Winner – Jacksons Law Firm managing partner Jane Armitage with the 2020 Tees Businesswoman of the Year award .
AWARDS BUZZ
Third annual Tees Businesswomen Awards is a huge hit despite pandemic
Speaker – Crafter ’ s Companion founder Sara Davies delivered an online ‘ keynote speech ’ for the third annual Tees Businesswomen Awards .
A
business awards event organised by Aycliffe Business ’ s sister publication proved a huge hit despite Covid .
Tees Business organised the 2020 Tees Businesswomen Awards , which were eventually forced to go online due to restrictions .
But it still proved a major success , with hundreds of people tuning in to watch the third annual event .
The entire YouTube show had 1,700 views , while individual category segments collectively amassed well over 100,000 views on Facebook .
The organisers received 85 entries across 10 categories , which were revealed during the ‘ live ’ presentation .
Dragons ’ Den star Sara Davies , founder of Aycliffe-based Crafter ’ s Companion , had agreed to be the keynote speaker for the original event , which was scheduled to be held in Wynyard Hall ’ s Grand Marquee last October .
Instead she delivered an inspirational , pre-recorded speech , which was played at the beginning of the evening .
“ More than 450 people attended the last Tees Businesswomen Awards , and even
though we ' re having to do things a little bit differently , it ' s great to see that so many people still took the time to nominate inspirational women and businesses led by fantastic females ,” smiled Sara .
“ It ’ s not always easy to acknowledge when you ' ve done something amazing when you ' re so focused on keeping the wheels turning . It ' s difficult to step back and realise when the work you ' re doing is groundbreaking , or making a genuine difference to people ’ s lives .
“ It ’ s such a shame that we can ' t all be together to celebrate in person tonight , but I ' m sure we ' d all agree it ' s even more important than ever to celebrate our victories .”
The Tees Businesswomen Awards were launched in 2018 by Aycliffe Business owner Martin Walker and his business partner Dave Allan , owners of Middlesbrough-based Resolution Media and Publishing .
Taking the prized Businesswoman of the Year Award in 2020 , sponsored by Cornerstone Business Solutions , was Jane Armitage of Jacksons Law Firm , who beat off stiff competition from The Ethical Housing Company ’ s Carla Keegans and Jo Davies from HR Alchemy .
“ It is an honour and I ’ m very proud , but it ’ s also a great responsibility ,” said Jane .
“ I ’ ve been put into focus as a Tees businesswoman , and in that you want to inspire others . I want the young people coming through our business to think if I can do it , so can they , and there ' s no reason they can ' t .
“ It ’ s a responsibility to spread the word about being a woman in business in the Tees Valley .
“ Even though the awards were online , you could still feel the emotion . There wasn ’ t the physical contact , but you could still feel the warmth that everyone had for one another and how much these awards mean to the people of the Tees Valley .
“ There were some absolutely amazing business stories we heard during the awards .” John Proudler collected an Outstanding Contribution Award , presented by Northern Skills Group ’ s Zoe Lewis , to mark the fantastic work of his much-missed wife Julie Donaldson . Zetland FM presenter Julie sadly passed away last year after a short battle with Covid .
Perhaps the most emotional reaction of the evening came from Annalice Argyle , winner of the PD Ports-sponsored Inspiring Others category . Annalice has overcome alcohol and drug addiction , as well as homelessness , to
28 | Aycliffe Business