What Does JLC's Women in Leadership Event Bring to North Lincolnshire?

On Friday 10th July 2026, John Leggott College hosted its Women in Leadership event: a full day bringing together female leaders from education, law, business, sport, and the creative industries to share experiences, build connections, and speak honestly about what leadership looks like for women in practice.

The event ran from 10:00 to 14:00, moving through keynote sessions, four parallel workshops, and dedicated networking time. By the time closing remarks were delivered, the connections built across the day had already extended well beyond the college campus.

Who founded the JLC Women in Leadership programme?

The programme was founded by Claire Haller, Deputy Principal of John Leggott College, who has spent over 20 years in education and believes that women supporting women, specifically and deliberately, produces results that individual effort alone cannot.

Claire began her career as a Business, Travel and Tourism teacher and progressed through a range of leadership roles across the college, including Level 2 Coordinator, Course Leader for Leisure and Tourism, One-Year Programme Director, Improvement Director, and Assistant Principal, before becoming Deputy Principal.

Her personal motto for the programme: "Straightening each other's crowns."

The Women in Leadership initiative she founded went on to win a Leadership Excellence Award at the Education Resource Awards on 23rd April 2026, with judges recognising Claire for transforming leadership culture at JLC, creating a trusted internal women's network, building solidarity and collective strength, and being a catalyst for positive change. It is a national award, and the fact that it came to a sixth form college in Scunthorpe is a measure of what the programme has achieved in a short time.

Who opened the event and what did the opening keynote cover?

The opening keynote was delivered by Susan Rands, Chief Executive Officer and Solicitor at Rands Solicitors in Scunthorpe.

Susan brings more than 30 years in the legal profession to a role that now extends well beyond the firm: she is also a Children's Panel Solicitor, Vice President of Scunthorpe United Football Club, and a leader of Atrium Business Networking. Under her leadership, Rands Solicitors has grown and expanded significantly, and she spoke from direct experience of what it takes to lead an organisation through change while maintaining a focus on developing the people inside it.

Her session opened a day that was designed to be honest rather than aspirational in the abstract, grounded in the realities of what women actually navigate in professional life.

What workshops ran during the Women in Leadership day?

Four workshops ran in parallel across two sessions during the day, each led by a woman with direct expertise in her field.

Little Enchantments: Dress to Empower was led by Ebony Gladding, founder of Little Enchantments, a character entertainment company delivering children's parties, events, and professional performance work. 

Ebony is a National Small Business Awards finalist and used her session to explore how the way we present ourselves connects to how we feel and how others receive us.

Twin Tigers: Self Defence was led by Lisa Smith, Director and Co-Founder of Twin Tigers Martial Arts and Fitness, a Martial Arts Master Instructor and UK representative for the WKA. Lisa's session moved beyond the physical mechanics of self-defence to address confidence, boundary-setting, and the link between physical capability and mental resilience.

Elizabeth Kate Bridal: Communication Styles was led by Kim, owner of Elizabeth Kate Bridal. Kim founded her boutique after noticing how impersonal and stressful bridal shopping had become, and built her business around a completely different model: personal service, a luxury experience, and a space where every customer feels seen and comfortable. Her workshop drew on those values to explore how communication style affects every professional relationship.

Reclaiming Confidence was led by Helen Davis, an Executive Coach and former NHS Director of Nursing with over 20 years of experience supporting leaders through organisational change, leadership transitions, and women's leadership development. Helen creates learning environments built on evidence-based practice and human connection, and her session gave attendees practical tools for rebuilding confidence after setbacks.

What did Toni Robinson share about building Cookie People?

Toni Robinson, Owner and Co-Founder of Cookie People, spoke during the afternoon about how she and her husband Andy built a nationally recognised business from scratch, starting from home baking and growing into an operation with a strong online following, a loyal customer base, and a growing workforce.

Before Cookie People, Toni worked as a sports massage therapist. The business grew from something she was personally driven to create, rather than a planned commercial venture, and her session reflected on what that kind of growth actually requires: consistency, a willingness to start without certainty, and the determination to keep going when progress is slow.

Cookie People is now built around signature cookie dough creations and has become one of the more recognisable independent food businesses in the region.

Who is Meg Gower and why did she speak at the event?

Meg Gower is a former John Leggott College student who now serves as an ambassador for Project Trust, an organisation that supports young people to volunteer overseas and develop confidence, independence, and a broader perspective on the world.

Her presence at a Women in Leadership event is a direct line from JLC student to regional leadership voice: someone who came through the college, took an unconventional path after leaving, and returned to share what that journey had taught her. Her session covered the experience of travelling independently, building self-reliance, and what it means to step outside familiar environments deliberately.

Who delivered the closing keynote?

The closing keynote was delivered by Michelle Harness, Chair and Co-Owner of Scunthorpe United Football Club.

Michelle has been part of the club for over 15 years, beginning as Commercial Manager before taking on her current role. She was part of the leadership team that helped rebuild the club through a period of significant challenge, and is known across the region for her work in community engagement, collaboration with local businesses, and the kind of resilience that comes from navigating an institution through difficulty without losing sight of what it is there to do.

Her session closed a day that had consistently returned to the same themes: that leadership is not a fixed state, that confidence is built through action rather than waiting, and that the connections formed in rooms like the one at JLC on 10th July matter in ways that extend well beyond the day itself.

What national award did the Women in Leadership programme receive?

On 23rd April 2026, the Women in Leadership programme at John Leggott College was recognised at the Education Resources Awards with a Leadership Excellence Award for Deputy Principal Claire Haller.

The award recognises leadership in education that creates genuine and lasting impact. Judges specifically cited Claire's work in transforming leadership culture at JLC, creating a trusted internal network for women at the college, building collective strength through structured collaboration, and acting as a catalyst for change across the organisation.

JLC was also named a finalist in a second category for the college's work on the Elective Home Education Hub, developed in partnership with North Lincolnshire Council, just three months after the Hub's official launch.

Two finalist places and one national win at the same awards ceremony, for two distinct pieces of work, reflects the breadth of what the college has been building this year.

FAQ Section

What is the JLC Women in Leadership programme?

Women in Leadership is a programme founded by JLC Deputy Principal Claire Haller to create structured space for female leaders from education, business, and the community to connect, share experiences, and support one another. The programme won a Leadership Excellence Award at the Education Resources Awards in April 2026.

Who can attend a JLC Women in Leadership event?

The Women in Leadership events at JLC bring together female staff, community leaders, local business owners, and aspiring leaders from across North Lincolnshire. The 2026 event on 10th July included speakers from law, business, sport, the creative industries, and education.

When is the next JLC Women in Leadership event?

JLC's Women in Leadership events run annually. Contact the college at info@leggott.ac.uk for updates on upcoming dates and how to attend.

What award did Claire Haller win for the Women in Leadership programme?

Claire Haller, Deputy Principal at John Leggott College, won the Leadership Excellence Award at the Education Resources Awards on 23rd April 2026. Judges recognised her for transforming leadership culture at JLC, creating a trusted internal women's network, and acting as a catalyst for positive change.