everywoman awards

07/12/12

On 5 December, some of the country’s most successful female entrepreneurs - with a mighty collective turnover of over £2 billion - gathered to celebrate the inspirational winners of the tenth NatWest everywoman Awards.

L-R Hayley Gait-Golding, Elli Chapman, Jessica Rose,

Liz Doogan-Hobbs MBE, Janis Sinton,

Cleopatra Browne, Jessica Butcher

2012 winners included Jessica Rose, aged just 25 who fought potential bankruptcy to lead her enterprise, London Jewellery School to be the largest independent provider of amateur and professional courses in the country.

Hayley Gait-Golding was also recognised for her vision in launching BEAR Nibbles, providing healthy fruit snacks, which are now sold in all major supermarkets.

Julie Deane, The Cambridge Satchel Company

Winner of the ‘Athena’ category was British Library Make It, Sell It expert, Julie Deane, who started the Cambridge Satchel Company to fund school fees, and now operates internationally, with a turnover of £9 million in its fourth year of trading.

Commenting on this year’s winners, everywoman co-founder, Karen Gill MBE, says,

“Over the past ten years we have uncovered incredible stories of professional triumphs, so many of which have been in the face of incredible adversity. This year more than ever the judges were humbled by the extraordinary tenacity and determination shown by the finalists.

Drive to succeed takes on new meaning with these women and the word ‘inspiring’ doesn’t do justice to their achievements. We know that there are thousands of women around the UK with a business idea and we are here to support them as their concept turns into reality.

Today’s winners are testimony that with hard work and persistence - dreams of enterprise can come true.”

For more information and a full list of winners visit the everywoman website.

Photos © everywoman Ltd