomer Company Awards CATEGORY Business of the Year SME of the Year Training & Apprenticeships Charity / Voluntary Best New Business
SPONSOR Cornerstone Business Solutions Faithful + Gould ITS PD Ports Durata
SPONSOR Teesside University Punch Robson Solicitors px Group Available Tees Valley Combined Authority