Finalists Announced for the NatWest Venus Awards Devon 2013!

The finalists have been announced in the NatWest Venus Women’s Awards, Devon.  Semi-finalists, sponsors and friends gathered at The Magdalen Chapter Hotel in Exeter, to find out who would be invited to the grand Awards Ceremony at Exeter University on 5 September.

The event was co-hosted by Celia Delaney of Exeter-based company, SpeakingSuccess, and the founder of the Venus Awards, Tara Howard. 

Some of the finalists were selected directly by their sponsors, while others had to face the even more challenging public vote process.

Tara Howard says:  “Whether it be by the public or decided by the sponsors, making it through to this stage of the process is something to be shouted about.”

The public-judged categories are:

The Exeter Daily Employee of the Year

Tracey St Anton – Boswell Farm Cottages
Morag Rowse – Beaconville Nursing
Samantha Durston – Thomson Reuters

Cathedral Appointments Employer of the Year

Mariam Badavi – Purity Boutique Spa Limited
Anne Walker MBE – International Dance Supplies Ltd
Jacqui Batterbee – Batterbee Thompson & Co Ltd

Heart Business Mother

Julia Bramble – BrambleBuzz
Alana Carroll – Gravitas Recruitment
Janette Davey – Your Baby and You

The finalists for the sponsor-judged categories are:

Bishop Fleming Entrepreneur of the Year

Anne Walker MBE – International Dance Supplies
Jo Rees – Salt Media Ltd
Sarah Cressall – The Creation Station Ltd

Fidelius Insurance High Achiever of the Year

Vanessa Priddis – Hartnell Chanot & Partners
Dr. Olivia Champion – Scientist at Exeter University
Sally Taylor – St Lukes Hospice Plymouth

Hartnell Chanot & Partners New Business of the Year

Katie Jones – Choccie Bar
Dr. Ros Debenham – Radiance MediaSpa
Star Khechara – School of Holistic Cosmetology

NatWest Small Business of the Year

Jacqui Batterbee – Batterbee Thompson & Co Ltd
Rebecca Montford-Gard – Eden Day Spa
Jo Rees – Salt Media Ltd

The Old Bag Company Inspirational Woman

Anna Petherick – Bizzaz Hair
Glynis Lidster – Welcome Hall Ltd
Cathy Debenham – YouGen Ltd

CBCS Green Business of the Year

Claire Callender – The Green Funeral Company
Sonia-Maria Hall – Surplus WEEE
Cathy Debenham – YouGen Ltd

Non-sponsor-judged categories are:

Home Based Business of the Year

Janet Carter – Austim Life Resources
Julia Bramble – BrambleBuzz
Carol Willcox – Juice Plus
Sara Delphi – Sara Delphi
Lisa Singleton – Zebra Design

Lifetime Achievement

Debbi Moore – Big Wave Media
Alexis Bowater – Bowater Communications
Sandhy Robinson-Jones – Chameleon Design
Julie Hawker – Cosmic
Jackie Bligh – TaxAssist Torquay, Paignton & Exeter

Networker of the Year

Sarah Holmes – Bond Dickinson
An Swinnen – British English Consulting Service Ltd
Glen King – Glen King Marketing
Linda Cleaves – LC Mortgages
Debbie Manners – ND Media

Celia Delaney says: 'I have had so many women write to me to say what a difference the awards has made to them - even people who were not initially sure about a women's awards are thrilled to be finalists. I have had lots of comments about how different these awards feel compared to others they have attended.'

If you would like to join the sponsors and finalists at the “social event of the year”, the Grand Award Ceremony  on 5 September at Exeter University, tickets can be purchased from the Venus Awards Devon Website at www.devon.venusawards.co.uk