INSPIRATEES

Steve Gibson OBE

( Middlesbrough FC, Rockliffe Hall & Bulkhaul)

The first InspiraTees winner in 2016 and a regular in the Top 10 ever since, the Middlesbrough FC owner and chairman also runs, with business partner Michael O’ Neill, the Gibson O’ Neill group, including global tank transportation firm Bulkhaul – which employs more than 550 people locally and the same abroad – and the Rockliffe Hall complex at Hurworth near Darlington.

Recently made an Honorary Doctor of Business Administration by Teesside University, he originally joined the board of Middlesbrough FC in 1984 as the club’ s youngest ever director, aged 26, just three years after founding Bulkhaul. He later led a consortium that rescued the club from liquidation in 1986, helping lay the foundations for future growth. Speaking on receiving the university award, he said:“ The emotion is just gratitude to the town for all it’ s given me. The business was built with Middlesbrough people, and we employ over 550 people locally and the same abroad.”

INSPIRATHREES

Paula McMahon( SRM)

INSPIRATHREES

Peter Calvert( Embeddable)

4th( 11th-30th) Catherine Devereux( Knights & Headlight Project) A former InspiraTees table-topper and this year’ s highest-placed woman, qualified lawyer Catherine is a partner in the employment team at Knights plc and runs her own consultancy. However, she is also well known as the founder and trustee of the Headlight Project – a body she set up after the tragic death of her husband Russ, by suicide, in 2018 and which has since, through preventative education, training, counselling and compassion, provided, in its own words, a guiding light when the road ahead is dark.

5th( 3rd) Gary Dawson( AV Dawson) The chairman of family-run logistics giant AV Dawson – operators of the Port of Middlesbrough – Gary succeeded his late father Maurice as managing director in 2000, but became chairman in 2023 after a restructuring of the firm’ s board of directors.

He prefers to stay out of the limelight, but nicely summed up his approach on gaining the chairmanship three years ago, saying:“ As well as continuing to promote our core values, I am keen to ensure we honour and protect the business’ s past, but also inspire the team to create a strong, sustainable future.”

6th( new entry) Sara Davies MBE

( Dragon ' s Den) One of the most recognisable faces on the list, Wynyard-based Sara is one of the UK ' s most successful entrepreneurs, having founded Crafter ' s Companion in 2005 while studying business management at the University of York. Under her leadership, the company grew into an international brand exporting to more than 40 countries and employing hundreds of people.

She was awarded an MBE in 2016 for services to the economy and, in 2019, became the youngest-ever female“ dragon” on the BBC ' s Dragons ' Den, where she has invested in and mentored numerous start-up businesses. She remains a leading advocate for entrepreneurship and innovation across the UK.

7th( 7th)

Sharon

Lane( Tees Components) Sharon has devoted her professional life to engineering excellence – from machining apprentice to boss of multi-million pound Skelton-based firm Tees Components.

Always in the InspiraTees Top 10, her career journey began as a machining and technical drawing apprentice with TTE in the late 90s. Since 2005, she has run Tees Components – firstly as general manager and, since 2018, as MD. Earlier this year, her peers voted her the 2026 recipient of the Tees Business Awards Lifetime Achievement honour.

The voice of business in the Tees region | 21