The voice of business in the Tees region | 23
px Group – sponsoring Training
& Apprenticeships
Jane Turner OBE says the inaugural
Tees Businesswomen Awards were
an important catalyst for providing an
opportunity to showcase and celebrate
women’s capabilities.
Teesside University
– sponsoring
Businesswoman of
the Year
After handing the inaugural
top award to Claire Preston
last year, Teesside University
is again sponsoring the Tees
Businesswomen of the Year award
this year.
Jane Turner OBE – the university’s
pro vice-chancellor (enterprise and
business engagement) as well as
its gender champion, who was the
keynote speaker last year – said:
“Teesside University is delighted
to be again sponsoring the Tees
Businesswomen Awards.
“As a university firmly anchored
in the Tees Valley, we take a very
active role in raising the aspiration
and ambition of young girls across
the region and in elevating the
awareness of the amazing female
talent that resides here.
“These awards are an important
catalyst, not only providing an
opportunity to better understand
the ability of women in our regional
businesses but also providing
an opportunity to showcase and
celebrate that capability.
“Tees Business really appreciates
the importance of better
understanding the female talent
and authentically raising their
profile and are also firmly cited
on the economic benefits that a
more balanced workforce brings
to business. Last year’s inaugural
ceremony was uplifting and started
a movement for change around
better gender balance in the region.
“A key outcome from last year
was that a number of the winning
and shortlisted women delivered
an engaging learning event at the
university on International Womens’
Day 2019 for 80 girls aged 16 to 18.
“In addition, a number of female
leaders have come together to
develop a mentoring programme
for 13 to 19-year-old girls that will be
launched in the autumn. So overall,
the awards have helped to create an
extremely positive outcome for the
women and girls of our region.”
Stockton-based px Group – which provides
innovative operations management,
engineering services and energy management
solutions to partners in high hazard, highly
regulated industries – is sponsoring the
Training & Apprenticeships category for the
second successive year this year.
Katie Woods-Ruddick, head of HR for px
Group, said: “We were delighted to be part
of the inaugural Tees Businesswomen awards
and listen to such an array of inspirational
achievements. It proved to be a real
celebratory evening and we didn’t hesitate to
get involved again this year. Highlighting the
vast career choices that are open to women is
so important and this event creates a platform
to demonstrate what opportunities are
Support – Katie Woods-Ruddick,
head of HR for px Group.
available and showcases the talented female
workforce we have in our region.
“We are looking forward to being part of
this event again, which we are confident will
become a vital part of raising the profile of
women in business.”
RMS Recruitment –
sponsoring Best Newcomer
Revealing – Tees Valley Combined
Authority managing director Julie
Gilhespie says last year’s event was
“eye-opening”.
Tees Valley Combined
Authority – sponsoring
Best New Business
The Tees Valley Combined
Authority is sponsoring the Best
New Business award again after
backing the same category in
last year’s inaugural event.
Julie Gilhespie, chief executive
of the combined authority, said:
“The Tees Businesswomen
Awards is an important stage
from where we can highlight the
massive achievements of the
female entrepreneurs, owners,
directors and managers that
grow our regional economy and
inspire the next generation of
leaders.
“Last year’s event was eye-
opening and I was delighted to
see the depth and breadth of
industries in Tees Valley with
women at the helm.
“Tees Valley Combined
Authority and I want to
encourage young women to
realise opportunities, dream big
and aspire to get to the top.
“That’s why we’re proud to be
sponsoring the awards again this
year and helping to amplify all of
these motivating stories.”
Inspired – Nikki
Butt from
Darlington-based
recruitment
agency Resource
Management
Solutions (RMS)
is thrilled to be
involved again
this year.
Darlington-based recruitment agency Resource
Management Solutions (RMS) are sponsoring the
Best Newcomer category again this year, after
sponsoring the same award last year.
Nikki Butt of RMS Recruitment said: “Inspired
by the number of successful women in business
at last year’s event, we are thrilled to be
sponsoring the Tees Businesswomen Awards
for a second year. We feel passionately that this
celebration is an innovative milestone in today’s
society as we recognise and support the next
generation of female professionals.”
Nikki believes the awards are well suited to
RMS, as the recruitment firm approaches 20
years under the creative vision of managing
director Carole Martin
“Carole is an inspirational leader who
encourages her team to accomplish their own
goals,” she said. “She established RMS with a
clear vision to develop a quality and innovative
service that is driven by and focused on the
needs of our people - and that vision remains at
the forefront of our operation today, as does she.
“Our ongoing success is without doubt
accredited to her ethic, passion and influential
leadership qualities. She is the heartbeat within
our business and with that in mind RMS are very
well suited to the Tees Businesswomen Awards.
“Last year’s event was extremely well-
coordinated throughout. From the categories,
the deserving winners and the general feeling of
pride within the room, it is not surprising we need
a bigger room this year.
“This is most definitely a celebration of the
female entrepreneurial spirit in the Tees region
and one that will shape the future of our local
businesses.”