FORWARD LADIES ANNOUNCES THE WOMEN IN BUSINESS AWARDS 2016 SHORTLIST

With a new female prime minister, eight women cabinet ministers, and a new female chair of the Institute of Directors, British politics and businesses are trailblazing for women in leadership.

And Forward Ladies has announced the shortlist for the 2016 National Women in Business Awards, sponsored by HSBC, which this year has attracted the highest number of entries ever received.

In announcing the results for London and the South of England, Griselda Togobo, MD of Forward Ladies said: “This has been a fantastic year for women; we continue to start, grow and run high profile successful companies. We have been surprised and delighted by the number, calibre and diversity of the applications we have received, and look forward to celebrating their success.

“The award categories are a reflection not only of the types of businesses with which women are involved but also industries which need to attract and encourage young women to join for future growth and prosperity.”

Debra White Regional Director of Small Businesses for HSBC and judge said: “There was an impressive number of high-calibre entries this year, highlighting the quality of talented businesswomen we have in the UK. These entrants are the future entrepreneurs of our country, with the Forward Ladies event to showcase the best Britain has to offer. HSBC will be supporting them every step of the way to ensure their businesses prosper and thrive in the long term.”

Other judges included Ajaz Ahmed, the founder of Freeserve, Helen Samuels from United Utilities and Saha Hashemi, founder of Coffee Republic.

Now in its seventh year, the Awards have grown from being purely regional into one of the most prestigious events in the calendar for professional women. The organisation, founded in 1999, supports women in their professional lives and celebrates and champions the role of women in the workplace.

The shortlisted applicants (see below) in each of the categories will be invited to attend the regional final at the Amba Hotel, Marble Arch in London on 16 September. The winners from this and the other regional finals, will then be invited to appear before a live judging interview panel in November, followed by the national final in Leeds on 1 December.

All shortlisted candidates will receive tailored business support from HSBC. Microsoft will also offer a full review of their ICT set up. The review will explore how their organisation can utilise technology across a range of business functions to drive business results.

Sharon Jandu, strategic partnerships, small and medium business at Microsoft said: “Our mission and values are all about helping businesses unlock their full potential and we are excited about the prospect of working with the UK’s leading women in business and their companies, to support them to achieve this aim.”

Working with The Institute of Directors to attract more women into the organisation, they will waive the £220 joining fee, leaving just the yearly membership fee to pay – all designed to support the finalists.

Lady Barbara Judge, chair of the IoD said: “It is my great pleasure to recognise the success of the women who have been shortlisted for The Forward Ladies’ Women in Business Awards. As recognition of their accomplishments I would like to waive the election fee for any shortlisted businesswoman who qualifies for membership of the IoD. These are all women who the IoD would be delighted to have as our members”.

Other national sponsors include Co-operative Insurance, with audio visual partner Saville’s and drinks partner Perfect Cellar.

The full shortlist for London and the South East is:

Digital category:

Sophie Boyce, director of Spirit YPC, Buckinghamshire, Lorraine Dallmeier, director, Formula Botanica, Dorset, Terri Hudson, MD, Baker Wanless, South Norwood.

Inspiring Leader category:

Miranda Brawn, director of legal and transaction management, Daiwa Capital Markets, London, Jacqueline de Rojas, area vice president, Northern Europe at Citrix, Gerrards Cross, Linda Greenwall, principal dentist, Hampstead Health Care, Barinder Hothi, group MD, The Knowledge Academy, Bracknell, Sue Kukadia, global leader, group director of immigration services at Santa Fe Relocation, London, Emma McGuigan, senior MD of Accenture UK & Ireland Technology, London, Zoe Powers, sales and customer relations director, GLH, London, Sharon Richey, CEO of BEcause Experiential Marketing, Ascot and Julie Sadler, head of IT engagement & delivery at O2 (TelefonicaUK) in Slough.

International category:

Lorraine Dallmeier, director of Formula Botanica, Dorset, Barinder Hothi, group MD, The Knowledge Academy, Bracknell, Sharon Richey, CEO of BEcause Experiential Marketing, Ascot, Gabriella Somerville, CEO of Connectjets in Mayfair and Juliette Thomas, director of Juliettes Interiors, Chelsea.

Not for Profit/Social Enterprise:

Dawn Cockburn, founder and president trustee of the Harmony Therapy Trust, Sheerness, Nadine Denneth, founder and director of N.ableD, London, Jenny Holloway director of Fashion Enter, London and Michelle Wright, CEO and founder of Cause4 in London.

