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Irene Hays becomes a dame in New Year Honours List 2021

She has dedicated her damehood to the apprentices and training staff at Hays Travel

Irene Hays (right) is pictured here with her late husband John at the Hays Travel headquarters in Sunderland

One of the North East’s top business leaders has received a damehood as part of the New Year's Honours List 2021.

Irene Lucas-Hays has been named as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) for her services to training, to education and to young people - and she used the award to pay tribute to staff at the business she launched with her husband 40 years ago.

Mrs Lucas-Hays is currently chair of Sunderland based travel company Hays Travel, which she ran with her husband John, until his death earlier this year.

She had a long career in local government and has acted as chief executive of two large local authorities, with her final position in local government being in Whitehall, where she was responsible for advising ministers and secretaries of state and was directly accountable to Parliament.

Her high achievement and reputation for innovation in public administration saw her awarded a CBE in 2008.

And she has now added to her CBE with one of just 11 damehoods announced

Having long has been a staunch advocate of apprentices, using her company to invest in the training and education of people across the North East, she dedicated her damehood to the apprentices and training staff at Hays Travel.

“I didn’t tell anyone, any of my family or friends – I know it’s about me, but it also isn’t really about me, it’s about all the apprentices,” she said.