Tees Business LIVE : September 2024
EVENTS
PICTURES : DOUG MOODY
WHY SMALL IS BIG
Tees Business LIVE : September 2024
THE GLOBE , STOCKTON
SPONSORED BY
Panel – speakers at the September Tees Business LIVE event included ( from left ) Durata ’ s Alison McGee , Analox ’ s Emma Harbottle , former Middlesbrough mayor Andy Preston , Punch Robson Solicitors managing partner Elaine McLaine-Wood and Anne Cowley from Baines Jewitt Chartered Accountants .
‘ We ’ re being taken seriously now – we have a presence ’ – Tees Business panel
The profile of women in business has changed for the better in recent years – but there ’ s still more to do .
That was the message from a fourstrong panel of female business leaders at the September Tees Business LIVE event . Hosted by Tees Business , the latest monthly event was held at Stockton Globe and sponsored by Stokesley-based gas sensing specialist Analox in front of more than 60 delegates .
And while all four felt the tide was turning – helped by events such as the Tees Businesswomen Awards – they felt it was vital to keep the momentum going .
Alison McGee , quality director of Middlesbrough-based critical power specialist Durata , said it was a matter of continuing to boost the confidence of women in business .
Alison , who was ranked in the top 10 of this year ’ s InspiraTees rollcall of inspiring local business leaders , told the meeting : “ I ’ m definitely seeing more women in business , and more women wanting to take that step to start their own businesses or go for positions internally and getting that confidence to apply .
“ Without women applying they don ’ t stand a chance – nobody ’ s going to push you . Do it ! If something ’ s there you want to do , just go for it .
“ We ’ re being taken seriously now – we ’ ve got a presence . There are miles still to go yet and there ’ s still a lot that can be done , and is getting done , but the
8 | Tees Business
confidence of women is improving .”
Anne Cowley , a director at Stocktonbased Baines Jewitt Chartered Accountants , said that when she began as a graduate trainee in 1989 , it was a very male-dominated profession .
“ When I qualified in 1993 , I went to an Institute of Chartered Accountants dinner and it was just a room full of men in dinner suits , but that has changed massively over the years . It ’ s a change reflected in the wider business community locally and nationally and it ’ s great that it ’ s celebrated in the Tees Businesswomen Awards .”
Elaine McLaine-Wood , managing partner at Punch Robson Solicitors , said that when she came to work on Teesside from Newcastle in 2005 , there were far fewer females and a far less cosmopolitan feel than she ’ d left behind on Tyneside .
She said : “ Like Anne , I ’ ve been the only female at various dinners , but you just had to get on with that – infiltrate the old boys ’ network , challenge them and get work from them !
“ Many law firms and accountancy firms still have lots of male business partners and directors , but there are women who are challenging that now .”
And while praising events such as the Tees Businesswomen Awards for highlighting female achievements , Emma Harbottle , MD of Tees Business LIVE sponsor Analox , also contemplated another scenario .
She explained : “ It ’ s great championing
Sponsorship opportunities for Tees Business LIVE events in 2025 are now available . For details , call 01642 450255 or email info @ teesbusiness . co . uk what women are doing through the Tees Businesswomen Awards , but the utopia is where you don ’ t need to have women ’ s awards – or if you do , you have men ’ s awards , women ’ s awards and maybe an overall award . Is that the goal to see whether we ’ ve truly achieved equality ?
“ From my early 20s , I ’ ve been in a maledominated world but within a company where female leadership has always been present , so I ’ ve been lucky in that respect .
“ Promoting people , developing and getting top jobs on merit has to be front and centre , otherwise you don ’ t have the credibility .”