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.”