Leaders share inspirational stories at Humber Business Week dinner

Leaders from business, education and the third sector told their inspirational life stories at Humber Business Week.
By Greg Wright
Published 12th Jun 2023, 08:03 BST
Updated 12th Jun 2023, 08:04 BST

The Inspiring People Dinner, which was held at The Deep in Hull, featured speakers who play major roles in the city’s business community. They included Debra Gray MBE, who spoke about being written off following a childhood of hardship, before embarking on a career which has taken her to the role of principal and CEO of Hull College, with responsibility for 12,000 students, 600 staff and £30m of income.

She told the audience: “You have no idea how influential and important you are. Some young people don’t know how to learn – I was one of them. Without businesses who gave me a chance I would not be here.

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“You have the power to change the lives of people like me. I should not be here but people like you made it possible. Let’s make it possible for the next generation.”

Pictured at the HullBID Inspiring People dinner are (from left) Paul Matson of Hull 4 Heroes, Kathryn Shillito of HullBID, Lewis Harrison of Clegg Gifford, Debra Gray of Hull College and Tim Shaw of KCOM. Picture: Karl Andre SmitPictured at the HullBID Inspiring People dinner are (from left) Paul Matson of Hull 4 Heroes, Kathryn Shillito of HullBID, Lewis Harrison of Clegg Gifford, Debra Gray of Hull College and Tim Shaw of KCOM. Picture: Karl Andre Smit
Pictured at the HullBID Inspiring People dinner are (from left) Paul Matson of Hull 4 Heroes, Kathryn Shillito of HullBID, Lewis Harrison of Clegg Gifford, Debra Gray of Hull College and Tim Shaw of KCOM. Picture: Karl Andre Smit

Kathryn Shillito, HullBID Executive Director, said: “The aims of Humber Business Week are to showcase the wealth of talent, entrepreneurship, vision and future potential of our region and that’s what this event has been doing since 2015.

“We launched it as an antidote to the hectic Biz Week schedule, creating an informal and relaxing get together with great networking and fantastic speakers, and once again it has demonstrated its worth by attracting committed sponsors and a full house.”

The other speakers included Paul Matson of Hull 4 Heroes and Tim Shaw of KCOM.

Related topics:Hull