Business’ Moving Gesture Following Inspiring Females Awards Win
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Local business Hargreaves has donated to a charity chosen by one of the winners of this year’s Inspiring Females Awards.
After picking Melanie Stewart, of Universal Wolf, as their winner of the Inspiring Female (medium) Award, Hargreaves reached out to Mel, who chose charity Tommy’s for the special donation.
Mel, Welding and Fabrication Lead, said: “For Hargreaves to do such a thing really left me overwhelmed. I’d like to say thank you again to Hargreaves, Universal Wolf and the North East England Chamber of Commerce, not just for giving me the platform to tell my story, but for giving me the recognition after hearing it.”
Tommy’s is the UK’s largest charity researching the causes and prevention of pregnancy complications, miscarriage, stillbirth and premature birth.
Mel said: “My wife and I tried numerous rounds of IVF before we were successful with Ehnya. In the six years we suffered numerous miscarriages and one pregnancy we had to terminate at 13 weeks. These years brought so many questions and so much heartache we chose to support Tommy’s to ensure people in similar situations could get answers and support.
“Ehnya is my happy ending and inspires me to be better and do better every day.”
John Samuel, Group Finance Director at Hargreaves, presented Mel with her award at the Inspiring Females Awards ceremony last month. The awards recognise inspirational women across a range of businesses in the region.
John said: “Mel stood out from others with her passion and drive for change and acceptance. The donation, which is from our Corporate Social Responsibility Fund, is an ‘extra well done’ for Mel.”
Leaders in land regeneration, property and infrastructure, Hargreaves develops industrial and environmental solutions around the world.
John added about the awards: “It is vital to recognise the influence that women make in their chosen field, especially when that field is traditionally thought of as a ‘man’s job’.”
When completing her apprenticeship, Mel was one of very few female welders in the region. She experienced gender-based discrimination when applying for roles, shortening her name to ‘Mel’, as ‘Melanie’ never received a call back.
Mel said: “Winning the award had a deeper impact that many realised. Not only did people understand my vision, but they were sending me recognition and support for the years of discrimination I endured. All those comments about my gender, my sexuality and my capacity to do a ‘man’s job’, I was finally getting a virtual hug for, and I must admit, it felt like therapy and gave me a little jolt of confidence that I really appreciate.
“This is why these types of awards are so important. They reach out to these women who have their own day to day struggles and say ‘hey well done! You’re doing great, you are inspiring others’. It’s the drive some people need to pick themselves up, dust themselves off, and crack on!”
Mel also took part in this year’s Inspiring Females Conference, where over 200 delegates came together to recognise, celebrate and take inspiration from women in business.
Mel said: “I was so nervous. My driving force was my daughter, I had done so much reflection in preparation for the event. I have so many stories based on my experiences and challenges, and my goal when sharing is to raise awareness. I want change, I want to be part of a shift that means my daughter can choose a career in STEM as easily as she can a career in the salon with mammy Leah.
“It’s really important to highlight the strong women out there and the diversity in their roles. From directors to mothers and carers. From partners in law firms to women in industry, there are so many inspiring females. I’m so honoured to be considered one.”
Universal Wolf is a sheet metal fabricator in Blyth, Northumberland, which produces complex fabricated components. Click here to visit their website.
Mel’s role involves being the Welding Co-ordinator, looking at manufacturing processes and where improvements can be made, and researching new welding tech and how it can be utilised in the business. Mel is passionate about encouraging more females into all manual trades.
She said: “For many years I have worked in businesses that are predominantly male. This is where the message in schools needs to be addressed. At Universal Wolf it is a very strong pro female environment and we are always looking for our future female engineers.”