Finalists, selected from hundreds of nominations from across the UK, were invited to an independent judging day at Mallory Court Country House Hotel & Spa in Leamington Spa, ahead of a prestigious awards ceremony at Dallas Burston Polo Club, in Southam, on June 5. A host of new categories are among the 20 being contested this year, including Women of Courage; Excellence In Independent Food Businesses; Excellence In Marketing & Media; Women in Property and Inclusive Leadership/Women on Boards. The gongs are also honouring, among others, Start-up of the Year, Trailblazer/Entrepreneur; Excellence In Health and Wellbeing; Charity of the Year & Community Advocate, Family Business of the Year, Business Consultant; Excellence in professional Services; Excellence In Technology; Start-Up and Business Man of the Year. Big awards on the night will also be presented to Inspirational Women and Business Woman of the Year as well as Lifetime Achievement. Headline sponsors are Edwards Wealth, in Berkswell; Alsters Kelley Solicitors, which has branches in Coventry and Warwickshire; Midlands-based recruitment agency Pertemps Network; IXL Centre in Southam; Mallory Court Country House in Leamington; Bia’s Kitchen Show in Leamington and Sandhu Foods. The Awards were unveiled at The House of Commons in February and are headed up by Ladies First director Tracey McAtamney from Balsall Common. Tracey said: “What an incredible day filled with inspiration, introductions and networking, Mallory Court was buzzing with six teams of judges and ninety finalists across the day. A huge thank you to all of our sponsors, finalists, judges and Ladies First Team for making the day so special.” The three finalists from Staffordshire include Daniel Mosson, founder of Jessie’s Journey, in Tamworth, who is up for a Woman of Courage Award. Also representing the area are Laura Barrow, of Collins Aerospace Actuation Systems, from Stafford (Excellence In Technology) and Michelle Cooper, from Tamworth (Influencer of the Year). Business Woman of the Year (Sponsored by Edwards Wealth) Sophie Howe - Comtec Translations, LeamingtonAbigail Edmunds - Domino Style, StratfordJenny Hooper - Independent Freight, NuneatonClare Randall - Stonewall Security, RugbyLauren Guthrie - Guthrie & Ghani Ltd, Birmingham Business Consultant/Coach of the Year (Sponsored by Pentlands Accountants) Clare Haynes - WildFire, LeamingtonKerrianne Cartmer-Edwards - Unforgettable Impact, LeamingtonSarah Cooper-Robins - Inner Leader, Leamington Excellence in Marketing & Media (Sponsored by Shakespeare Media) Amanda Chalmers - Chalmers News PR, WarwickHarpreet Stevenson - Collective Companion, WarwickshireLaura Bradley - Sock and Buskin Marketing & PR, WarwickshireEmily Burton - The Valley, Evesham Inclusive Leadership/Women on Boards (Sponsored by Pertemps Network Group) Reena Jaisiah - Caste Away Arts, CoventryJenny Hooper - Independent Freight, NuneatonSophie Howe - Comtec Translations, LeamingtonTrusha Lakhani - Great Business Matters, Hinckley Rising Star & Future Leader (Sponsored by Alsters Kelley Solicitors) Gabriela Goldberg - Trainee Solicitor, BirminghamDonna Fletcher - Social Work Toolkit, ColeshillRachel Kerr - Albert & Mae Wealth Management, KenilworthCllr Mariam Khan - Birmingham City Council, Birmingham Woman of Courage (Sponsored by Nailcote Hall) Emily Burton - The Valley, EveshamJade Horton - Merkaba Holistics, StamfordGemma Mills - Born2Sing, BirminghamNatalie Heeley - Forever Living, WorcesterDanielle Mosson Jessie’s Journey, TamworthMaxine Faulder - AboutFace Training, Birmingham Trailblazer (Sponsored by Chalmers News PR) Molly Shanahan - Forrest Coffee House, KenilworthToni Rowles - Vogue International Hairdressing, LeamingtonLindsey Gillespie - Pawesome Pets Grooming School, CoventryGemma Mills - Born2Sing, BirminghamLouise Baker - Womanic, BirminghamEmma Betteridge - Mucky Pups Training Academy, Bulkington Charity of the Year (Sponsored by Mallory Court) Jenny Dean - You Can