Home Business Awards & Achievements Two Entrepreneurial Businesswomen from Leeds Announced as 2018 ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’...

Two Entrepreneurial Businesswomen from Leeds Announced as 2018 ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ Finalists by British Superbrand

Finalists in the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ category of Pitman Training’s SuperAchievers awards have been announced, after hundreds of nominations from across the globe were submitted, to the business superbrand.

The UK’s leading independent training provider, Pitman Training launched the SuperAchievers Awards to show anything is possible and to help reward people committed to driving their careers forward in a bid to inspire more of the British workforce to strive for more. This award is for entrepreneurs dedicated to building a legacy – business owners who demonstrate an entrepreneurial spirit and dedicate their professional life to leading by example.

Two entrepreneurial businesswomen from Leeds have been announced as 2018 ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ finalists; Abra Wynn is co-founder of Pastille Beauty Bar and Lashed Leeds and Marion Lowrence (pictured) who runs The PA Hub; a business set up to support PA’s across the North of England.

Voting is now open for all finalists – http://superachievers.pitman-training.com/
Public vote closes: Friday 13th April and the winners will then be announced on Friday 20th April.


  • Marion Lowrence (pictured) has just celebrated her 5th year of self-employment, running The PA Hub; a business set up to support PAs across the North of England. The PA Hub launched initially in Leeds and has now expanded across the York and Liverpool regions. Marion has spent a vast amount of time supporting UK Assistants by attending national conferences, networks and events which challenged the role of the profession and assisted in taking the training element outside of London in an attempt to make the networking and learning experience more accessible. Colleague and nominator Matthew said: “Marion is adept at multitasking. From being a mother, to managing several directors, to running a business with global speaking engagements – she can juggle life, work and play, and always with a smile. Her positive attitude radiates, not just in networking meetings and events, but in day-to-day life. When faced with a struggle, Supporting the PA profession is key to Marion, it is a role she takes very seriously, which motivates and inspires the day-to-day running of her business.”
  • Abra Wynn is co-founder of Pastille Beauty Bar and Lashed Leeds. Abra is co-founder of Pastille Beauty Bar, a business she launched in 2013 with a long-time friend, and now sister-in-law, Erene. They recognised that there was a real need for an upmarket, yet personal, beauty experience in Leeds city centre. Five years since the launch, Abra and Pastille has won several awards and accolades including regional ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ in the Forward Ladies 2015 Women in Business Awards. What makes Abra’s story unique is that neither she, nor Erene, are qualified beauty therapists. Early 2018 saw the launch of sister salon, Lashed Leeds. When asked why she thought Abra should win this award, Erene said, “It is extremely rare for a young woman to be self-made in the way she has achieved, and I feel it is time to have her success celebrated and recognised. She has set up her own agenda for life and work, which is an enviable and inspirational position. Abra is also using one profitable business as a launchpad for another, and the success of this is already obvious. I think she will continue to do amazing things.”

Claire Lister, Managing Director at Pitman Training Group, said: “We are honoured to be able to highlight such incredible stories, across a really varied set of professions and showcase those who are striving to achieve. Each year, I look at the entries submitted, and it inspires me to see what people are achieving through hard work and ambition.”

Winners of the SuperAchievers are determined by a combined judges vote and the public vote. This year’s judging panel is made up of: Abbie Coleman, owner of Harrington Norman recruitment and MMB Magazine; Catherine Asta Labbett, a psychotherapist and founder of Girl Tribe Gang, a fast growth female networking community for women who have aspirations to be their own boss; Claire Young, entrepreneur, media specialist and government advisor who appeared on series four of the Apprentice; Han-Son Lee, founder of DaddiLife – a parenting website for dads which focuses on a range of areas to help, celebrate and inspire the modern day father; and Craig Harris, a previous SuperAchievers winner, currently working as a PA in the third sector.