AN engineering manager from the North-East has been named one of the UK's "trailblazing" businesswomen after winning a national award which recognises female achievement in industry.

Jane Atkinson, who works for SembCorp Utilities on Teesside, won the award for manufacturing at the CBI First Women Awards, for her achievements in North-East industry.

Judges said Ms Atkinson, who is assistant vice-president for utilities at the firm's Wilton plant, in east Cleveland, was a true "glass ceiling breaker".

At an awards ceremony in London on Tuesday, they said: "Jane Atkinson is an outstanding individual and role model for the manufacturing sector, who has consistently achieved firsts in her career."

During her career, which has included 14 years at Corus - formerly British Steel - and two years with SembCorp, Ms Atkinson has become the first woman in the world to manage a blast furnace, which she did at Redcar, and is the first woman to manage Wilton Power Station. She is the first female assistant vice-president in the UK Sembcorp business, and is also helping to commission the UK's first green energy biomass boiler operation.

Ms Atkinson said yesterday: "I'm absolutely thrilled and delighted to have won such a prestigious award. It is a great honour for me and the business."

Sarah Green, regional director for CBI North-East, said it was fantastic that Ms Atkinson had gained national recognition for her achievements.

"Not only is she brilliant at what she does, but she is an excellent role model, demonstrating to young people that there are fantastic career opportunities for women in engineering and manufacturing," she said. "Celebrating our region's successes nationally is key to changing perceptions of our region."

Amongthe night's other four category winners was Sophi Tranchell, founder of ethical confectioners Divine Chocolate, and Ann Gloag from transport company Stagecoach.