Retail Category:

Bola Akinseye, MD of Lovicci in Mayfair, Toks Aruoture, nursery interior designer at The Baby Cot Shop in Bromley, Claire Boscq-Scott, director of The Busy Queen Bee, Jersey, Tricia Cusden, founder and MD of Look Fabulous Forever, London, Adrienne Eiser Treeby, MD, Crown & Queue Meats, London, Harriet Kelsall, founder chairman and creative director of Harriet Kelsall Bespoke Jewellery, Hitchin, Gabriella Somerville, CEO of Connectjets, Mayfair, and Juliette Thomas, director of Juliettes Interiors, Chelsea.

Rising Star category:

Eloise Bloniarz, programme director at Future Workshops, London, Monica Chia, MD of Karimix UK, Faversham, Claire Hearn, owner of Rose and Olive vintage tea parties, Edenbridge, Jyoti Kohli, director and care manager of Bluebird Care, London, Sue Kukadia, global leader, group director of immigration services at Santa Fe Relocation, London and Lambratu Tejan, financial controller at The View from the Shard, London. 

SME Emerging Category:

Tricia Cusden, founder and MD of Look Fabulous Forever, London, Terri Hudson, MD Baker Wanless, South Norwood, Estelle Levin, director, Estelle Levin Ltd, Cambridge, Nicola Morris, director, Stomor, Hitchin, Lynne Parker, chief executive, Funny Women, Rochester, Michelle Peskett & Katy Ware, directors and owners of Ruby Funerals, Gosport, and Victoria Williams, founder of terptree, Newbury, Berks.

SME Growth Category:

Rebekah Beere, MD, Avec Trade UK, Dorset, Monica Chia, MD of Karimix UK, Faversham, Trish Harris & Debbie Bough, joint MDs of Direction Group, Berkshire, Barinder Hothi, group MD, The Knowledge Academy, Bracknell, Esther Hunt, care manager and director at Future Care Solutions, Cambridge, Nicola Lander, company director, Jigsaw Performing Arts School, Barnet, Wendy Lawrence, CEO of Totally PLC, London, Sharon Richey, CEO of BEcause Experiential Marketing, Ascot, Ritu Sethi, senior partner and solicitor, Sethi Partnership Solicitors, Ruislip, and Joanne Smith, group CEO, The Consulting Consortium, London.

Start-up category:

Rosie Davies, agency director, The London Fashion Agency, Nadine Denneth, founder and director of N.ableD, London, Adrienne Eiser Treeby, MD, Crown & Queue Meats, London, Lucy Hall, director of Avviso Media, Maidstone, Precious Jason, founder of Etieno Skincare, London, Clare Denty, founder, The Female Speaking Academy, Dartford, Morgan McGlynn, director of Cheeses of Muswell Hill, Sophie Morris, director, Millharbour Marketing, London, and Alysia Silberg co-founder and COO of AcceleForce, London.

STEM Category:

Ella Barrington, business manager, Base Performance Simulators, Warkworth, Oxon, Eloise Bloniarz, programme director, Future Workshops, London, Estelle Levin, director of Estelle Levin, Cambridge, Emma McGuigan, senior MD of Accenture UK & Ireland Technology, London, Nicola Morris, director, Stomor of Hitchin, and Sandra Sassow, CEO of SEaB Energy, Southampton.

Young Category:

Sophie Boyce, director of Spirit YPC, Buckinghamshire, Rosie Davies, fashion director. The London Fashion Agency, Claudette DeJoir, founder of MGLC London, Angela Edgson, CEO, Gotcha, Basingstoke, Maria Fox, director, Maria Allen Boutique, Hove, and Morgan McGlynn, director of Cheeses of Muswell Hill.

Ends

Forward Ladies was founded in 1999, having originally been set up through the regional Development Agency, Yorkshire Forward. Forward Ladies started with one clear goal: to unlock potential in professional women. Seventeen years on and we are still going strong! We wanted to create an environment and community where women could feel heard, seen and able to upskill and develop themselves. However, after a few years our membership exploded and it became clear that we needed to spend some time creating different offers for the diverse women in our membership. We have start-ups, career women, heads of large companies, successful small businesses and women on boards – all within our membership. Forward Ladies is the most diverse and inclusive network of its kind.

Now a national organisation with 14,500-strong (and growing) UK based professional women, we work with progressive companies wanting to retain and maximise the potential of their female talent

For further information, please contact Anne Crowther on 0845 6434940 or 07850 725793.