Assist Strategy Board
33 years’ experience working in the public sector with the private sector in NE England to deliver economic growth and regeneration. I have mentored and encouraged the development of work colleagues and staff females to support them in achieving their ambitions in quite a male dominated sector.
33 years’ experience working in the public sector with the private sector in NE England to deliver economic growth and regeneration with more than 10 years working in Tees Valley.
I am a strategic thinker with a very practical skills set. I have extensive experience and achieved significant success in policy and strategy development and delivery at the national, regional and local level across the complete range of economic development and regeneration areas of activity; developing and delivering funding bids, programmes, and the development of projects (both capital and revenue) from a vision to on the ground delivery, completion and evaluation.
I have worked with a very broad range of public, private and voluntary and community organisations throughout my career and have been a member of a number of local and national networks including chairing the national Economic Development Officers Society.
When I started my career, it was an extremely male-dominated sector. I have always sought to develop all of my staff. However, given my experience and having a daughter (also a son) I have taken a particular interest in mentoring and encouraging the development of young women and female work colleagues to support them in achieving their ambitions in what is still quite a male-dominated sector. I have also worked proactively in Tees Valley to change the balance of private sector involvement in public / private partnership working.
The strategy board is an excellent way to bring more focus to the activities. I’m a great believer in asking people what has worked well for them and what could work better. What would they like to see more or less of in the future.
I found Assist through a love of books and a desire for personal development but what I discovered was so much more. Whatever you come to Assist for it will benefit all aspects of your life; personal, professional and community. It is positive action for women on Teesside to support and empower each other and most importantly, to thrive. Why would you not want to be a part of this?
Hayley Mclean – Anderson Barrowcliff LLP
Audit Manager
Assist is a great place to meet, connect and collaborate with businesswomen from across the Tees Valley. It's welcoming and informal atmosphere for networking, combined with the diverse range of business topics it addresses on behalf of its members is both interesting and informative. This winning combination means i learn something new each time i attend and its why i keep coming back.
Carol Kerr
Business Consultant
ASSIST is just the most wonderful organisation. Filled with decent, powerful, creative, useful, intelligent and interesting people. And, the networking meetings smell so much better than normal ones :)
Jackie Dack of TEAL
Personal Performance Coach
Since joining Assist I have been invited to events including Hidden Women of Teesside, where I had the chance to network with local business women and build contacts. I felt very welcomed and part of something supportive of where I'm at today and what I'm trying to achieve. I now have an experienced mentor for the next year to help me focus and build my dreams. Lastly I was invited to the Assist Christmas meal which was amazing as being self-employed and a small grassroots organisation, it can get lonely so I was grateful for the opportunity to connect with other women feeling the same way and trying to achieve great things.
Annalice Argyle – Trac UK (Teesside)
Independent Recovery Advocates and Consultants & Lobster Recovery
