The four previous winners of the Tees Businesswomen Awards ( left to right ), Jane Armitage , Sharon Lane , Chloë Clover and Claire Preston .
How businesswomen in the Tees Valley are breaking the mould
FORCES OF NATURE
Women of the Tees Valley are smashing national stereotypes when it comes to business awards .
When an annual poll – run by Tees Business , the team behind This Is Tees Valley – produced only three women in a top 30 of the region ’ s Most Inspiring Businesspeople , it created a debate .
It became clear there was a real need to increase the profiles of local female business leaders , and the discussions led to the launch of the Tees Businesswomen Awards in 2018 .
With 2022 marking the fifth year for the event , dozens of local women in business have significantly increased their profile – either by being shortlisted in categories , or winning them .
And previous winners of the top award – Tees Businesswoman of the Year – are huge advocates of the movement as a force for positive change .
“ If you think about the reason for awards ceremonies in general , it ’ s to acknowledge and to celebrate success , and I ’ m all for that ,” said Claire Preston , winner of the inaugural award in 2018 .
“ It ’ s particularly important for women to be acknowledged and their successes celebrated , partly to acknowledge their own individual stories , but so they can have visibility and act as role models and inspire future generations .”
Sharon Lane , managing director of engineering firm Tees Components and winner of the award in 2019 , said : “ When I started in my industry there were no females
in leadership roles and I grew up with quite a nasty stereotype about female leaders and female managers – that they were adopting traditional male leadership styles and were pulling the ladder up .
“ The Tees Businesswomen Awards do lots of things but , for me , one of the most important is that they showcase women in our region who are incredibly driven , highly educated , skilled and experienced – and doing it their way .
“ These are the perfect role models for our young girls and women who , when they ask what an entrepreneur looks like , what a CEO looks like , what a chemical engineer looks like , they are seeing us .”
Jane Armitage was managing partner of Jacksons Law Firm when she won the top award in 2020 , and is now chair of the Power of Women campaign .
“ The businesswomen of the Tees Valley are clearly doing an amazing job running their companies , but maybe not such a great job of maintaining their profiles ,” said Jane .
“ The awards give women both a community and a profile and , perhaps more importantly , a chance for other women to sit up , take notice and think , ‘ That could be me !’”
Chloë Clover , from film production firm Wander Films and winner of the award in 2021 , added : “ It ’ s important to have faith in your ability , to go for the things you want or to nominate those who you think deserve recognition .
“ The Tees Businesswomen Awards really are incredibly inspirational , and they do make a difference . They show the world that women can do it , that we can help and support each other , that there ’ s a space for us and things are changing .”
Dave Allan and Martin Walker – the directors of Resolution Media and Publishing , who created the Tees Businesswomen Awards – will only be happy when there is no longer a need for them . They enjoyed huge support from the late , great Professor Jane Turner OBE DL – Teesside University ’ s pro vice-chancellor and gender champion – in establishing the awards .
“ One day , hopefully , we ’ ll have true gender equality ,” said Dave . “ But until then we think the awards are doing a fantastic job of raising the aspirations of local women in business and , crucially , creating role models for our young women to aspire to .”
Find out more about the Tees Businesswomen Awards , at teesbusiness . co . uk / awards .
To enquire about sponsorship opportunities in 2023 , email info @ resolutionpublishing . co . uk .
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