AWARDS
SPONSORED AND SHORTLISTED BY CF FERTILISERS
INCLUSION AND ENGAGEMENT AWARD
Winner – Michelle Robson, chief people and compliance officer for PD Ports, with Lee Hepple of category sponsor CF Fertilisers UK.
WINNER
PD PORTS
An enlightened shift in dock culture saw PD Ports rewarded for its inclusion policies at the Tees Business Awards 2026.
After a concerted effort to deliver more inclusive policies, the Teesport owner and operator was named winner of the Inclusion and Engagement Award at this year’ s ceremony.
And after picking up the award, PD Ports chief people and compliance officer Michelle Robson was quick to heap praise on the staff who have driven employee-led groups to make a real difference.
Three leaders of those employee groups – Katie Jones, Andy Tomlinson and Amy Sullivan – were all present to see their hard work rewarded. Michelle said:“ It’ s brilliant to have the recognition and backing of the team.“ Everything we do is driven by employee-led groups. So, all the effort and work people like Katie, Andy and Amy do is amazing – they deliver it and make changes every day.
“ We’ ve tried really hard to move away from the‘ on the dock’ culture of maritime. We listen and then we do something – I think that’ s been the big change. It’ s all about the actions we’ ve taken and the changes we’ re trying to make, day by day.
“ There’ s a huge amount of change going on with PD Ports at the moment, so it’ s a really exciting time for us.”
Changes made by the employer groups – which have sponsors at executive level – have included everything from policies regarding neurodivergence, mental health and drug recovery to Pride and career progression among minority groups.
And with 1,100 people working across its five Teesside sites, those policies and partnerships being formed are making a real difference to many.
Michelle added:“ We’ re trying to create a much more inclusive port where every single person belongs and everybody is welcome.
“ There’ s a whole range of things we’ re looking at, but it’ s all very much based around wellbeing, safety, investment in our people and just driving a different narrative for port life.”
FINALIST
EDUCATION TRAINING COLLECTIVE( ETC.)
The Etc. is proud of its diverse community and the way it raises wider awareness of the world.
The Teesside-based group, comprising five colleges and training providers, creates an environment where individuals feel valued, respected and empowered to reach their potential.
Its focus on equity, diversity, inclusion and belonging is a strategic priority, with Stockton Riverside College and Redcar and Cleveland College having College of Sanctuary status through their welcoming, inclusive and supportive environments for refugees and people seeking asylum.
The group has also achieved Skilled Worker Sponsorship Status, securing stability for individual staff members who could have faced uncertain futures.
FINALIST PROJEX SOLUTIONS
A multidisciplinary engineering consultancy based at Wilton and Brighouse, Projex delivers not only superb engineering and project management services but also a truly inclusive workplace.
It consistently outperforms industry averages in equality, diversity and inclusion through sustained action, not token gestures, with half of its leadership roles held by women and nearly a quarter of staff identifying as Black, Asian or Minority Ethnic( BAME).
Flexible working, mentoring, wellbeing support and fair, skills-based progression are embedded in its culture.
And in 2025, it was a finalist at the IChemE Global Awards for Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, alongside some of the world’ s biggest engineering firms.
SPONSOR’ S REFLECTIONS:
CF Fertilisers general manager Martin Liddle:“ At CF, people are our greatest asset. We believe that creating and committing to an environment where we safeguard each other’ s physical and personal wellbeing, by helping each other feel welcome, valued and inspired, is how individuals and the organisation will develop and prosper.
“ Our Inclusion Resource Group encourages employee involvement to build a culture of belonging, implementing strategies focused on meaningful connections with colleagues and the community, career development and cultural awareness. We’ re delighted to support this award and to learn how I & E is being lived out across our local business community – and how we can integrate these best practices into CF.”
134 | Tees Business