Surprise award for giving students a head start in IT

A DERBYSHIRE IT manager who has given up his spare time to mentor countless students and raise thousands of pounds for charity has picked up his company’s annual prize for making a difference in the community.

Tim Hollingshurst, EMEAI Network services manager at Lubrizol in Hazelwood, has been crowned this year’s winner of the firm’s Christine Sewell Award, which is handed out every year to a public-spirited member of staff who goes above and beyond the call of duty.

Tim received the award in recognition of his efforts across a number of years, which include taking part in a series of charity activities, including running 1,000 miles in a year and taking on a virtual John O’Groats to Land’s End challenge for Mind, as well as competing in a Tough Mudder event for the British Heart Foundation.

He has also given his support to Derby College to give hundreds of IT students a head start in their careers in computing and IT by arranging for Lubrizol to become an employer academy member, mentoring students, donating equipment and hosting site visits.

Elsewhere, he has taken part in a host of programmes working with secondary school students, such as the Enterprise 4 Education initiative in Derby and employability days at Heanor Gate Spencer Academy.

Tim was presented with his award during a special online meeting attended by Alison Fisher, general manager of Lubrizol in Hazelwood, senior staff and colleagues, as well as his wife, Claire, who also works at the company. His name was announced as the winner halfway through, at which point Claire reached into a cupboard next to his desk to retrieve the award and hand it to him live on screen.

He said: “Really, I should be cross with Claire for being so devious, because I didn’t suspect a thing, but really I am incredibly surprised and proud, and was left speechless.

“I don’t do all this for any reason other than I get a real buzz from helping other people, especially when it comes to helping young people to learn new things and get ahead. Both Claire and I started our careers at Lubrizol as placement students and so I realise how important it is for more experienced people to offer them guidance and advice.

“Christine was a lovely woman and extremely well known at Lubrizol for her work for charity and the community, and so to receive an award in her memory is a huge privilege.”

Sally Turner, work placement officer at Derby College, said: “He has supported many of our employer engagement events, delivered interactive virtual workshops and provided quality work placements for our students at Lubrizol, giving them a real insight into the IT sector.”