2022
Sponsored by PD Ports
INSPIRING OTHERS
WINNER : CAROLE
KNOTT
( ITS )
“ Don ’ t be afraid to swim against the stream ” – so says the winner of the Inspiring Others category , Riverside Park-based Industrial Technology Systems ’ ( ITS ) head of operations , Carole Knott .
Colleagues say of Carole that if it helps others develop their careers and responsibility levels , she ’ s always there for them . She also strongly advocates enabling women in the ITS workforce to progress .
And Carole gave a matter-of-fact reason for why she might have won the award , saying : “ I ’ ve been told I have a natural ability to get people to get up off their backsides and make their dreams happen !”
Perhaps that determination to help stems from her own “ strange ” career journey . She explained : “ I lost my husband when I was 25 , brought two young kids up and have fought for everything I tried to achieve .
“ I kept fighting , kept learning every night when the kids were in bed , just kept going , never gave up and I ’ m still going now – never give up on your dreams .
“ And it ’ s OK to be a fish out of water and swim against the stream if it ’ s where you want to go .”
And as for the awards , she said : “ This event showcases the strength of women in this region . I ’ m from Liverpool but I feel like an honorary Teessider now .”
Inspirational – ITS head of operations Carole Knott is presented with the Inspiring Others award by PD Ports CEO Frans Calje OBE .
FINALIST :
Frances Connolly
( PFC Trust )
Founder of the PFC Trust charity , Frances has always gone the extra mile for people – and winning the EuroMillions in 2019 simply enabled her to do more for more . There are so many examples of how she ’ s changed people ’ s lives with financial gifts , but she also believes in investing in people ’ s futures so that everyone can be independent and in charge of their own destiny .
FINALIST :
Michelle Hardy
( Home-Start Teesside )
Scheme manager Michelle heads a vital community network of trained volunteers and experts supporting families with young children across Teesside . She firmly believes that at the heart of Home-Start Teesside are strong women – the women who provide help and support and the mothers who reach out for that guiding hand in the most difficult of times .
FINALIST :
Bianca Robinson
( CEO Sleepout )
Bianca inspires people across the UK with her tireless work and endless passion in running CEO Sleepout UK . To date , Bianca has slept out over 60 times to help raise money and awareness for those most in need . In addition , Bianca mentors local young women , takes businesswomen under her wing and speaks publicly on the importance of business creating social impact .
FINALIST :
Sara Noel ( Soul to Soul Strategy School )
Strategist Sara ’ s unique programme was founded to help women struggling to develop their business concepts because of a lack of confidence as a result of their personal battles to overcome adversity . Through workshops , courses , mentorship and facilitating opportunities for women to work together , she helps take the pain away from strategic planning for impact-driven female entrepreneurs .
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
Frans Calje OBE , chief executive officer , PD Ports , said : “ The Inspiring Others category is important to us because , at PD Ports , we believe it is the brilliant women in business who are the real role models inspiring the next generation of workers . Carole Knott is a prime example of this , and her fine work at ITS cannot be overstated .”