Claire Cook, Founder and Proprietor, has been named a finalist in the ‘Person with Purpose’ category at the 2026 Northern PoWEr Women Awards.
About Claire Cook
Claire has been recognised for the impact of her leadership in Employability Solutions. Based in Liverpool, with her business across Merseyside and Kirklees, Claire has made a significant impact through her leadership, contributing to progress in alternative education.
Employability Solutions has supported over 2,000 young people and helped them achieve more than 8,000 qualifications, providing safe, creative spaces where students can access mental health support, vocational training, and opportunities to thrive. Claire’s leadership goes beyond creating outstanding schools; she fosters collaboration with like-minded partners to reduce duplication, make better use of resources, and increase the quality of opportunities available to young people.
‘What makes Claire remarkable is not only the measurable outcomes she achieves but the authenticity and compassion with which she leads. She is dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening communities, creating inclusive pathways to success and empowering young people to achieve their goals.’
– Paul Kallee-Grover MBE, who kindly nominated Claire for this award.
‘This recognition isn’t really about me. It’s about the children and families whose lives are changed through inclusive education, and about the phenomenal team I have the privilege of leading.’
– Claire Cook on being named a finalist for this award.
About the Northern PoWEr Women Awards
On Thursday, 12 March 2026, the Northern PoWEr Women Awards will bring together over 1,000 influential leaders, organisations, entrepreneurs, changemakers and advocates from across the North to mark its milestone tenth year. Taking place in the week of International Women’s Day, Europe’s largest celebration of gender equality will shine a spotlight on the role models driving progress and building a fairer, more inclusive future.
This year’s finalists represent the full breadth of the North’s talent across business, technology, health, education, construction, professional services, manufacturing and the third sector. From frontline emergency services and grassroots community organisations to senior leaders shaping rail, infrastructure, health, technology and professional services, the 2026 entries reflect the scale, diversity and ambition of those creating change. Now more than 120,000 strong, this community is driving down barriers, opening doors to opportunity, and converting inclusive leadership from aspiration into practice.
The Northern PoWEr Women Awards marks a decade of championing gender equality and inclusive leadership, convening a powerful cross-sector network across the North West, Yorkshire, North East and North Wales. This growing movement has helped accelerate cultural change, strengthen diverse talent pipelines and position the North as a national leader in equity, inclusion and social impact – while celebrating the achievements of the role models, allies and organisations reshaping workplaces, communities and industries.
Simone Roche MBE, Founder and CEO of We Are PoWEr, said:
“Reaching our tenth year is a powerful moment for the Northern PoWEr Women Awards. What began as a bold idea has become a movement that shines a light on those who are not only achieving success but actively using their influence to open doors for others. The 2026 finalists reflect the very best of the North – courageous leaders, committed allies and organisations driving real, measurable change.”
The Awards continue to recognise both individual excellence and organisational leadership, celebrating future talent, established leaders, advocates and partners embedding equity and inclusion into strategy, culture and everyday practice. Finalists were selected from a highly competitive field through a rigorous judging process focused on demonstrable impact, leadership, innovation and long-term commitment to advancing equality and opportunity.
A full list of finalists across all categories can be viewed here.
Winners will be announced at the 2026 Northern PoWEr Women Awards ceremony, bringing together finalists, partners, supporters and advocates to celebrate ten years of progress and look ahead to the next chapter of collective impact.
2026 partners include co-headline partners Bank of America and Barclays, Future List Game Changer partner AstraZeneca alongside category partners Arcadis, Asda Property and Construction, BT Group, Connected Places Catapult, Gleeds, KTSL, LNER, Manchester Airports Group and Weightmans.
For more information on the NPW Awards, visit their website here.
The Negative Effects of Vaping
Vaping is on the rise, especially among young people. According to a blog on the UK Government website, ‘the number of children using vapes has tripled in the last three years.’ Originally, vaping was supposed to be a way for adults to quit smoking cigarettes, but it was never meant for children and teenagers. Young people’s brains and lungs are still developing, which can worsen the addictive effects of nicotine and make it harder to quit. Children who are addicted to vaping can experience negative effects, such as poor concentration, anxiety, trouble sleeping, impulse control and mood swings. When young people become addicted to nicotine whilst their brains are developing, they are more likely to struggle with other addictions in the future. Young people who vape are also more likely to start smoking cigarettes or other tobacco products, according to a ScienceDirect Article, ‘teenager vapers were three to five times more likely to take up tobacco smoking when compared with non-vapers.’ For more in-depth facts and statistics on the effects of vaping, check out this article by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). 
