The Best Business Women Awards has today released the list of the finalists in its 17 categories that cover a wide variety of industries including Business Services, Online, Retail and Recruitment (see notes to editor for details of finalists). Established in 2015, by multi-award winning entrepreneur Debbie Gilbert, the Best Business Women Awards recognises and rewards female business talent and is now considered to be one of the UKs most prestigious awards for entrepreneurial business women.
With women making up some 47% of the UK workforce, the Government set up a task force, The Women and Work Commission, that found unleashing women’s full working potential could be worth £23 billion a year to the UK Exchequer. A recently released report by Royal Bank of Scotland revealed that women-led businesses contributed £3.51bn to the UK economy and created 77,000 jobs in 2015.
“Some 38% of working women have dependent children and 1 in 5 women aged between 45-59 are carers.” said Debbie Gilbert, Founder of the Best Business Women Awards. “Many educated and talented women are finding that the corporate world no longer works for them and are creating their own pathway to a successful career which also balances family life – this needs to be celebrated and rewarded”. Debbie concluded.
Applications for the Best Business Women Awards has doubled since 2015 with some 500 entries from all over the UK received this year. Each of the 17 categories has a judging panel made up industry and business experts. The finalists will be announced at the Best Business Women Awards gala dinner on 12th October 2017 at Tewin Bury Farm, Welwyn, Hertfordshire.
Headline sponsor and head judge, David Clarke from Clydesdale Bank said “We’ve been so impressed with the calibre of the entrants and the breadth of the award categories, which celebrate a wide range of industries. Finalists have been selected for their business acumen, determination, creativity and tenacity. With over 80% of start-ups failing in the first 3 years all our finalists are shining examples of successful female entrepreneurs.”
The 2017 Best Business Women Award finalists are:
Best Business
Caroline Jones – Cobham Consulting
Denise O’Leary – Purpol Marketing Ltd
Emma Page – The Victorian Emporium
Jacqui Frost – The Office Genie
Jane and Kerry Lewis- Skin to Love Clinic
Jodie Newman- The Business Allotment
Julianne Ponan – Creative Nature
Karen Holden- A City Law Firm
Kimberlee Perry- ((Bounce))
Michelle Bacon- Osbourne Appointments
Nikki Robinson – Holisticare Ltd
Rita Chowdry- Savran
Best Business Woman in Business Services
Denise O’Leary – Purpol Marketing Ltd
Jacqui Frost – The Office Genie
Jo Soley – Your Brilliant Business Angel
Jodie Newman- The Business Allotment
Melanie Dowie- MND Training Services
Melanie Silver – Words etc Ltd
Michelle Jay – Bright Spark Events
Shannon Banks- Be Leadership Ltd
Sue Keogh – Sookio
Best Business Woman working with Children and Families
Caroline Sparks- Turtle Tots
Kathy Doolan- Rhythm Time
Kezia Jolly – The Marylebone Ballet School & Vacani Ballet
Michelle Drury- I Learn Education Ltd
Rachel Carrell – Koru Kids
Rebecca Oliver – Tiny Temps & Tempos Performing Arts
Sarah Ellis- Hyperfusion Theatre Company
Best Coach
Alison Moore- Bemoore Ltd
Carole Anne Rice- The Real Coaching Co
Malakh Zebulun – Malakh Zebulun
Michele Attias – Michele Attias Coaching
Rita Trehan – Rita Trehan LLC
Tanya Heasley – Tristone Coaching
Best Community Champion
Anita Goyal- Hemraj Goyal Foundation
Caroline Howells- ARCH Gardening
Danielle Bridge- ABC Life Support C.I.C.
