Nick Sturgeon Unsung Hero Award

About the award

This Award is designed to honour an Unsung Hero who works or is closely connected to the chemical industry. The award is given to an individual who has made a significant contribution to the industry over a number of years, often through hard work and achievements that haven’t necessarily grabbed the big headlines. 

Receiving the Unsung Hero award from the Chemical Industries Association was both an honour and a surprise for Joanne. This recognition of her efforts over the years, for doing a job that she loves, truly meant the world to her.

Joanne has been at the Solenis manufacturing facility for over 40 years. As a communications manager, she has been able to get involved in many activities that help build important relationships with key stakeholders in her communities. Her role is varied; from leading the educational outreach activities, to meetings or taking calls with neighbours, or alternatively, driving the site’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) objectives!

For Joanne, the senior leadership team has always been incredibly supportive of her outreach and DE&I work. Over the years, she has expanded her efforts to encompass the entire educational spectrum—supporting teachers, engaging with students aged 5 to 18, and even sharing her stories at universities to highlight the amazing opportunities within the chemical industry. Added to this is the community work she does, getting involved with events in nature reserves or litter picking in local parks – the opportunities are endless and so worthwhile for everyone.

Joanne said: “It’s simple, take a look into your local and wider communities – what’s out there that can help you with your community engagement, or what partnerships can you develop to support your networking opportunities? They are out there, whether they are neighbours, community organisations, educational facilities, nature reserves, or even other companies – there is always something or someone that will help you on your journey!”.

With 7 primary schools within a mile of the Solenis Bradford site, it was important to Joanne for Solenis to engage with this key group of stakeholders: teachers, students, and their parents. Two decades ago, the engagement began with the Children Challenging Industry project, bringing primary school children to the Bradford Site for industrial visits. This initiative blossomed into the Solenis Science Lab for Kids. Over the years, more than 7,500 primary-aged pupils, 779 teachers, and 274 schools have either visited Solenis science lab or participated in their mobile science labs. Joanne is immensely proud of the lab, seeing the joy and excitement on the children’s faces as they explore a laboratory designed just for them.

The engagement really does work. Another success story that stands out was last year as part of the Bradford Manufacturing Weeks initiative where a young man came to visit and was truly inspired. He asked to join Solenis for some work experience, which led to him to apply for an apprenticeship where he was successful – he will now start to inspire the next generation through the Solenis outreach work.

For Joanne, this achievement is not only hers. Joanne shares it with everyone who has supported and inspired her along the way—her Solenis volunteers. Together, they will continue to positively promote their sites, Solenis, and the chemical industry as a whole, in the hope of inspiring more young talent to join this fascinating industry. “Not bad for someone who didn’t get along with chemistry in school!” – Joanne