Illegal Vapes
An argument in favour of vaping is that it is better than smoking, while we assume this to be true, nobody knows the long-term effects of vaping yet. What we do know is that vapes not only contain nicotine, but other harmful substances as well. The harmful substances found in vapes can be illegal and do not meet UK Safety Standards. According to an investigation by the University of Bath, out of almost 600 vapes that were confiscated in schools across England, 1 in 6 contained the drug Spice and 1 in 100 contained the drug THC. Spice is a synthetic cannabinoid, a drug made in a lab to recreate the effects of cannabis however, Spice is more harmful, unpredictable and dangerous to children. You can read more about Spice in vapes in this BBC Article. Illegal vapes are a big concern at the moment, these vapes are unregulated and the most harmful. These illegal vapes cannot be sold in reputable vape shops and because of this, underage children are more likely to be sold illegal vapes. Vapes that are illegal are likely to contain more nicotine, the legal amount of nicotine in a disposable vape is 20mg/ml or 2%, anything above this is illegal. Disposable vapes that provide more than 600 puffs or more than 2ml of E-liquid are likely illegal. This Article has more in-depth information on how to spot the differences between legal and illegal vapes.
What is The UK Government Doing to Prevent Vaping?
In 2023, one in four 11-15 year-olds tried vaping, this number has more than doubled in the last 5 years according to the UK Government. Many people believe that the vast array of flavours, clever marketing, colourful packaging, and design have contributed to the appeal of vaping to young people. Currently, the UK Government is trying to enforce new laws to crack down on young people vaping. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill introduced in 2023, aims to stop tobacco products, such as vapes, being sold to children under the age of fifteen. Overall, the aim is to create a ‘smoke-free generation’ of young people, the government plans to offer stricter fines on shops selling tobacco products to underage children as well as restricting the flavours and packaging of vapes. Currently, one of the biggest issues is shops selling vapes to underage children, according to a BBC Article, secondary school children reported that vapes are really easy to get hold of and a lot of shops don’t ask for ID.
How We Are Trying to Prevent Vaping
At Employability Solutions, we proactively try to deter our young people from vaping, while respecting that they have to make their own choices. In our schools, we do not allow vapes and ask that our young people hand them in when they arrive and after breaks and lunch. We have tried to implement other distractions from vaping, including using Breathing Necklaces to try and break the habit of using a vape. A Breathing Necklace is a similar shape to a vape and allows you to complete breathing exercises, the action of breathing into this can be used to replace the action of vaping, you can buy them online here. To encourage our young people to stop, we try to offer a small reward for trying out the Breathing Necklaces, or any other method to help them quit. We also actively encourage activities involving your hands, such as drawing and exercise. 
Getting Help to Quit Vaping
When trying to quit vaping, young people will experience negative side effects from nicotine withdrawal, which can make it harder to quit. Withdrawal side effects can include feeling hungry, restless, moody and irritable, having headaches and trouble sleeping or concentrating. The first few days without nicotine will be the hardest, but after the first couple of weeks, it should get a lot easier. There are other things you can do to help cope with nicotine withdrawal and break the habit of vaping, including:
- Chewing gum or drinking water to help with the habit of vaping
- Keeping your hands busy with something like drawing or painting
- Exercise such as walking, jogging or yoga
- Call or hang out with supportive friends or family who can help to distract you
- Write down a list of reasons in your phone why you would like to stop vaping and look at this when you feel the urge
- Try to avoid places where people will be smoking or vaping if you can
- Get rid of any vapes/vaping equipment you have to try and cut the urge
Quitting smoking or vaping is hard, but there are resources out there designed to help you quit:
Visit the NHS website for local services and resources to help you quit. Smokefree Liverpool is a local service to get help in Liverpool. Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool also recently set up a service to help young people aged 11-16 quit vaping. Stop Smoking | Kirklees Wellness Service allows you to find local drop-in sessions to talk to a professional about quitting, around Kirklees.
In December, we celebrated our 2nd annual Employability Solutions Team Awards. This was a chance to celebrate our wonderful team and all their hard work over the past year.
Best Newcomer Awards
This award seeks to acknowledge our newer team members, those who hit the ground running and made an immediate impact!
Our Best Newcomer Award for Kirklees goes to Lily Collis-Hamilton!
‘Lily has arrived with a bang and she has been willing to get stuck in from the start and has been putting in 100% from day one. She has easily slotted into the team and is aligned with our values. She has a caring nature and a natural ability to act quickly supporting the complex needs of the students. Since starting, she’s set up vocational tasters, organised industry visits and inspired students to explore their career options.’
