Four Cumbrian businesswomen struck gold at the 10th anniversary Enterprise Vision Awards.
The awards recognise outstanding female entrepreneurship in the North West and more than 650 guests attended the ceremony in Blackpool, hosted by C4’s extreme cake maker, Rosie Dummer.
Women from all sectors were represented, individuals and companies; from laboratories, estate agents and a helicopters pilot agency to pet care, restaurants and styling products.
Emma Lea Dalton (My Kind of Clean), Angela Horn (THW Estate Agents), Charlotte Hargan (Lakeland Inns) and Rachel Holliday (Time to Change) each won a highly coveted 10th Anniversary Enterprise Vision Award.
Rachel Holliday was named as Inspirational Woman of the Year. Judges said they found her to be absolutely amazing.
They said that she showed clear leadership qualities, her ambition was business orientated and inspiring.
Winner of the Young Entrepreneur Award, Emma Lea inspired the judges with her passion for her community, the environment and elderly.
Putting people before profit and genuinely caring about making a positive impact while establishing a successful and respected business.
The Employee of the Year award was won by Charlotte, of the Lakeland Inns Group.
The judges said that Charlotte had gained the experience to inspire others by working her way up in the business.
Gaining the respect of her team and expanding her knowledge of the business, she was a much valued member of the team.
Angela, of THW Estate Agents, won the Professional Services Award.
From starting in the business, to owning the business, she has made great investment in her team and technology to aid the growth of the business and showed great leadership skills. The judges all agreed she was a worthy winner.
To mark a decade of winning women, the EVAS raised over £9,000 for charity which included giving each of the charity finalists a free ticket to attend the awards. The EVAS were a Foodinate event so for every ticket sold a nourishing hot meal would be donated to a person in need.
Coral Horn, founder of the awards and the networking group, Pink Link, said: “In a time like no other, it was exhilarating to see over 1,150 nominations and 640 entrants.
“The pandemic wreaked havoc for women in business but these ladies are simply superb and fully deserve to be recognised for their achievements.”