Top businesswomen in running for awards

Now in their second year, the awards, organised by women’s networking organisation Forward Ladies, celebrate the region’s brightest female entrepreneurs.

There are 25 business leaders shortlisted in nine categories.

Winners will be announced at a glittering lunch ceremony at the New Century Pavilion at Elland Road in Leeds on Friday, October 14, where one successful entrepreneur will also find out if they have won the overall 2011 Forward Ladies Businesswoman of the Year title.

Sarah Dunwell chief executive of social enterprise catering company Create, who won the Not For Profit Business Woman category in 2010, beat off competition from eight other regional businesswomen to take the overall title at the inaugural event last year.

The Yorkshire Post is sponsoring the Start-Up Business Woman category for the second year.

Etta Cohen, founder of Forward Ladies, said: “The quality of the entries this year has been outstanding, and we would like to thank our sponsors. We are also thrilled with the response from professional women taking part. It’s a pity they can’t all be winners.”

The finalists for the Innovation category, sponsored by WGN, are: Liz Cable, founder of Leeds-based social media training consultancy Reach Further; Ruth Dowswell, founder of Young Discoverers nursery in York; and Kate Hardcastle, founder of business transformation firm Insight with Passion, based in Birstall, near Batley.

The shortlisted entrepreneurs for the Manufacturing category, are: Lesley Buxton, director of ice-cream maker Yorvale, based near York; Hannah Evans, founder of organic baby brand Piccalilly, based in Settle, North Yorkshire; and Alison Whitmarsh, founder of the Propermaid bakery, based in Huddersfield.

The finalists in the International Business Woman category, sponsored by UK Trade and Investment, are: Liz Devine-Wright, of clothing manufacturer Pashmina by Simply Devine in Tadcaster; and Jan Thomson, the managing director of Export Connections in Leeds.

The shortlisted entrepreneurs for the Young award, sponsored by Stewart’s Law, are: Louise Bradshaw, sales manager and member of the core opening team at the five-star Cedar Court Grand Hotel and Spa in York; Laura Smith, an associate solicitor at Ramsdens Solicitors in Huddersfield; and Kayleigh Walmsley, founder of Northern Naked Butlers, based in Silsden.

The finalists for the Start-Up category, sponsored by the Yorkshire Post, are: Kate Barrett, founder of Thoroughbred Business Management, based in Batley; Rashmi Dube, founder of Leeds-based debt recovery and credit control firm Liquid Recovery; and Jillian Thomas, founder of Sheffield-based financial planning and wealth management company Future Life Wealth Management.

The Technology Business Woman award has shortlisted Carolyn Atkinson, the first female partner of chartered accountants Sheards, based in Huddersfield; Joy Devine, founder of Tadcaster-based specialist hat shop Simply Devine; and Jillian Thomas, of Future Life Wealth Management.

The finalists of the Corporate category, sponsored by O2, are: Jacqui Hall, managing director of Harrogate-based independent gas supplier CNG; Tracey Smith, managing director of York Science Park; and Catherine Shuttleworth, founder and chief executive of marketing agency Savvy in Leeds.

The Not for Profit Business Woman category, sponsored by East Coast, has shortlisted Kate Hardcastle, founder of charity Dreamgirls; Adeeba Malik, deputy chief executive of Bradford charity QED; and Christine Tooze, of Kickstart in Sheffield.

The finalists in the Home based category are: Sarah Ainsley, a professional marketing resource, based in Wakefield; Lesley Buxton, founder of Yorvale; and Jean Collingwood, founder of Hull-based societal marketing company Ingenious Group.

Mrs Cohen added: “We’ve seen last year’s winners go from strength to strength, which highlights the importance of their success in helping their businesses to develop.

“Forward Ladies is here to encourage women to be more enterprising and to encourage them to start and grown their businesses, and support them on their professional journeys in their chosen careers.”

2010 WINNER ON MENU AT BREAKFAST EVENT

Sarah Dunwell, founder and chief executive of social enterprise catering company Create, is one of the top entrepreneurs at the Yorkshire Post Business Breakfast event in Sheffield.

The Yorkshire Post is staging the panel debate as part of MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival. The debate will take place from 8.30-10am on September 22 at Mercure St Paul’s Hotel in Sheffield.

Other panellists include Jonathan Elvidge, co-founder and managing director of Red5; Darren Forshaw, a founding partner of Endless, and Richard Kaye, the founder and chief executive of the Fired Up Corporation.

To register, visit www.madefestival.com