Judging commences for the inaugural Devon NatWest Venus Business Women Awards

A total of 1,400 nominations have been received for the inaugural Devon NatWest Business Women Awards. The awards began in 2009 in Dorset and are held in a number of regions across the UK.

Founded by working mother-of-four and managing director of the historic Langtry Manor Hotel in Bournemouth, Tara Howard, The Venus Awards were created to recognise the achievements of women in business.

The Categories sponsored by female-friendly local businesses, have attracted nominations across the following categories: Heart FM Business Mother of the Year; Cathedral Appointments Employer of the Year; The Exeter Daily Employee of the Year, NatWest Small Business of the Year; Hartnell Chanot New Business of the Year; Centre for Business and Climate Solutions Green Business of the Yea, Bishop Fleming Entrepreneur of the Year; The Old Bag Company Inspirational Woman of the Year; Home-based Business and High Achiever of the Year. 

The breakdown of nominations is as follows:

  • Heart FM Business Mother of the Year 222
  • Exeter Daily Employee of the Year 55
  • Cathedral Appointments Employer of the Year 99
  • Bishop Fleming Entrepreneur of the Year  94
  • Centre for Business and Climate Solutions Green Business of the Year 50
  • The Old Bag Company Inspirational Woman of the Year  307
  • NatWest Small Business of the Year  240
  • High Achiever     78
  • Home Based Business    89
  • Networker of the Year    49

The awards are being spearheaded in Devon by Celia Delaney of Exeter-based company, SpeakingSuccess. She says: “It is heart-warming to see so many people going out of their way to show their appreciation for the working women of Devon. If I had my way, they would all receive an award and I hope that even being nominated gives some of these women a welcome pat on the back.”

While three of the categories; Heart FM Business Mother, Exeter Daily Employee of the Year and Cathedral Appointments Employer of the Year, go to the public vote, the other seven categories will be decided by the sponsors, who take the task very seriously and review every application before selecting the semi-finalists prior to them being whittled down to the finalists. 

The successful candidates will be invited to the grand awards ceremony at Exeter University in September.

 

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