Jo Kimber Managing director, Granby
In 20 years at Granby, Jo has led the company to new heights, expanding its offering and winning major new clients to help it become a full-service, fourth-party fulfilment provider with a global reputation. She is also keenly involved in the development of employees.
Granby launched its own academy to help staff gain qualifications ranging from GCSEs and apprenticeships to professional body qualifications. In 2022, Jo sold her shares in the company to an Employee-Owned Trust, giving security and purpose to all employees and creating a legacy that will continue for years to come.
Why she inspires
“Jo has had an amazing career, she shares all her knowledge and experience to mentor those around her, wanting nothing more than to see others develop and succeed.”
Sarah Lindsay
Head of children and young people’s services, The Boathouse Youth
Sarah grew up on the Grange Park council estate in Blackpool where by her own admission she became “a known troublemaker”. She began to turn things around in her late teens, going on to study at UCLan.
During her university years, Sarah volunteered as a leader for the Girl Guide Association and became involved with the Detached Youth Work programme, where she impressed management so much that she was offered paid employment. This work has allowed her to revisit the council estate of her youth, and she was instrumental in launching an additional youth centre which has become the organisation’s most active facility.
Why she inspires
“Her determination to create powerful social action movements in Blackpool is making positive ripples across the town.”
LET’S CELEBRATE WHILE CONTINUING TO PUSH FOR CHANGE
As a county, we need to work harder to ensure more women fill leadership positions and we increase the diversity of our business community.
However, it’s important to recognise Lancashire is already making huge leaps forward.
In May 2021, Phillippa Williamson was elected leader of Lancashire County Council – meaning the council now has a female leader and chief executive.
Lancashire County Council also commissioned a wide-ranging report last year, Growing Women, Growing Lancashire, into the number of women in leadership roles in Lancashire and how to increase this.
In response to the report’s findings, the council launched a support programme specifically designed to help female business leaders prepare for high growth.
It’s vital, however, that the public and private sectors work together to tackle inequalities.
Lancashire has a brilliant ecosystem of networking support groups that female business leaders can receive help and guidance through, such as our chambers and The Business Network operated by Karen Tems, but many of our key professions are still male dominated.
Nikki Whittle
The legal sector lags behind other industries in areas such as the gender pay gap, the number of women partners and also in working practices, such as flexibility of working hours. At Brabners, we recognise this need to be better at promoting diversity.
In 2018, we launched our Together Action Group, which I chair. It includes five sub- groups which meet regularly to push for change across the firm on issues relating to equality, diversity and inclusivity.
I am proud that in recent years, we have driven some important changes in the way Brabners operates.
We publish our gender pay gap report annually on the Brabners website in greater detail than is legally required.
We have a goal of a 50-50 split between male and female partners and we have seen a rise in female partners in recent years.
We also aim to create an environment which makes women feel more comfortable in the workplace.
Across Lancashire,
we are seeing a lot of evidence of change
All offices have gender neutral toilets in which free period products are available. We also hold sessions where we educate colleagues on menstruation and the menopause.
From my own experience both internally and looking across Lancashire, we are seeing a lot of evidence of change.
We must all continue to move toward being a business community where everyone feels included, no matter their gender, sexuality, ethnicity or background.
LANCASHIREBUSINESSVIEW.CO.UK
Amanda Meachin
Chief executive, Community & Business Partners
Amanda’s journey has taken her from teen mum to chief executive of the non-profit CB Partners. Her organisation’s twin aims are to support businesses and to serve the local community, often combining the two.
Support includes mentoring, coaching and training for new starts and growing businesses. The community impact comes in various forms, such as distributing the equivalent of more than 800 free and subsidised meals each month, contributing 1,700 volunteer hours per year, and operating a ‘scraps store’ specialising in art and craft supplies that would otherwise be sent to landfill.
Why she inspires
“From teen mum to chief executive, Amanda has a story that is inspiring to women across Lancashire. A true ‘you can do anything’ tale.”
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WOMEN IN BUSINESS
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