Fylde coast women take lead in awards finals

The finalists for the female business awards, the EVAs, have been announced after judges carried out weeks of deliberation.

They said entries for the Enterprise Vision Awards were at an all-time high and competition across all the categories was extremely tough.

A total of 102 businesses from across the North West have qualified as finalists with the Fylde coast area seeing 21 businesses go through.

Each finalist will now face a panel of judges before the winners will be announced on Friday,September 23, at an awards ceremony held at Blackpool Winter Gardens.

Launched back in 2011, the EVAs provide women across the North West with the opportunity to be recognised for their achievements in business.

Heather Waters, regional enterprise manager of headline sponsor NatWest, said: “It’s our fourth year of being the headline sponsor of the EVAs, and we are proud to support these awards as well as being involved in the judging process. It’s always inspiring to see the quality of women-led businesses based in the North West.”

Coral Horn, founder of the Pink Link Ladies networking group and organiser of the EVAs, said: “Seeing the businesses come in and pitch to the judges is great, a lot of effort is put in and all the judges have some very tough decisions to make!

The EVAs judging process is a mix of public nomination with a stringent round of judging. Public votes can be cast at www.enterprisevisionawards.co.uk. The public votes form a minority share.

The local finalists include: Charlotte Bonney, of Bonney Babies, from Thornton Cleveleys – Small Business of the Year Award; Sonya Brannigan, of Adcroft Hilton, from Blackpool – Financial Services of the Year Award; Ray Howard, of QHR Solutions, from Blackpool – Professional Services Award; Ann Worsnip, of Oi Doris, from Lytham St Annes – Creative Industry Award; Beverly Wood, of Beverly Wood Design, from Blackpool – Creative Industry Award; Rebecca Bridgwater, of Fylde Coachbuilt Prams, from Lytham St Annes – Creative Industry Award; Danielle Yates, of Montagues, from Blackpool – Hospitality Industry Award; Rachel Ratcliffe, of Rachel’s Yummy Scrummy Cakes, from Poulton-le- Fylde – Hospitality Industry Award; Kelly Ellison, of Cake-Tin Delights, from Blackpool – Hospitality Industry Award; Caroline Thompson, of The Bump Business, from Blackpool – Solo Business Award; Joanne Bradley-Johnson, of JoJingles, from Blackpool – Solo Business Award; Lisa Reilly, of Lakeview Rest Homes, from Lytham St Annes – Customer Services Award; Karen Lauder and Lucy Williams, of SPOTlight Performing Arts Academies – New BusinessAward; Michelle Turnball, of The Barking Bakery, from Kirkham – New Business Award; Carolin Bramhall, Stacey Sagar and Hayley Anderton, of Grace and Favour Sewing, from Thornton – Retail Award; Charlotte Partington, of Lottie’s Bridal Boutique, from Ansdell – Retail Award; Chrissy Griffen, of The Lingerie Lounge, from Blackpool – Retail Award; Julia Eastwood, of Artisan Tiles and Interiors – Retail Award; Izzy Durose, of ID Photography, from St Annes – Young Entrepreneur Award; Julie Maughan, of Woodhouse Opticians, from Blackpool – Customer Services Award; and Charlotte Johnson, of The Postery, from Blackpool – Internet Industry Award.