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Top awards for women who are changing the face of UK enterprise

 

 

The winners of the 2008 national Prowess Awards have been named at a high-profile awards ceremony at the Hyatt Regency Birmingham. Amongst the winners is the managing director of a major offshore ICT cabling company, the CEO of a modern Chinese restaurant,  a champion of flexible working, a lawyer who has never lost a client and a Radio 4 broadcast journalist.

 

The Prowess Awards are unique in celebrating all those who contribute to the growth of women’s enterprise development including: the inspirational business women who support and motivate others, the business support advisers and mentors who provide exemplary advice and encouragement and the researchers and journalists who support the sector through compelling and progressive ideas

 

According to Erika Watson, Prowess, Executive Director “The winners of these awards are not only at the very top of their game but are also actively seeking to support and encourage other women to achieve their full potential. In doing so are changing the face of enterprise in the UK”.  

 

The winners of the 2008 national Prowess Awards are:

 

• Sally Goodsell, Chief Executive, Finance South East Ltd - Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Enterprise Development, sponsored by HSBC
• Suzanne Liversidge, Managing Partner of Sheffield Office, Halliwells LLP – Inspirational Woman, sponsored by WEConnect
• Ellen Kerr, Enterprise Development Relationship Broker- Business Support Professional of the Year
• Elaine Owen, Managing Director, Designated Associates  - Business Mentor of the Year
• Karen Mattison, Director ‘Women Like Us’ – Inspirational Business Mum, sponsored by Yell.com
• Jeanette Forbes, Managing Director, PCL Group – Woman in SET Enterprise, sponsored by the UK Resource Centre for Women in SET
• Lisa Tse, Director, Sweet Mandarin, Ethnic Minority Business Woman (National), sponsored by Women’s Enterprise Centre of Expertise (WECOE)
• Ranbir Sahota, Director, Vitis Public Relations, Ethnic Minority Business Woman (West Midlands region) Sponsored by WECOE, supported by Advantage West Midlands
• Karen Mattison, Director ‘Women Like Us’ – Female Social Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by the Office of the Third Sector, The Cabinet Office
• Margaret Heffernan, for ‘Changing the rules?’, BBC Radio 4 – Press Award
• Dr. Rebecca Harding, Managing Director, Delta Economics – Womens’ Enterprise Researcher of the Year

 

Leading women entrepreneurs stepped up to support the awards. Judges included: Penny Newman, Social Enterprise Ambassador, Joy Nicholls, CEO of Nichols Employment Agency and Lynne Franks, Founder of the SEED Women’s Enterprise Network, who says “The sense of empowerment that is achieved by becoming an entrepreneur is life changing and these awards celebrate all those who are inspiring and supporting women to achieve that goal. Encouraging women to reach their full potential in business and life is an on-going passion of mine” /ENDS

 

Notes to Editors:

1. Prowess is the voice for women’s enterprise. It is a national alliance of 300 organisations which support women to start and grow businesses. Each year Prowess members support 100,000 women in business each year. www.prowess.org.uk
2. Photos of the award winners are available. For further information and to arrange an interview with a winner contact:  Alice Kent at a.kent@prowess.org.uk
3. The winners of the awards were announced at a celebratory lunch at the Hyatt Regency, Birmingham on Friday 6th June.
4. Prowess, Lion House, 20 – 28 Muspole St, Norwich, NR3 1DJ.
5. Press enquires: Alice Kent, Tel: 01603 762355 Email: a.kent@prowess.org.uk