THE CREAM of Lancashire’s female entrepreneurs have been named as finalists in the biggest awards for businesswomen outside London. The 45 women from all over Lancashire, from Blackpool and Preston to Carleton and Chorley are all hoping to win one of the highly acclaimed Enterprise Vision Awards (the EVAS) which have been created in association with women’s business network Pink Link.
The 45 have been chosen from almost 1,000 entrants from across the North West. Interviews will take place in July to decide who will win one of the 16 coveted EVA statues.
The awards will be presented at a glitzy black tie event on Friday, September 27 at The Winter Gardens in Blackpool when the region’s top businesswomen come together.
The finalists who will be flying the flag for Lancashire include Gemma Walker of Blackpool-based Helispeed Solutions, brings together helicopter pilots and operators from all over the world. Grace Vella of MissKick, a clothing brand entirely dedicated to empowering female footballers. Kirsty Rose Parker of The Evaluator helps charities to become more cost-effective and to win funding and Becky Holden-McGhee, a celebrant who helps you to personalise weddings and other special occasions.
Women from Manchester, Liverpool, Merseyside, Cumbria and Cheshire of all business types and sizes are represented at the awards including TV’s The Real Housewives of Cheshire star Tanya Bardsley, who runs her own jewellery, gifts and home accessories business. The list of finalists is wide and diverse, showcasing the crème de la crème of the region’s female entrepreneurs.
Coral Horn, of Pink Link Ladies Networking, who founded the EVAS nine years ago, commented: “A record number of nominations were received this year, reinforcing what we have been shouting about for almost a decade – that the North West is a hotbed of highly talented women!”
She added: “The combination of resilience, determination, hard work and a touch of magic has made it particularly difficult for the judges to whittle down the applications to the EVAS2019 finalists. Congratulations, ladies, you are already winners in our eyes!”
Heather Watson, Enterprise Manager for headline sponsor NatWest, said: “We are passionate about supporting female entrepreneurship and recognising the important economic contribution that they make in the North West. The EVAS provide an essential platform to showcase their exceptional achievements and help to inspire other women to follow their dreams.”
An additional award, the Outstanding Achievement Award, will be presented by NatWest to one of this year’s finalists in recognition for her exceptional achievements.
