BUSINESSWOMAN
OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Teesside University
WINNER:
CLAIRE
PRESTON
Claire is CEO of hugely successful
Middlesbrough-based Lexonik by Sound
Training, acting as the driving force behind
growing a business that was the brainchild
of fellow director and founder, Katy
Parkinson. Sound Training aim to enhance
people's education and life chances
through improved literacy levels, via their
unique Lexonik teaching programme.
Helped by mainly female staff, the
business has benefited over 60,000
students and has a turnover of around
£1.5m, following international use in
three US states and English-speaking
international schools in the Middle East
inspired by Claire’s trips abroad. Further
US expansion is forecast in the next year.
Claire, 50, said: “Teesside
Businesswoman of the Year is an
incredible accolade, and I just can’t put
into words how happy I am to receive it –
honestly and truly.
“It was wonderful enough to be
nominated, let alone be shortlisted, and to
win it I just feel overwhelmed.
“I feel there are a lot of other women
who deserve it more, but obviously I will
accept it with a lot of gratitude.
“But it’s not about me, it’s about the
team. We have got an amazing team, and
this award isn’t about my hard work it’s
everybody’s hard work at our company.”
“The future is going to be amazing for
us, this is only the start,” Claire added.
“We are on a mission to raise literacy
levels around the world and we have
an incredible team to make sure that
becomes a reality.”
Businesswoman of the Year Claire Preston (left) received her award
from Jane Turner of category sponsors Teesside University.
Sharon Lane.
Yasmin Khan.
RUNNER-UP: RUNNER-UP:
Sharon Lane Yasmin Khan
Sharon is general manager of family-run
engineering company Tees Components
and has been involved with the firm
from leaving school when she was 16,
continually proving ever since that she is
much more than just the boss’s daughter.
Since she took over as general manager
in 2005, the firm – which has sites at
North Skelton and Lingdale and employs
75 people – has reached record multi-
million pound turnover levels after gaining
bigger and more complex projects and
investing in new, advanced machinery, with
heavy CNC Machining its core business
and current capacity said to be the largest
in the UK. Yasmin is founder and chief officer of
Middlesbrough’s women-run Halo Project,
a black, asian and minority ethnic (BAME)
charity that supports and helps women
and girls who are either at risk of or who
have been victims of illegal harm. The Halo
Project gained charity status in late 2014,
and its eight-woman team has supported
more than 1,000 victims of domestic
violence.
As a businesswoman, Yasmin has
developed an invaluable and innovative
victim support model, and brought
over £1m into the Tees Valley economy
through national grant funding. She’s also
established the North-East’s first BAME
women safe house and refuge.
SPONSOR’S MESSAGE
Jane Turner OBE, Teesside University: “We were delighted
to be involved in this prestigious event, recognising
women’s achievements in the region. Nominations for this
award were overwhelming. Across the region, these women
are diligently working in their respective fields, inspiring
others and making an economic and social impact in the
Tees Valley.
“Our shortlisted nominees were chosen for their
dedication to their industries, their drive for success and
their commitment to improving the lives of others. Claire’s
ability to use her success in business to raise the profile of
women and the Tees Valley region, alongside her work with
numerous charitable organisations, made her a stand-out
role model for women and girls in the Tees Valley.”