Flourish, LeamingtonDebbie Roscoe - Arrive Alive Charity, HenleyStacey Calder - Helping Hands, LeamingtonSarah Raven Price - Ravens Rescue UK, Dudley Community of the Year (Sponsored by Mallory Court) Lianne Kirkman - The Esther Project, LeamingtonAmanda Burford Priory Pools Community Centre Charity, WarwickLinda John - Rotary Club, LeamingtonElaine Lambe - Warwickshire Parent Career Voice, WarwickshireCaroline Phansi - Contento Social Homes CIC, BirminghamLouise Baker - Auto Angels, Birmingham Women in Property (Sponsored by Feldon Dunsmore Solicitors) Nicola Williams -Ewe Move, LeamingtonPreeti Lekhi - Seymours Solicitors, LeamingtonIliada Rossi - Rossi Studio Ltd, Warwick Family Business (Sponsored by Franklin & Hawkins) Emma & Nick Woodhouse - The Fleur de Lys, LowsonfordBeverly Haynes - The Stratford Park Hotel & Golf Club, StratfordKeira Row - The Pin Wheel Patisserie Ltd, LeamingtonRebecca Kemsley - AH Spares, SouthamLucianne Allen - Aubrey Allen, LeamingtonTracy Benbow & Wendy Coris - Fabulous Suppers, Stratford Excellence in Health & Wellbeing (Sponsored by Air Aesthetics) Nikki Lawrance, Laura Tatlow, Adele Fyfield - Retreat With Us, RedditchMandy Rees - Mother for Life, BirminghamKendal Tipper - Wellbeing Consultant, BirminghamJade Horton - Merkaba Holistics, StamfordDonna Maria-Grant - Tummy2Mummy Midwifery & Scanning Services, Hinckley Excellence in Health & Beauty (Sponsored by Ladies First) Dr Hazel Parkinson - Dr Hazel Skin Solutions, Southam Tracy Richardson - Serendipity Wellness® RugbyDoreth Abrahams - Laydidee's Natural Skincare Ltd, WolverhamptonPaola Spiga - Glam & Glow Beauty Lab, Hockley Heath Excellence in Technology (Sponsored by Leap IT) Alana Patchett - Purple Monster, WarwickLaura Seymour - Fish In A Bottle, LeamingtonMari Carmen - Matresa, LeamingtonDonna Fletcher - Social Work Toolkit, ColeshillIliada Rossi - Rossi Studio, WarwickLaura Barrow Collins - Aerospace Actuation Systems, Stafford Influencer of the Year (Sponsored by Audley Binswood) Bianca Perry - Bia’s Kitchen Show, LeamingtonClare Haynes - Wildfire, LeamingtonKimberley Spivey - Craft Beer Pin Up, LeamingtonMaxine Faulder – AboutFace, SolihullMichelle Cooper - Make New Friends, Tamworth Start-up of the Year (Sponsored by Glam & Glow Beauty Lab) Natalka Hunka - Aspire HR & Training Consultants, KnowleDr Hazel Parkinson - Dr Hazel Skin Solutions, SouthamJustyna Kruzyk - Muddy Munchkins Playgroup, StratfordRebecca Blay - Fantasy Gymnastics Club, SolihullToni Delli-Compagni - Little Ensemble, BicesterLeanne Tulley - Art of Beauty Medical Aesthetics, Birmingham Excellence in Professional Services (Sponsored by Alsters Kelley Solicitors) Amanda Chalmers - Chalmers News PR, WarwickElinor Perry - Pentlands Accountants, LeamingtonSamantha Aspin - Elite Funeral Services, Stalybridge, ManchesterBeverly Clarke - Spear Travel, StratfordIliada Rossi - Rossi Studio, Warwick Business Man of the Year (Sponsored by Pertemps Network Group) Dave Perry - Dave Perry Photography, LeamingtonChris Pickering - L. Pickering & Sons, WarwickSteve Bazell - That Gin Company, Warwick & That Burger Company, ShipstonChris Boehm - Leap IT, Hockley Heath/Balsall CommonSam Olive - Wine Freedom Ltd, Chipping NortonMalcolm Freeman - Oxygen Elements, Rugby Inspirational Man of the Year (Sponsored by Pertemps Network Group) Joe Best - Perfect Support, BlackpoolRonaldo Hare - Men's Prosperity Club, C.I.C BirminghamDaniel Skermer - PA Forum, Birmingham Excellence in food (Sponsored by Bia’s Kitchen Show) Cynthia Tamraz - Café Desa, LeamingtonEmma & Nick Woodhouse - The Fleur de Lys, LowsonfordCathy Homer - Posh Pudding Pots, WarwickshireSophie Hyam - Culinary Bites with Sophie, CoventryMolly Shanahan, Forrest Coffee House, Kenilworth For the full list of finalists visit: ladiesfirstnetwork.co.uk This year’s awards are also supporting fundraising for vital cancer equipment for local hospitals. To enquire about sponsorship opportunities contact Tracey McAtamney at: tracey@ladiesfirstnetwork.co.uk