Record entries for this year’s Enterprise Vision Awards

More than 600 of the best women in business gathered to celebrate the winners of the coveted Enterprise Vision Awards 2015 at a glittering event at Blackpool Winter Gardens.
INSPiRED: Jen Blackwell picks up her award for Inspirational Businesswoman of the YearINSPiRED: Jen Blackwell picks up her award for Inspirational Businesswoman of the Year
INSPiRED: Jen Blackwell picks up her award for Inspirational Businesswoman of the Year

With a record number of entries into the awards this year, the EVAs have grown to become one of the most hotly contested awards celebrating women in business which continue to attract entrants from across the North West.

Hundreds of successful businesses entered the awards which took the form of a written application, a presentation in front of a panel of judges and finally an open vote before coming together at a black tie event at Blackpool Winter Gardens.

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Four local businesses found success, Jenny Bird from Holistic Beauty Therapy in Tarleton was crowned winner in the Beauty Business of the Year category sponsored by Radio Wave and Alison Brown from The Glass House in Ribchester won Hospitality Business of the year sponsored by Lancashire Life magazine.

Ruth Hoyle from Exercise Angels in Chorley won the Health and Fitness Business of the Year award sponsored by Fence & Drain. Jen and Sue Blackwell from DanceSyndrome in Preston scooped the Inspirational Woman of the Year award sponsored by NatWest.

Claire Young, entrepreneur and finalist on The Apprentice, host and compere for the awards evening said: “The atmosphere in the room was incredible.

“It was humbling, and rewarding, for me to play a part in the evening help celebrating everyone’s success.

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“As an ambassador for women in business, I am very passionate about promoting entrepreneurship and enterprise so it was a great honour to meet so many women who exude these qualities too, particularly those in the younger generation.”

The Enterprise Vision Awards were launched in 2011 by Coral Horn, founder of the Pink Link Ladies networking group.

The awards seek to shine a spotlight on the achievements of entrepreneurial women from across the North West and have grown year on year since their launch.

Coral said: “Throughout my years of working with women in business, I have found that women have a tendency to overlook their achievements in favour of simply getting on with the job in hand.

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“It’s only when they take a step back and reflect, do they realise just how successful they are.

“The awards were launched in a bid to combat this and really start celebrating those women who are making an enormous contribution to our economy and providing employment across the North West. “I would like to take this opportunity to also thank NatWest who share this ethos and are returning as our headline sponsor for the third year running.”

Winner Ruth Hoyle of Chorley based Exercise Angels said: “I was so pleased to win the award. Over the past 12 months, I have won a business award from Jacqueline Gold and won a top 100 award for my business in Mumpreneur magazine. To win an EVA award was the icing on the cake.”

Jenny Bird from Jenny Bird Holistic Beauty Therapy in Tarleton said: “I am absolutely thrilled that we have won this award and that we have been recognised for our hard work.”

Roll of honour:

New Business of the Year - Jo Thomas - Alice’s Tearoom.

Sole Trader of the Year - Lisa Jackson - Acorn Marketing.

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Small Business of the Year - Beverley Wood - Beverley Wood Design.

Training & Coaching Business of the Year - Rachel Haslam - Team Academy.

Professional Services Business of the Year - Angela Kelly - Freelance Journalist & Media Consultant.

Financial Services Business of the Year - Jackie Hyde - Stanmore Insurance Brokers.

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Hospitality Business of the Year - Alison Brown - The Glass House.

Beauty Business of the Year - Jenny Bird – Jenny Bird Holistic Beauty Therapy.

Creative Business of the Year - Alison Tordoff - Fidget Design.

Health & Fitness Business of the Year - Ruth Hoyle - Exercise Angels.

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Customer Services Business of the Year - Victoria Corcoran - The Pets Country Manor.

Online Business of the Year - Roseanna Sunley - E-Dressage Ltd.

Young Entrepreneur of the Year - Katie Robinson - Made In Flowers.

Business Woman of the Year - Holly Moore - Make Events.

Inspirational Woman of the Year - Sue & Jen Blackwell - DanceSyndrome.

NW Networker of the Year - Kristen Durose - Red Star Wealth Management.