Four rising stars from our region have been named among the 2023 winners of the Hull & Humber Top 30 Under 30.
The scheme, which is now in its sixth year, recognises young talent within businesses in the Hull and Humber region.
This year’s selection highlights young people from some of the region’s most established employers alongside the very best talent within the area’s best small and medium-sized organisations.
Charlotte Beecroft, marketing coordinator at MKM Building Supplies, is a former Hornsea School pupil. She previously worked at MKM during her placement year studying marketing at the University of Hull and was approached to return full-time as a marketing executive before being promoted during her first year. She won the Most Valuable Player 2022 award within the team.
Fellow former Hornsea School pupil Jon Donoghue joined Giacom four and a half years ago, and has since risen from first-line tech support analyst to service desk team leader, managing not one, but two product teams.
Jon is the most recent staff member to win the Giacom Star, and he is also a huge advocate for mental health, having volunteered to become Giacom’s qualified mental health first aider, providing support to all areas of the business.
Katie Blyth, team manager at Wescot Credit Services, is a former pupil of Withernsea High School. Her will to support others with their learning saw her progress into a coaching role in 2018, and her skills soon saw her progress into a team leader role, taking control of a team with up to 14 people.
Also a former Withernsea student, Robbie Hunt, manufacturing production planner at Advanced Plastics, has transformed the way his company plans its manufacturing facility. He co-ordinates and directs the production setting team, which has resulted in improved efficiency and a more cohesive team culture within the wider business.
Simon Jones, creator of the Top 30 Under 30 scheme, said: “I am delighted to announce this year’s winners, and our class of 2023. It is a celebration of the work, energy and contribution of our region’s talent, who have made a significant difference to our businesses and organisations.
“These young people have excelled in their respective fields, plus they have shown the qualities and behaviours that have stood them out among a very competitive field, to be award a place on our prestigious list.”
In addition, each of the winners get enrolled on to the scheme’s coveted LEAP programme. This provides the winners with an opportunity to further enhance their leadership skills, led by industry experts in leadership, self-development and communication.
The scheme received a record number of nominations this year, a signal to Mr Jones that the local economy is in a positive position.
He added: “Every year, I am amazed by the support I receive for this scheme. But having seen the scheme break records once again, it gives me a real sense of optimism about the region’s future. Reading through the nominations is not only testament to the work from our winners, but the trust the organisations they are part of have in their talent.
“This is a real statement. A statement from the region’s talent to say that you can trust them to take the lead and make a difference, and a statement from the organisations involved to say that they are prepared to back young people to make a difference, and that they are seeing the benefits that strategy brings.”