Unfortunately, Lily couldn’t attend so her award was collected by Sally Wilson and Nadene Pinnock.
Our Best Newcomer Award for Liverpool goes to Suzi Law!
‘Suzi has made an incredible impression at ES despite the short time she has been with us. She has an infectious personality and positive energy. Her genuine care and empathy create an environment where young people feel safe, supported and understood. She consistently goes above and beyond for the young people, including finding ways to arrange childcare as a single parent to accompany two young people to a youth residential who struggled with confidence. She is a delight to work with and her contagious positivity fills the days with laughter.’
Rising Star Awards
This award goes to that colleague who is the one to watch… A person abound with potential, ideas and solutions! A real team player, representing our brand with integrity!
Our Rising Star Award for Kirklees goes to Sam Trayte!
‘Sam is a ‘gem of a human’, always trying different things, putting forward ideas not many would think of and always thinking outside the box. She always strives to maximise the impact of their time during the working day, offering help to any team member who needs it and is always the voice of reason. She actively seeks to understand the viewpoints and lived experiences of others, both staff and students and to meet their needs. Overcoming their own anxieties daily, stepping in to do new things they are uncomfortable with, to help the team and young people.’
Our Rising Star Award for Liverpool goes to Megan Birchall!
‘Megan brings an exceptional blend of knowledge, passion, and work ethic to everything she does. Her expertise is invaluable in supporting the progression of young people in our community. With a kind-hearted approach, she goes above and beyond to ensure every young person feels supported, valued, and empowered to take the next steps in their journey. Quick to offer ideas and solutions, stepping in to support the team at every turn. Her genuine thoughtfulness stands out, she constantly looks for ways to help others. Megan has incredibly supported no less than 42 young people into work this year, and many more into further education or training.’
Social Impact Award
Our mission of transforming young lives and building resilient communities can be seen in our social impact data. This award is for someone who goes above and beyond to create meaningful impact both internally and externally. As a social enterprise, this award truly embodies that approach that makes us unique… this is a really important award for us!
Our Social Impact Awards goes to Sally Wilson and Laura Howson!
‘Together you both win the social impact award, because most people voted for both of you, as a unit, working together, going to fundraising activities to provide enriching experiences to our young people, taking on sponsored walks to Scarborough, giving up your time in school holidays to make sure our young people stay connected and safe, providing opportunities for students to be an asset. You guys put on events, like group cookery, Halloween parties, end-of-year prom and Duke of Edinburgh awards that include weekend camping expeditions in not so wonderful conditions, all outside of their roles. Campaigning to support charities that are close to their hearts. Sally even volunteered once to get knocked out in a boxing ring to raise money for Young Minds. They hype up everyone to get involved, dress up, show up and never give up!’
Unfortunately, Laura was unable to attend the Team Awards so Sally collected both awards.
Transformation Awards
Transformation is one of our core values, ‘Inspiring a culture where transformation is possible!’
The winner of our Transformation Award for Kirklees goes to Andy Hussey!
‘Andy is an amazing person who just gets the job done as well as he can… a fantastic role model. Balanced and consistent with the young people and staff alike, no ego. Always willing to lend a hand with any time he has spare, even if that’s just 20 minutes when an offer of help and support is put forward to the entire team. He is comfortable to ask for help and acknowledge his own areas of development. Unwavering commitment to supporting students, in particular one student who has gone from being a disengaged, reluctant learner to accessing a full timetable. The work being done by stealth is truly working to transform this young person’s life. Conscientious, thorough, with a heart of gold, Andy has integrity through them like a stick of rock.’
The winner of our Transformation Award for Liverpool is Olivia Thomas!
‘Olivia has grown so much as a person since joining us, she is always happy to help and support anyone, sharing ideas and contributing to the wider team. She is always looking for ways to improve, is proactive and diligently takes ownership and care of their space, an environment that is so loved and well-cared for that it extends to the young people in their care and creates a feeling of safety. She is an incredibly positive and resourceful person with a great ability to build positive relationships, loved by everyone! The high energy, motivation, and ability to adapt and contextualise learning has students feeling well-supported and able to be themselves. Olivia is an asset, and every day is developing into a reflective, dynamic, and adaptive teacher, alongside studying for a PGCE.’
Inclusion Awards
Inclusion is one of our core values, ‘Creating a community where everyone feels included!’
The winner of our Inclusion Award for Kirklees is Dwight Simpson!
