INSPIRATEES
POSITIONS 11-30, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER
Chloë Clover
Wander Films The 2021 Tees Businesswoman of the Year is CEO of Middlesbrough-based filmmaker and video marketing agency Wander Films.
Known to friends as Clover, the secondary school dropout co-founded the business with now-wife Lou with a focus that is unapologetically outside the mainstream in words and image. They’ ve now set their sights on the world of TV, with documentary breakthroughs for the BBC and Channel 4.
Tribute to Chloë:“ Having watched Chloë and Wander from afar for a number of years, I have admired how she and her partner Lou have broken the mould for creating successful businesses, proving that your passion to make something work can be much more powerful than any degree in business. Despite Chloë being much younger than me, I have looked up to her for a long time now. Her success played a big part in influencing me to start my own business.” – Jamie Pell, MD, AM Training
MY TOP 3
Jamie Pell( AM Recruitment) |
1. |
Chloë Clover |
2. |
Bill Scott |
3. |
Alison McGee |
Tania Cooper MBE
Steel Benders UK Tania’ s not only MD of fast-growing Teesside business Steel Benders UK – which recently relocated from Middlesbrough to Hartlepool – but is also the proud holder of an MBE for services to international trade and business.
A keen mentor, education holds a special place in her heart, and she works tirelessly to ensure that young people – no matter their background – can access opportunities in STEM fields, laying the groundwork for the next generation of innovators and leaders.
It’ s work that resulted in her receiving the Jane Turner Award for Outstanding Contribution at last year’ s Tees Businesswomen Awards.
And Tania, who is chair of the North East STEM Foundation, told InspiraTees guests that the best leaders are those who“ lead with value, purpose, see the best and bring the best out in others and give them opportunities to grow”.
“ A key is to respect your staff,” she said.“ Respect your colleagues, customers and everybody. You need to give them space and time.
“ I also think you’ ve got to look at more than just inside your company – you’ ve got to have that external reach too.
“ That’ s the inspiration, giving back to the community, as well as running a successful business – for me, that’ s the real drive.”
Tribute to Tania:“ Force of nature. Inspirational. Compassionate. Empathetic. All words I’ d use to describe Tania to people who’ ve never met her. Her drive in the areas of STEM and bringing other women into engineering knows no bounds. And on top of all that, she’ s brilliant, down-to-earth and really good fun to spend time with.” – Malcolm Knott, chair and founder, ITS
MY TOP 3
Malcolm Knott( ITS) |
1. |
Tania Cooper |
2. |
Sharon Lane |
3. |
Zoe Lewis |
Jo Davies
HR Alchemy & Talk Cancer Teesside Jo is the founder-owner of Yarm-based HR specialist HR Alchemy, having built her career with British Steel before setting up her own business.
She also finds time to be a trustee of Teesside Hospice while showing empathetic leadership by setting up Talk Cancer Teesside – a campaign to promote cancer awareness in workplace settings.
Tribute to Jo:“ Jo is an inspiring leader whose professionalism and dedication to doing good make her truly exceptional. I’ ve watched with awe as she launched the award-winning Talk Cancer Teesside.” – Julie Burniston, head of business development and communication, Southern Asset Management
Catherine Devereux
Knights & Headlight Project Catherine inspires a combination of awe and admiration in those who see the way she has conducted herself through the darkest of times of losing a loved one to suicide.
A solicitor by trade and a partner in the employment team at law firm Knights, Catherine is the founder and trustee behind the suicide prevention and mental health charity Headlight Project, launched in honour of her late husband Russ.
Tribute to Catherine“ I have so much admiration for the way Catherine has used her own circumstances to help and support others, truly making a difference in our local community when people need it most.” – Katie Woods- Ruddick, chief people officer, px Group
MY TOP 3
Samantha Hockney( Teesside High School)
1. Catherine Devereux 2. Claire Preston 3. Jessica Williams
22 | Tees Business