THE CEO of a successful Haverthwaite enterprise has been shortlisted for the for the Mentor Award at the Northern Leadership Awards.

CEO Barry Leahey was shortlisted by the awards which recognises individuals and organisations from across the North who serve as role models for their teams.

The Playdale company is the leading manufacturer of playground equipment in the UK, with distributors in 50 countries.

Barry received an MBE for services to International Trade on the Queen’s Birthday Honours list in 2017 and has been a very active Department of International Trade ‘Export Champion’, regularly attending workshops to help groups of companies take the first steps on the road to exporting through his guidance and mentoring.

He has mentored CEO’s of other SME’s and been asked to advise and mentor Governments by presenting the SME perspective on the Cabinet’s Office G7 business resilience panel in preparation for the 2021 summit.

Weekly he is part of the emergency Cumbria ‘Business Economic Regeneration Group’ that is chaired by the Cumbria LEP and has been instrumental in coordinating the health & economic relief to the county.

Barry said: “I love giving back as a mentor, and to see peoples professional and personal growth.

“To be shortlisted for this award is great but to be nominated by a mentee is very special and means a lot.”

Through all Barry’s years of mentoring and guidance it is true passion and care that drives his love of mentoring. And if he was asked what his proudest moment was, it would most certainly his recent appointment as the proud ‘Patron’ of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals Charity Children’s appeal where he is helping and guiding the team to ensure the £1 million target is reached.

Playdale Playgrounds has designed, manufactured and installed over 23,000 playgrounds in the UK and around the world for over 40 years. It is a family-owned business based in the North West of England.

The family business dates back to 1735 when the Croasdale family began working in the forestry and allied timber trades.

It progressed into the playground industry in 1978, when Playdale Playgrounds Ltd. was established.

The company prides itself on providing an experience of high-quality products matched with a high-quality service. In the last 10 years Playdale have grown to become a global playground leader in 51 countries.

The company has been involved in projects across Cumbria, including Carnforth, Kendal, Ulverston and Silverdale.