The finalists are announced as East Midlands Chamber’s network celebrates 25th.
The best of the region's female business talent has been recognised ahead of this year's special edition of East Midlands Chamber’s Enterprising Women Awards.
From rising stars to established leaders, finalists across 11 categories were announced on Thursday, June 9, for the 2022 awards. Organised in partnership with headline sponsor Futures Housing Group, the announcement was made at a summer barbecue held at Winstanley House, in Leicester.
Winners will be announced at the annual gala dinner, which takes place at Leicester Tigers’ Mattioli Woods Welford Road Stadium on September 30 will mark the 25th anniversary of the Enterprising Women network.
Three new categories have been added this year, including a Diversity Champion, Rising Star and Lifetime Achievement Award. There's no shortlist for the latter, which will instead be given as a surprise to an unsuspecting winner on the night.
Long-time categories such as Female Entrepreneur of the Year, Apprentice of the Year, Team of the Year and the headline award of Business Woman of the Year return alongside these.
Niche are delighted that our parent company, Cross Productions, has been recognised for Small Business of the Year, as well as our Head of Brand Marketing, Becci Houlston, who is up for Apprentice of the Year.
A judging panel, comprising members of the Enterprising Women team, Chamber board of directors and category sponsors, will be held on July 5 for the finalists to get their chance to pitch before winners are decided.
Enterprising Women co-chair Jean Mountain said: “In a big year for the Enterprising Women network, we wanted to celebrate with an extra-special awards, and we firmly believe this shortlist delivers this.
“It features some truly inspiring women across a wide range of sectors and backgrounds, as well as across different parts of their career journey – from those just starting out in apprenticeship roles to highly successful business leaders representing everything that is great about our region.”
Fellow co-chair Eileen Perry MBE DL added: “We were overwhelmed to receive so many fantastic entries that selecting who goes through to the final was a massive challenge, and we can’t wait for the judging panel now to decide our 2022 winners.
“One of our favourite new additions this year is the Diversity Champion category, which opens the door for the first time to some incredible men who play a pivotal role in supporting our enterprising women, while we’re very excited about recognising a very special person with the Lifetime Achievement Award on the night.”
The Enterprising Women Awards 2022 will be hosted by TV presenter Emma Jesson, and features a three-course meal as well as entertainment.
Individual tickets are priced at £75 + VAT for members of East Midlands Chamber and £90 + VAT for non-members. Tickets at a charitable rate will be available for eligible organisations at £60 + VAT. A discount will be applied to bookings of tables of 10 at £700 + VAT.
Enterprising Women Awards 2022 shortlist
Business Woman of the Year – Sponsored by Futures Housing Group
Olivia Pritchard – Bustler Market @ The Chocolate Factory
Samantha Bennett – Hear4u & Healthscreen
Emily Smith – Michael Smith Switchgear
Monica Huang – Morningside Pharmaceuticals
Laura Cook – The Learning Support Centre Female Entrepreneur of the Year – Sponsored by Midlands Engine Investment Fund
Olivia Pritchard – Bustler Market @ The Chocolate Factory
Jaz Kaur – Fraser Stretton Property Group
Dawn Brown – Rose Cottage Doggy Day Care
Charlene Brand – The Wellness Brand
Sarah Withers – Withers Gin
Social Commitment Award – Sponsored by She Inspires Global
Gift Wellness
Michael Smith Switchgear
Morningside Pharmaceuticals
Treetops Hospice
TTK Confectionery
Small Business of the Year – Sponsored by Unique Window Systems
Access Training East Midlands
EMA Training
Fraser Stretton Property Group
Noble Events
Female Employee of the Year – Sponsored by Smallman & Son
Victoria Philp – Everards Brewery
Katie Stephens – Noble Events
Lizzie Peate – Penny Price Aromatherapy
Karen Miles – trentbarton
Leah Binney – TTK Confectionery
Team of the Year – Sponsored by PPL PRS
Balls2 Marketing
Everards Brewery
Loates HR Consultancy
TTK Confectionery
TwentyTwenty – Love4Life
Outstanding Contribution to Work in STEM – Sponsored by Pick Everard
Bam Boom Cloud
ChangeXtra
De Montfort University
Lotus Maternity
PERFORMS Assessment
Apprentice of the Year – Sponsored by EMA Training
Rebecca Houlston – Cross Productions
Polly Oakes – Express Recruitment
Lucy Bamford-Jones – Fidler & Pepper Lawyers
Esme Wade – MacMartin
Rubie Birks – Purpose Media
Rising Star Award – Sponsored by Amanda Daly, The Turnaround CEO
Lottie Hardy – EMA Training
Emma Baumback – Future Life Wealth Management
Grace Golden – Purpose Media
Jessica Barnett – Timms Solicitors
Santa York – TTK Confectionery
Diversity Champion – Sponsored by Breedon Consulting
Stephen Gould – Everards Brewery
Narinder Nijjar – Fraser Stretton Property Group
Maria Hanson – me&dee
Gill Heppell – PerCurra
Zinthiya Ganeshpanchan – Zinthiya Trust/She Inspires Global
Lifetime Achievement Award – Sponsored by Paradigm Wills
*Finalists not announced for this category – winner announced at the gala dinner on 30 September
Written by Tom Young
Tom is a feature writer for Niche Magazine. He has a degree in Creative Writing and over a decade of experience working in comedy and theatre as the founder of improv group, The Same Faces. He writes about what's on, interesting people, and local events.