‘Dwight is a consistent presence and a beautiful soul, who has the utmost respect for staff and students alike and is well-respected in return. He communicates effectively and makes students feel at ease in his presence. He has a way of being able to truly understand the needs of the young people and find ways to support their learning in a way that really works. He is always willing to help out, go wherever he is needed, provide cover and support and is a real team player. Dwight is happy to get involved and always has some profound input or piece of advice to give.’
The winner of our Inclusion Award for Liverpool is Marie Rood!
‘Marie creates a culture within the classroom and the building as a whole where everyone, staff and students alike, are included and accepted. She has amazing ideas on how to include outside activities into the curriculum and be truly alternative for the young people. She establishes respectful relationships with the learners, whatever their backgrounds. She is amazing at what she does! She demonstrates first-hand commitment to meeting the needs of, and enhancing the learning experience of our students. She would always seek a means of ‘building our students up’, in the classroom. She takes things in her stride, her relationships with students are built on trust and respect and her confidence just shines!’
Motivation Awards
Motivation is one of our core values, ‘Being responsible for instigating a culture of possibility!’
The winner of our Motivation Award for Kirklees goes to Kate Williams!
‘Kate makes such a big difference in the lives of our young people and massively improves staff morale. She is willing to take charge when necessary and is always happy to support and encourage staff. The young people adore her, and it is easy to see why! They are at the heart of all her decisions and the core of her support. Kate is the life and soul, an inspiration, always positive and motivating and can often be heard asking “Where’s your positive spirit”. She will do anything for those kids, including learning Snoop Dog’s Christmas rap so she can join in at break times.’
The winner of our Motivation Award for Liverpool is Michelle Ginley!
‘Michelle is the epitome of motivation. She comes in every day with a huge smile on her face and exudes calm even in the stormiest of classrooms! She is always looking for solutions, she brings the fun to every challenge throughout the working day. Michelle is always looking for ways to celebrate the young people, there is nothing she wouldn’t do for them, constantly motivating them to get involved and get on life and occasionally for the staff too! Michelle really shines in her role!’
Education Awards
Education is one of our core values, ‘Gifting an education that is individual, meaningful and right for our students!’
The winner of our Education Award for Kirklees is Nadene Pinnock!
‘Nadene is inclusive, creative and adaptive. She gives lots of motivation and praise, shares resources and planning and produces a high standard of work in the classroom. She is always happy to share skills and experience, including setting up maths lessons to support staff with their numeracy skills. She will go away if something is not working and come in every single day with a new plan. Nadene is an absolute star of a teacher, her maths lessons are top-notch, the way she delivers education is second to none and she has all the qualities and attributes needed to thrive in an educational setting.
The winner of our Education Award for Liverpool is Anna Kithan!
‘Anna is an amazing teacher who goes above and beyond to individualise and personalise the curriculum for each of her learners. She understands, gets to know the learners and builds the foundations of trust, she is able to reduce and remove barriers so the learners will work to achieve their true potential. She’s not afraid to ask for help and advice when it is needed and will take on board ideas and strategies from other staff and SENDCo’s. She is able to model resilience in abundance and is always encouraging the young people, making everyone feel included and valued. She goes above and beyond to individualise and personalise the curriculum for students and doesn’t only think of the students in her class. She’s fully committed to good quality alternative education wants to be innovative, willing to share and support the team, it should come as no surprise that our winner was successful when she applied for the Curriculum Manager role.’
L.O.V.E Award
Living Our Values Everyday… the biggie, the outstanding achievement, the person that leads with LOVE and embodies our ethos… they live and breathe ALL of our ES values consistently and truly shines!
This Award is a big one… The winner of the Living Our Values Everyday Award is Lindsay O’Kane!
‘Lindsay is a happy bundle of love and has love at the heart of everything she does. She strives to make the centres inclusive, seeing the very best in every student and showing unwavering positive regard, no matter what comes her way. She motivates the learners continually throughout each day and is always planning the next ‘thing’ to do with them or imaginative ways of engaging them. Lindsay is all about the students and their experience. She truly loves the learners and wants them to succeed, she will support and motivate them in any way they can – even when they don’t want to be motivated. She supports staff to incorporate different approaches into their lessons and will help them to find solutions for any issues that may be developing. She’s always on hand, putting everyone first, eager to learn, has a thirst for knowledge and information that will help her own growth and always wants to do better. She can talk the hind leg off a donkey, wears her heart on their sleeve and just oozes love for everybody, staff, students, parents, professionals and strangers.’
If you would like to see previous award winners, follow our Humans of ES Instagram!
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