Tees Business Tees Business Issue 16 | Page 55

BEST NEWCOMER Sponsored by RMS Recruitment WINNER: JESSICA WILLIAMS Former retail banker Jessica Williams was “honoured and overwhelmed” to win the Best Newcomer award. The ambitious 32-year-old’s outsourced sales business Just Williams has expanded rapidly since she set up on her own in 2015. Turnover has risen from £80,000 to an on-target £252,000 for 2019, and Jessica aims to turn Just Williams into the top outsourced sales provider in the country. It’s a target she is confident of hitting as she has every confidence in the team around her, who she was quick to praise upon receiving her award. Jessica has a mostly female team of six and, having recently taken on two new staff, Just Williams is in the process of leaving its current Fusion Hive base for larger offices. “I’m a little bit overwhelmed because the nominations were so strong,” she said. “I was up against some amazing women and I’m really humbled and completely overwhelmed to have won.” “I have got an amazing team of professionals behind me,” she added. “Without them and their support, knowledge and expertise I couldn’t have done it. “We will be doubling the size of the team in the next six-12 months, and our vision is to disrupt the traditional sales model, so we will become the largest sales outsourcing organisation in the UK. “That sounds arrogant but it’s not. It’s just that I’ve got the most amazing team and the most amazing professional people around me to support that. That’s what it’s about, strong relationships and people.” Matthew Telling of category sponsors RMS Recruitment presents the Best Newcomer award to Jessica Williams. Holly Campbell. Jo Davies. RUNNER-UP: RUNNER-UP: Holly Campbell Jo Davies Holly Campbell joined global chemical company Venator in November 2017 as a communications assistant, fresh from Sunderland University. And her “positive outlook and creative thinking” has been hailed for helping to create a happier and more inclusive culture among the approximately 400 employees at Venator’s Wynyard HQ. Journalism graduate Holly’s drive in creating an engagement programme featuring family events and fundraisers has helped many appreciative employees to forge a greater connection with the company. Rebecca Wilson, Venator’s cultural change manager who nominated Holly, said: “Without Holly, the culture at Venator’s HQ would look and feel very different.” Middlesbrough Human Resource solutions firm HR Alchemy has hit the ground running since being set up by managing director Jo Davies 18 months ago. Former HR director Jo’s company already boasts a high profile client list of over 50 business – from high street retailers to global games developers. Within six months, Jo employed a former SSI worker as a new staff member, and her determination to grow has seen her open a new office in Commerce House. HR Alchemy’s turnover is set to be three times higher than year one, and Jo plans to appoint two new staff members. SPONSOR’S MESSAGE RMS operations director Matthew Telling: “The Tees Businesswomen Awards Night was a wonderful celebration of incredible talent, and it was a real privilege to present the Best Newcomer award to Jess Williams on behalf of RMS, proud sponsors of this category. “The judging process proved to be taxing, given the quality of the nominees. Congratulations must go to Jo Davies and Holly Campbell for reaching the shortlist and ultimately running Jess very close. “Jess emerged as a deserved winner though. She’s had a phenomenal year, demonstrating that a combination of creative flair, a passion for building brilliant relationships and an incredible amount of energy, hard work and sheer determination can realise outstanding results.”