Businesspeople from across the region attended the Women in Business awards on Thursday 9 September 2021 at Leicester’s King Power Stadium to celebrate the outstanding achievements of female entrepreneurs and professionals across Leicester.
Our HR Business Partner Claire Antony opened the evening and said:
“It was a pleasure to be headline sponsor of the Women in Business awards again this year and be involved in showcasing the brilliant, vibrant female talent this region has. We had a wonderful night with all the finalists, celebrating their achievements.”
Hosted by Emma Jessen, winners in 11 categories were announced and presented with trophies on the night followed by our presentation to Helen Parker of deVOL Kitchens for Businesswoman of the Year.
The LeicestershireLive Women in Business 2021 finalists and winners are:
Businesswoman of the Year
- Winner: Helen Parker of deVOL
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Winner: Penny Coates, ex-MD of East Midlands Airport and former COO of Manchester Airports Group
Apprentice of the Year
- Winner: Alice Deeping of Unsworth Sugden
- Finalists: Chloe Grantham of Paragon Sales Solutions, Alice Stewardson of Danaher & Walsh
Rising Star
- Winner: Rebecca Holders of Hortons Estate Agents
- Finalists: Sally Faulkner of The Bond Street Distillery, Prity Somani of Cherrytree Care Home
Sole Trader of the Year
- Winner: Lena Patel of ISJ Independent Financial Planning
- Finalists: Susie Mitchell of Florence and James Marketing Consultancy, Gabrielle Miller of Cool As Group
Inspirational Woman of the Year
- Winner: Lauren Welch of NADA
- Finalists: Mala Kotecha of Nick’s Maharajah Tours, Jenna Woodward’s of Jenna Leigh Training Academy
Digital Ambassador
- Winner: Gabrielle Miller of Cool As Group
- Finalists: Fiona Bradley of Sage Qualifications, Jenny Walters of Bulb Studios
Innovation in Business
- Winner: Sophie Hainsworth of LoyalFree
- Finalists: Fiona Bradley of Sage Qualifications, Talent Nyandoro of Leta-Lux lingerie
Women in Construction
- Winner: Rachel Biddles of Blueprint Interiors
- Finalists: Chris Ashton of EMH Housing, Hollie, Jade and Ruby Finnegan of FinniGroup
Entrepreneur of the Year
- Winner: Sophie Hainsworth of LoyalFree
- Finalists: Meesha Kanadia of Amelia Nour, Gabrielle Miller of Cool As Group
New Business of the Year
- Winner: Kate Walker of ExpHand Prosthetics
- Finalists: Alicia Humphreys of AH Virtual Assistant Services
Small Business of the Year
- Winner: Samantha Gibbs of Nest
- Finalists: Beth Pollard of House and Home Bespoke, Chloe Dennis of Mocha Marketing Limited
The awards were due to take place in 2020 but were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Claire Antony added:
“The last 18 months have been a difficult period for many people, with our economy and social lives put on hold. It’s clear that the negative consequences of the pandemic will be felt by some more than others. New barriers have been raised to building inclusive and prosperous economies and societies and pre-existing economic gender gaps have amplified. It is therefore great to have been able to celebrate these awards which have been put on hold for so long.”
For more information about the Women in Business Awards, visit the LeicestershireLive awards website