The nominations for the Heart of Ulverston's employee of the year are:

TERRY SANDHAM

WHEN it comes to giving youngsters a chance to shine, you have to go some to beat Terry Sandham.

For 30 years, Terry has worked for the company that has become GSK, one of the area’s biggest employers, and is a huge part of the team.

And in his role as apprentice programme manager at the pharmaceutical giant, he has been championing the cause for women in science, so much so that he won a WISE (Women In Science and Engineering) Man Award – a national campaign for gender equality in STEM industries.

He said: “When I got the call, it was a complete surprise. I’m doing a job that I love and seeing young people develop in their careers is an honour.

“To get a WISE Man Award was a huge honour for me and the company as we beat off competition from some of the big hitters in London and other big cities.

“They were able to see the way we did things and it really put a spotlight on Ulverston.

“But this one feels special as I’ve been nominated by someone from the town and that makes me feel very proud.

“To be recognised by the people of Ulverston is fantastic and a little humbling but I’d like to thank whoever nominated me.

“The town has so many good news stories and it’s fantastic to be able to work with fantastic young people and help them progress.

“The awards ceremony is something I’m looking forward to as it will be full of the good things that the people of the town are doing to make Ulverston a great place to live and to work.

“If I win or not, it will still be a pleasure to go.”

COLLETTE BUTTERWORTH

IN the three years Collette Butterworth has been with the The Plastic Bottles Company, she has become an integral part of the operation.

Her job title says office manager, with responsibility for six people, but that’s far from the end of the story.

By her own admission she does a bit of everything.

She acts as a representative with B2B customers and was promoted to executive assistant to directors and has embedded herself as an important cog in the machine, especially after managing director Glenn Doherty suffered a stroke.

She’s also helping to create a new company website to bring in new customers, while helping to attract new business in other ways.

But it’s a labour love for Collette, who drives from Kirkby Stephen, a good hour each way to work, to do a job she adores.

She said: “I absolutely love my job, so it seems odd to have been nominated. There was an email that went around work about the awards, and I nominated someone else.

“So, when it came back that I had been nominated I was shocked. I’m not usually lost for words, but I was then, I think I might have even called Glenn a rude word and blushed.

“I absolutely love my job and I love working for Glenn and Julie at The Plastic Bottles Company because they are fantastic bosses.

“I’m very lucky to have been nominated and lucky to work with great people, who could all be nominated for this award in my opinion.

“The awards mean a lot to the people of the town so to have been nominated is a real honour and very humbling.”

LAURA PEARSON

TO the people of Ford Park, Laura Pearson is known as “the go-to lady.”

Ford Park has a very strong volunteer group that keeps the park looking spick and span for the many visitors and many events the park plays host too.

But Laura has been there, seen it and done it as part of the park’s volunteer team.

She started as a volunteer 20 years ago, at the age of just seven, but now is the team leader on the Coach House Café and Bistro.

And Jill Salmon, director of the Ford Park Community Group, said that Laura had been a rock over the two decades she had been helping out at the park.

She said: “There isn’t an inch of the park that Laura doesn’t know.

“She’s done just about everything over her time here so she’s the person we always go to when we are unsure about something.

“We have a picture of her 20 years ago with a pitchfork in the garden and that sums her up – she will pitch in when there’s work to be done.

“She’s an absolute dream to have on board as her expertise is invaluable to the running of the park.

“As we are a community group, our volunteers are incredibly important, and Laura deserves not only to be nominated but she would be a worthy winner.

“Laura has become an integral part of everything that we do at Ford Park.

“The staff and volunteers love her, the public certainly love seeing her and we are very lucky to have someone like her on board.

“She lives and breathes the park, so we are looking forward to celebrating everything she has done at the ceremony because she deserves it.”