2019
BUSINESSWOMAN
OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Teesside University
WINNER:
SHARON LANE
(TEES COMPONENTS)
Sharon is responsible for the continued
growth and development of Tees
Components, which serves industries
including offshore renewables, defence and
marine. She became managing director in
2018 when her father, Clive, took on the
chairman’s role.
But her route to the top started as one
of just four women among 660 apprentices
at TTE and she worked her way up to
senior engineer at Darchem before joining
the family firm as general manager 15
years ago. Sharon is passionate about
encouraging more women into engineering
and promoting apprenticeships. She uses
her position to share her experiences
with young women and inspire future
generations to enter the industry.
“The business is successful – and I
attribute that to the foundations my
parents laid and the work my staff do.
I really value my team and I‘m really
conscious how good they are. I see my role
as holding all that together.
“I’ve tried to look around me, look to the
future and see where the business needs
to go. I’ve tried to learn about the industry
really thoroughly.”
Sharon has been a key to helping Tees
Components diversify into new markets
as traditional markets moved overseas,
leading an upskilling of staff, investment in
the business and a move into the export
trade via customers in the USA, south east
Asia and Europe.
Sharon’s trophy was collected in her
absence by her mother, fellow Tees
Components director, Jean Wood.
FINALIST: FINALIST:
Angela Lockwood
(North Star Housing) Nadia Hussain
(De Meló)
Angela has been chief executive offer
of North Star, a thriving, medium-sized
housing association, since 2009. The
Stockton-based organisation provides
high-quality homes for more than
6,000 people, including some with
support needs, and builds around 100
new homes each year. Under Angela’s
direction North Star has won numerous
accolades, including number one housing
association by 24housing magazine and
being named in the Sunday Times’ list of
the 100 Best Not-for-Profit Organisations
to Work For. She has also worked to
develop a culture of shared leadership
and has been instrumental in providing
safe housing to women who have been
abused. Nadia manages the busy De Meló
dessert lounge and coffee shop in
Middlesbrough. During the year she
has been trained by Italian chefs to
manufacture authentic Italian gelato,
become an ambassador for Richard
Branson’s Virgin StartUp, won best
new coffee shop in the People’s Choice
Awards and been nominated for
Best New Business in the BME Tees
Valley Awards. She has also continued
studying business management while
running the business and carrying
out charity work, including feeding
homeless and needy people every
other day and running a women’s group
to offer support and help each other
overcome emotional abuse.
SPONSOR’S MESSAGE
Teesside University pro vice-chancellor Jane Turner OBE
said: “Teesside University sponsors this award as the
nominations enable us to get a real understanding of the
breadth and depth of female talent in the region.
“This then allows us to reach out to these women
and work with them on purposeful projects, using our
influence as a university to help shine a light on their
contributions, thus helping to drive greater gender
balance.
“The three women shortlisted all exemplified the
category criteria – role models, purposeful leaders,
women making a difference in their respective fields. It
really was a tough decision.
“Sharon’s nomination clearly illustrated a woman who
has demonstrated sheer determination and resilience in
pursuing her career ambitions. A woman who has a clear
vision and is growing the market share and aspiration of
Tees Components. A stand-out leader in a largely male-
dominated sector, with huge credibility and a champion
of apprenticeships and young peoples’ futures. Without
doubt, a shining beacon for the region, a role model and
a totally authentic and unassuming leader.”