Entrepreneurs celebrated in the UK’s leading awards programme for women in business

FINALISTS ANNOUNCED IN THE 2019 NATWEST EVERYWOMAN AWARDS

Twenty-one women from across the UK are announced as finalists in the 2019 NatWest everywoman Awards.

Now in their 17^th year, the NatWest everywoman Awards celebrate female entrepreneurs from all walks of life providing a platform for them to share their achievements. From the founders of international multi-million-pound empires to those spearheading social enterprises for the greater good, this year’s finalists are the role models whose success will inspire future generations of female entrepreneurs.

Spanning diverse industries – fashion, jewellery, hospitality, skincare, food, and social care – the 2019 finalists were chosen by a judging panel comprising some of the UK’s top business figures, including Helen Pattinson (Montezuma’s), Julie Deane OBE (Cambridge Satchel Company), Sarah Wood (Unruly), Poonam Gupta OBE (PG Paper Company), fashion designer, Melissa Odabash,  Harriet Hastings (Biscuiteers), Sam Smith (FinnCap) and Rowan Finnegan (Regenerative Investment).

Overall, only one in three UK entrepreneurs is female, a gender gap equivalent of 1.1 million missing businesses. This is despite the potential for £250 billion of new value to be added to the UK economy if women started and scaled new businesses at the same rate as men. Even if the UK were to achieve the same average share of women entrepreneurs as best-in-class peer countries, this would still add as much as £200 billion*.

The Alison Rose Review identified the three biggest opportunities to help female entrepreneurs, which included “…relatable and accessible mentors and networks”.  Since 2003 the NatWest everywoman Awards has been providing exactly this, by building a community of the UK’s leading female business owners and connecting them with peers, advisors and investors. The work that the awards do could not be more important at this time.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony on 3 December 2019 at Grosvenor House, London. Further awards will include the Spirit of everywoman Award presented to a woman who has helped change the landscape for businesswomen in the UK; the everywoman Ambassador Award celebrating the success of a high-profile entrepreneur; and the brand new Fortuna Award recognising an individual who is investing in women-run enterprises.

The 2019 category awards finalists are:

• ARTEMIS – Awarded to the most inspirational woman running a business trading for 18 months to 3 years

• Harriet Inglis, Spacemasks.com, from London
• Eloise Frank, The Big London Bake, from London
• Yang Liu, JustWears, from London  

• DEMETER – sponsored by Nutriment – Awarded to the most inspirational woman running a business trading from 3 to 5 years
  • Katie Hayward, Felinhoneybees, from Anglesey
  • Marine Tanguy,  MTArt Agency, from London
  • Michele Venton, GirlZone, from Bournemouth

• ATHENA – Awarded to the most inspirational woman running a business trading from 6 to 9 years
  • Lucy Townsend, The Greyhound on the Test, from Stockbridge
  • Jane Michell, Jane Plan, from London
  • Michelle Osman, Minerva Global, from Alton

• HERA – Awarded to the most inspirational woman running a business trading for 10 years or more
  • Rachel Pendered, Media Zoo, from London
  • Nassrin Zarach, Manicomio, from London
  • Mairead Mackle, Homecare Independent Living, from Armagh

• GAIA – sponsored by Montezuma’s Chocolates – Awarded to the most inspirational and successful female founder of a social enterprise who has combined strong community benefit with a sustainable business model
  • Ren Kapur MBE, X-Forces Enterprise, from London
  • Sara Hawkins, Projekt 42, from Edinburgh
  • Julie Agbowu, All Inclusive Advice and Training, from Croydon  

• APHRODITE – sponsored by Daily Mail – Awarded to a woman who founded her business whilst raising a child/children aged 12 or under
  • Alice Rivers Cripps, Posh Totty Designs, from Brighton
  • Yoshi Lee, Boba Box, from London
  • Kelli Aspland, Solar Buddies from Cwmbran

• BRAND OF THE FUTURE – sponsored by The White Company – awarded to the female founder of a business that demonstrates great potential for growth
  • Samantha Cameron, Cefinn, from London
  • Charlotte Ferguson, DISCIPLE, from London
  • Amy Louise Moring, Hunter & Gather Foods, from Essex

Speaking about the finalists, Maxine Benson MBE, Co-Founder at everywoman comments:

“The Alison Rose Review cited the vital influence of role models and through this programme we have reached over 4,000 female entrepreneurs, sharing their stories and success to inspire others.  Our work focuses on empowering women with professional opportunities and we must address the reasons why 60% of women who have considered starting a business, did not because of a lack of confidence. This year’s finalists demonstrate the innovation that women already bring to entrepreneurship and we believe their stories will encourage others to follow suit.”

Yvonne Greeves, Director of Women in Business, at NatWest, says:

“We are very proud to recognise these women, who are not just successful in their own businesses, but are also great role models. The importance of women in business cannot be underestimated, so we hope these role models will inspire other women to take their first steps in business. To help these entrepreneurs and would-be business owners, NatWest has a network of over 500 externally accredited Women in Business specialists who understand our customers’ ambitions and provide business advice, mentoring and networking opportunities.”

ENGAGING, ADVANCING & RETAINING WOMEN IN BUSINESS

everywoman is an expert in the advancement of women in business. We provide leading edge products and services designed to enhance the existing potential and talents of women in business globally. Since 1999, we have developed highly acclaimed events, elevating female role models and high-quality training programmes, helping to shape tomorrow’s leaders and their teams.

Our learning and development platform, the everywomanNetwork, stretches to tens of thousands of members in over 100 countries, enabling women and male ‘ambassadors of change’ to access first class development resources anytime, anywhere. The digital platform has been shown to have a positive impact on the way women view their own careers and future progression, whether that’s with their current employers or as entrepreneurs.

Our clients include companies from a diverse range of sectors who want to develop and retain a pipeline of female leaders, through to individual women who are committed to driving their future success and inspiring others. 

At NatWest we know that starting and running a business can be both exciting and challenging. We understand that female entrepreneurs and businesses need the right combination of support, advice and funding to succeed, which is why we provide a wide range of services for businesses of all shapes and sizes, across every sector. NatWest has a network of over 400 externally accredited Women in Business specialists across the UK offering specialist support, practical guidance and networking opportunities to female entrepreneurs. We are proud to work closely with everywoman who promote and support women’s enterprise. 

*The Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship 2019