Talent Champion Award
Jason Bassett
Jason has spent the last 25 years working within the off-site sector and has delivered quality affordable homes that are operationally zero-carbon projects to reduce homelessness and families living in temporary accommodation.
Four years ago, Jason and Team set up their factory in Peterborough and quickly established links with Prisoners Building Homes (PBH) to employ and train prisoners (pre and post-release) from HMP North Sea Camp to enable them to turn their lives around and break the cycle of reoffending.
He remains committed to providing meaningful nationally accredited training such as NVQ’s for construction skills, folk lift licences etc… and to date have employed 42 under the programme with results delivering high social impact such as- less than 1% have reoffended and over 85% are in employment once graduated from the programme.
Jason is passionate about delivering low carbon homes whilst creating huge social value, working with organisations such as PBH, Employment Advisory Board (EAB) and Crisis Homeless Charity to improve outcomes for the wider good.
Claire Banks
Claire is a highly experienced lawyer who has specialised in corporate and commercial work since 2006. She advises businesses and individuals on private mergers and acquisitions (including cross-border transactions), joint ventures, corporate restructures and re-organisations, shareholder arrangements, corporate governance, and a wide range of commercial agreements. Alongside this, Claire also has extensive experience advising academy trusts, independent schools, higher education institutions, charities, and other not-for-profit organisations. Claire joined Greenwoods in 2018 and has built a strong reputation for delivering pragmatic, commercially focused advice and fostering long-term client relationships. Her focus, dedication, and responsiveness are highly valued by her clients and colleagues, and she has been recognised as a ‘Rising Star’ in the Legal 500 for the last three years.
Alisha Black
I am passionate about supporting people in a genuinely person-centred way, helping individuals recognise their strengths, build confidence and move forward in a way that feels meaningful to them. I believe that, regardless of their circumstances or barriers, people can make progress and achieve their goals when given the right support, opportunities and belief.
Throughout my career, I have worked alongside a diverse range of people, including individuals with learning disabilities, older people living with dementia, people experiencing complex mental health needs, and those seeking employment support. These experiences have shaped my belief that everyone deserves to be listened to, understood and supported as an individual.
Being recognised as a Talent Champion is truly an honour. However, I believe the people who deserve recognition are those I have had the privilege of working with; individuals who show up for themselves every day, overcome barriers and continue striving towards their own goals.
Chloe Fagan
Alexis McLeod
Michael Moriarty
Michael Moriarty is the Employee Services Director at Mick George, part of Heidelberg Materials UK, where he is passionate about creating opportunities for people to build meaningful and lasting careers.
Throughout his career, Michael has championed initiatives that remove barriers to employment and unlock potential. He has developed partnerships with prisons to support offender rehabilitation through employment, worked alongside organisations supporting individuals with additional needs to create inclusive career opportunities and collaborated with Constructed Pathways and Local Authorities to train and upskill people into careers such as LGV driving and plant operations. These programmes have helped address industry skills shortages while changing lives through sustainable employment.
Michael believes that talent exists everywhere when people are given the right opportunity. His focus is on creating inclusive pathways into employment, investing in development and ensuring individuals have the support, training and confidence to reach their full potential.
Andrew Otoo
Andrew Otoo, Lead Product Development Engineer at Howden Turbo UK/Peter Brotherhood. Andrew is responsible for the R&D and engineering development of Steam turbines and auxiliary components for power generation, having gained extensive experience in product design and engineering development within multiple industries including wind and automotive.
He is passionate about applying his technical knowledge and experience to inspire future generations by working closely with local schools and community organisations to promote STEM education, mentor students, and assist young people to explore engineering and technology pathways.
This engagement has encouraged students and young people from diverse backgrounds to develop curiosity, confidence, and ambition in STEM subjects. Within Howden Turbo Andrew heads up a STEM team which facilitates workshops, work experience and student placements along with STEM activities to support the growth of meaningful connections between education and industry.
Sonia Rogers
Sonia Rogers is a passionate Careers Leader dedicated to connecting education and industry through meaningful, long-lasting relationships. Drawing on extensive experience across publishing, manufacturing, customer service, account management and education, she brings real-world insight to careers education and workforce development. Sonia is committed to helping young people recognise their potential, raise aspirations and make informed decisions about their futures. Known for her collaborative and relationship-driven approach, she works closely with employers, stakeholders and educational partners to create impactful opportunities that develop talent, strengthen employability and support social mobility, helping young people successfully navigate their career journeys.
Pino Sicco
Sam Squire
Sam Squire is CEO of Inspire 2 Ignite CIC, driven by a vision that every young person has access to the opportunities and networks that unlock pathways to succeed. Sam leads the organisation’s mission to Nurture, Equip, and Empower young people aged 16–24 to Thrive in education, employment, and training – serving those who are ‘NEET’ and redefining what this circumstance means.
Through Inspire 2 Ignite’s approach of removing barriers, creating connections, and skyrocketing young people’s confidence to achieve their goals, Sam is spearheading the East of England’s 3% Club, a collective working to reduce the region’s NEET rate to 3% by 2031 (matching the Netherlands who are Europe’s best in-class).
In the last decade, Sam has engaged with 15,000+ young people, asked 100,000+ questions, and proved that when young people are Nurtured, Equipped and Empowered, they don’t just get by, they Thrive.
Chris Watson
Chris Watson has spent over five decades sharing his passion for music with students of all ages and abilities. After school Chris played professionally as a guitarist while studying at the Guildhall School of Music. Chris taught at Oundle School, Kirkstone House, Led Adult Learning and Music Therapy groups for students with special needs, and founded the Peterborough School of Contemporary Music. He worked with CIMA, teaching music across numerous primary and secondary schools throughout Cambridgeshire. Over the past decade, he has taught at St Peter’s School, Huntingdon College, Thomas Deacon Academy, Jack Hunt School, Sawtry Village Academy, Ken Stimpson Academy and Kingswood Primary School in Solihull, as well as continuing his work as a private tutor. Chris’s long-standing commitment to teaching is reflected in the enduring relationships he has built with generations of students, including pupils he first taught as a child who he still occasionally teaches today.
James Whybrow
Education was the catalyst that changed everything for me, instilling a core belief that learning is a lifelong journey meant to be open to everyone at every stage. Starting out as an apprentice with a local accounting firm after balancing college and part-time work, I haven’t looked back.
With a career spanning both the corporate and education sectors, my focus is always anchored in helping clients and colleagues achieve their ambitions. I may not have been born here, but I am a proud Peterborian by choice and action working closely with the Chamber of Commerce, Combined Authority, supporting stakeholders, and local MPs to champion our community every single day.