SPONSORED BY MOONRISE 24HR RECRUITMENT
FUTURE LEADERS AWARD
FINALIST
BEN ROBINSON ( INTELECT )
Proud winner - Nathan Wall received the Future Leaders Award from Jessica Gwaringa of category sponsor Moonrise .
WINNER
NATHAN WALL ( KATMEX )
Injury may have forced his football retirement – but production engineer Nathan Wall still has plenty of career goals after being crowned the Future Leader at the Tees Business Awards .
Of all the night ’ s 12 winners , his walk to the stage took the longest – because he did it on crutches .
Just days before the big awards night , centre-back Nathan broke the tibia and fibula in his right leg while “ trying to play football ” for Hartlepool Sunday League team Gillen Arms FC .
And while he admits the injury has prompted him to hang up his boots , he still adopted a time-honoured football phrase on receiving his award , saying he was “ over the moon ”.
An employee of Stockton-based steel firm Katmex for nine years , Nathan began his career as an apprentice , progressed to CNC machinist and is now production engineer .
He also recently took on a role mentoring the factory ’ s new apprentices – a job he says he ’ s “ proud of ”, admitting it takes him back to when he started .
Nathan told Tees Business : “ I ’ ve nurtured a young team built of apprentices and young technicians and hopefully I ’ ve inspired them along the way to develop a career with Katmex .
“ I see myself in them . It ’ s nice to see they ’ re the future of the company and I just want to give them the best chance I can to succeed .”
As for his own career goals ? He said : “ The sky ’ s the limit as far as I ’ m concerned – I ’ d like to progress as high as I can and if that means being MD one day , why not ? Aim high !”
SPONSOR ’ S REFLECTIONS :
Jessica Gwaringa , managing director , Moonrise 24hr Recruitment “ Moonrise 24hr Recruitment was thrilled to sponsor the Future Leaders Award . At Moonrise , we believe strong leadership is key to a business ’ s growth . Great leaders demonstrate resilience , dedication and promote a culture of inclusivity , collaboration and innovation . All the nominees embody these qualities and deserve this recognition . Congratulations to Nathan Wall , who won the category award .”
Having opted for the apprenticeship route over university , Ben , 23 , has worked his way up to accounts manager at Intelect . He joined the Middlesbrough-based engineering company six years ago , completing his AAT Advanced Diploma in Accounting with Northern Skills at Middlesbrough College , working his way up to Level 4 .
Fast forward to 2024 , and Ben is now completing his CIMA qualification and , as part of a succession planning strategy , is now accounts manager and company secretary at the company , managing his own team of three , which includes two apprentices .
He also won a Highly Commended award in the company ’ s internal apprenticeship awards in 2023 .
FINALIST
EVE ALLEN ( MFC FOUNDATION )
Youth engagement coordinator Eve helps coordinate the Premier League Kicks project and the planning of large-scale events that allow hundreds of young people from the most deprived areas of Teesside to access free football .
In her role , Eve works in partnership with organisations such as Middlesbrough Football Club , Middlesbrough College , Cleveland Police , local authorities and the Police and Crime Commissioner to provide the participants , aged eight to 18 , with free diversionary activities within their local community .
One of Eve ’ s key successes this year was an event held at Middlesbrough College that showcased the pathways young people can access on leaving school .
The voice of business in the Tees region | 141