EVENTS
Punch Robson Solicitors managing partner Elaine McLaine-Wood , one of the founding sponsors of the Tees Businesswomen Awards , with Tees
Business sales manager Chris Garbutt .
Businesswomen Awards can lift spirits , says SME sponsor
Stockton-based solicitors
Punch Robson is sponsoring the Tees Businesswomen Awards for a third successive year – in the belief that the event will “ lift spirits ” amid the ongoing Covid crisis .
Punch Robson has been a firm supporter of the awards – organised by Tees Business in association with Northern Skills Group , the training and apprenticeship arm of Middlesbrough College – since their launch in 2018 and this year the firm will sponsor the SME category once again .
For managing partner Elaine McLaine-Wood , there was never any doubt that the company would continue its support , even though the awards will be a little different this year .
In line with Covid restrictions , the event will be fully virtual and streamed as live on the evening of January 14 2021
“ There was never a question that Punch Robson would withdraw our sponsorship ,” said Elaine .
“ Yes , we have Covid , but we can ’ t stand still . If anything , we need these awards more than ever , to lift our spirits and celebrate the amazing achievements of the women in our region .
“ The Tees Tech Awards were proof that an online event works , and I think the Businesswomen Awards will be just as fantastic , if not more so .”
Sponsoring the SME category is also something close to Elaine ’ s heart .
“ I head up the corporate and commercial property section at Punch Robson and service SMEs , so it was a no-brainer ,” she explained .
“ In the last two years we have seen a really broad selection of companies entering our category .
“ What ’ s great is that the Businesswomen Awards continue to show a true representation of talented females in business – women who have got to where they are purely on their own merit .
“ I ’ m excited to see what this year ’ s nominations bring , and hope that anyone reading this will stand up and get those nominations in .”
Tees Business editor Dave Allan with Katie Woods-Ruddick , human resource director at px Group , sponsor of the Training and Apprenticeships category in the 2020 Tees Businesswomen Awards .
Awards keep it real , says sponsor
The Tees Businesswomen Awards welcome the ongoing support of PX Group , which is sponsoring the Training and Apprenticeships category for the third year in succession .
From the start , the Stockton-based company , which provides innovative operations management , engineering services and energy management solutions to partners in high hazard , highly regulated industries , have been impressed with the authenticity of the awards , which this year take place virtually on January 14 2021 .
“ For us , it ’ s all about keeping it real ,” says human resource director Katie Woods-Ruddick .
“ We got involved from the inception of the awards as part of an awareness to showcase the contribution of women in our male-dominated industry and to highlight the roles available to them .
“ The awards have helped in getting this message across in a human way .”
Although in that first year Katie didn ’ t know what to expect , she was struck by how truly authentic the awards are .
“ The winners have all been humble about their achievements ,” she says .
“ The awards are certainly not a show-off or a preachy event . They are a wonderful storytelling exercise , where women who are passionate and who have worked hard have reaped success , and an essential tool for showing the next generation of women and girls just how far it is possible to go .”
As the awards evolve and grow , Katie continues to be impressed by the standard of entries and the achievements of the winners .
“ In particular I was blown away by Professor Jane Turner , who won an Outstanding Contribution Award last year ,” she says .
“ Despite challenges , Jane just gets on with things and she is so inspiring . She makes all of us sit up and say , ‘ Yes , let ’ s get involved !’”
18 | Tees Business