TEES TECH AWARDS 2023
RISING STAR
SPONSORED BY MIDDLESBROUGH COLLEGE GROUP
FINALIST
SARAH HEWARD
Rising Star Scarlett Reeves with Middlesbrough College Group CEO Zoe Lewis .
WINNER
SCARLETT REEVES ( BRAVE BOLD DIGITAL / AERO COMMERCE )
“ I ’ m doing it for women in tech on Teesside !” So says the Tees Tech Awards ’ Rising Star Scarlett Reeves , who juggles a voluntary role with the Brave Bold Digital campaign , created to encourage and empower women in the digital sector , with a role as head of brand and marketing at leading tech company Aero Commerce .
And for Scarlett , it ’ s important to encourage girls to follow tech careers in the same way she was encouraged to . She explained : “ I ’ m so grateful for the support network I had when I entered the tech sector and I ’ m so grateful for the women and men who have paved the way and put the ladder down for me . “ Now it ’ s about me making sure I can do that for the next generation that comes through the ranks .”
Saying she carries out her Brave Bold Digital and Aero Commerce roles on “ very little sleep ” – she ’ s also raising a young family – Scarlett added : “ I love what I do , I love where I work , I love the company I work for and I love doing my passion project on the side . It ’ s a real love story being in the tech scene in Teesside and I ’ m really proud .
“ There ’ s a lot of stigma around the tech sector but there needn ’ t be and part of what we do through Brave Bold Digital is break down that stigma and tell young women in particular that there ’ s a place for them in the tech sector .
“ I feel privileged to be part of the Teesside tech scene .”
SPONSOR ’ S MESSAGE
An active figure in Teesside ’ s digital and technology industry , Sarah spent the early part of her career working with children and families , having gained vast knowledge in early years education and professional practice at Teesside University .
In 2019 , she co-founded and set up her own business , which provided childcare for families who don ’ t work typical 9-to-5 jobs , with a longterm vision of increasing the safety of childcare provisions using technology .
However , following the Covid-19 pandemic , Sarah brought her vast knowledge of early years and technology together and started working with a charity that aims to reduce digital poverty among children – a cause she feels passionately about .
FINALIST
DANIEL PYBUS ( MERSEN TEESSIDE )
Daniel joined Mersen two years ago after completing a knowledge transfer partnership through Teesside University , which he attended as a mature student .
He took a risk leaving a career in pharmaceuticals he ’ d spent over a decade developing in order to pursue his academic interests , but his hard work has paid off – and he was even awarded a coveted industrial fellowship through the Royal 1851 Commission for his PhD .
Passionate about improving manufacturing through digitisation , he has helped develop new tools and reporting systems at Mersen . But he also believes a digital journey is more than just installing new software and hardware , so he ’ s helped drive a positive culture within the company too .
Zoe Lewis , principal and chief executive at Middlesbrough College Group , said : “ We ’ re delighted to see such a worthy winner of the Rising Star award . Scarlett is a truly inspirational person who manages to combine being head of brand and marketing at Aero Commerce with fantastic work inspiring women in the tech sector with the Brave Bold Digital campaign . She sets a terrific example to young people in the industry to seize the opportunities available and shows how bright the future of the tech sector is in the Tees Valley .”
64 | Tees Business