Hasmita Reardon – New Leaf Support
Lucia Melillo – Lucia Hair and Beauty
Sarah Ellis – Hyperfusion Theatre Company
Best Customer Service
Claire Bolton Van Weert – Apex Ability Ltd
Desi Gray & Sohini Biswas– SKAT Ltd
Jacqui Frost – The Office Genie
Jane and Kerri Lewis- Skin to Love Clinic
Karen Ann Greenall -A.R.K. Lasting Powers & Wills
Michelle Jay – Bright Spark Events
Nevina Holland – Peekaboo Studios
Rebecca Wilson- Friends for Pets
Best Franchisee
Abby Dennis – The One Stop Office t/a The Best of Watford
Caroline Deutsch – Select Appointments St Albans
Frances Donkin – Rhythm Time (Cheshire) Ltd
Best Franchisor
Caroline Ashworth – Jittabugs
Caroline Sparks – Turtle Tots Ltd
Kathy Doolan – Rhythm Time
Kimberlee Perry- ((Bounce))
Best Business Woman in Legal Services
Anna Rabin- Construction Law Consultant Ltd
Jane Cassell – JC Independent Wills & Probate Ltd
Karen Holden- A City Law Firm
Best Business Woman in Legal Services continued
Karen Ann Greenall – A.R.K. Lasting Powers and Wills
Best Business Woman Working in Health and Wellness
Claire Bolton Van Weert – Apex Ability Ltd
Claire Gregory & Robyn Ablott – The Fitness Training Academy
Gillian Huntley- Appearances Aesthetics
Hannah Gardner- The Vanity Rooms
Heidi Strickland- Clark – FastTrack Fit Camp Ltd
Jane and Kerri Lewis – Skin to Love Clinic
Kate and Billie Martell – Bow Belles Wigs Specialists
Kimberlee Perry – ((Bounce))
Louise Hampton – Attend2Health
Most Inspiring Business Woman
Ashleigh O’Connell – Herts Wellness Centre Ltd
Cat Gazzoli – Piccolo
Hannah Gardener – The Vanity Rooms
Julianne Ponan – Creative Nature
Nikki Robinson-Holisticare Ltd
Rebecca Oliver- Tiny Tempos & Tempos Performing Arts
Rita Chowdry – Savran
Rita Trehan – Rita Trehan LLC
Rowena Driver- An Extra Pair of Hands
Sarah Smits – Ashbourne Insurance
Best Networker
Bindar Dosanjh- Smart Core Wealth Ltd
Cornelia Raubal – Craftport Consulting Ltd
Debbie Diggle- The Athena Network South West Herts & North Middx
Rebecca Pountney – Engage Weddings
Sarah Smits – Ashbourne Insurance
Zamiha Desai – RecommendAsian
Best New Business
Ashleigh O’Connell – Herts Wellness Centre Ltd
Cat Gazzoli- Piccolo
Harri Dhokia- Black Interiors
Jade Thomas – ExpertEase Tuition Ltd
Laura Mudie- Rosa and Bo
Leena Lakhani – Home Instead Senior Care
Rachel Carrell – Koru Kids
Rowena Driver – An Extra Pair of Hands
Best Online Business
Emma Page- The Victorian Emporium
Jo Bates- Thumbsie Ltd
Maxine McPherson – Exclusively Thames Valley
Rebecca Ackary – Sweetness and Pea Ltd
Best Business Woman in Recruitment
Amy Hambleton – RedLaw
Caroline Deutsch – Select Appointments St Albans
Caroline Jones – Cobham Consulting
Desi Gray and Sohini Biswas– SKAT Ltd
Lucy Chamberlain – C & C Search
Michelle Bacon- Osbourne Appointments
Sophie Mililiken – Smart Resourcing Solutions
Best Business Woman in Retail or Consumer Business
Cat Gazzoli- Piccolo
Charlotte Cavanagh – Time for Tea
Jo Bates – Thumbsie Ltd
Julianne Ponan – Creative Nature
Katie and Billie Martell – Bow Bells Wigs Specialists
Lucia Melillo – Lucia Hair and Beauty
Sally Hall- Dorothy & Theodore Ltd
Zoe Creswell – GlamouriZe
Best Business Woman in Technology
Rachell Carrell- Koru Kids
Sophie Hainsworth – LoyalFree Ltd
Sue Keogh – Sookio
Susie Tobias- Wise Genius
