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Countdown to awards celebrating women in business

The hotly anticipated shortlist for the awards that celebrate the North East’s top female business leaders and entrepreneurial talent has finally been announced.

The 13th Annual North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards will bring together high-flying women from a variety of sectors across the North East in November.

The judges were this year looking for leaders who have particularly excelled at priming their businesses to be as competitive as possible, to reflect this year’s sporting heroics during the Olympics.

Yet again the standard of entries this year has eclipsed previous years, according to Women into the Network (WIN), and whittling them down to the remaining finalists has proved to be hugely challenging.

This year also sees the launch of the new Key Woman of the Year Award, which gives any North East businesswoman the chance to be recognised for playing a key role in the transformation, development or growth of a company.

Nickie Gott, WIN Chair and founder of events management company She’s Gott It! said: “This is our favourite time of year when we get to call the finalists to break the news to them that they’re up for one of these prestigious awards. The standard this year is better than any previous year and the award ceremony should be a fantastic event to celebrate the achievements of these women.

“We’re also putting together a collection of short films on the finalists as we really wanted to give everyone an idea of the amazing businesses and female entrepreneurs who work in this region.”

Among the stellar line up of awards sponsors is NETPark Net, the innovation network.

Catherine Johns, innovation and business growth director for Business Durham which manages NETPark Net, said: “Women are a powerful force in the world of business and it is essential that success is celebrated. That’s why WIN and the WIN awards are so important to inspiring the entrepreneurs of tomorrow.”

Tickets to attend this year’s North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards evening on Friday November 2 are £75 + VAT and include drinks reception, a 3-course meal and live entertainment.

For more information, or to book tickets for the event, please email info@womenintothenetwork.co.uk, call 0191 385 6619, or visit: http://www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk/awards.

Here is the full list of finalists:

Best New Business

Louise Burns – The Splat Centre

Kay Gould – Curtains Made For Free Ltd.

Jules Quinn – The TeaShed

Caroline Stewart – Bari Tea

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Jessica McLean – Garbeau / Baggers Originals Ltd.

Jerri Murtagh – Echo23 Ltd.

Charlotte Nichols – Harvey & Hugo Ltd

Jules Quinn – The TeaShed

Key Woman of the Year Award – Sponsored by Darlington Building Society

Kathryn Armstrong – Room 501 Ltd.

Paula Gascoigne – Smile For Life Children’s Charity

Rachel Young – Temp-Team

Best Small Business

Kanchan Chadda – KC Mode Ltd.

Judith Mathias – Home Scents Ltd.

Sarah Pittendrigh – Simply Bows & Chair Covers

Caroline Stewart – Bari Tea

Best Retail Business – Sponsored by Barbour

Kanchan Chadda – KC Mode Ltd.

Jessica McLean – Garbeau / Baggers Originals Ltd.

Best Creative Business – Sponsored by Spacecraft Events Ltd.

Jude Heron – Jude Heron Interiors

Mairi Kennedy – Event Diva Ltd.

Judith Mathias – Home Scents Ltd.

Best Home Based Business

Juliet Ashton – Jabez Homes

Nicola Cook – Aurora Training Ltd.

Jude Heron – Jude Heron Interiors

Best Use of Technology – Sponsored by NETPark NET

Marilyn Bradshaw – What’s On 4 Me

Linda Day & Tessa Padden – Signworld

Danielle Dunn – Danielle Dunn Creative Agency

Best SocialEnterprise – Sponsored by The North East Social Enterprise Partnership

Bethany Ainsley – Nouveau Fitness CIC

Susan Bickerton – Norcare

Liz Prudhoe – Adapt

The Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship – Sponsored by The Susan Dobson Memorial Fund

Paula Esson – Northern Integrative Health Centre

Kari Owers – OPR

Sarah Pittendrigh – Simply Bows & Chair Covers

Best Woman in International Business – Sponsored by UKTI

Helen Preen – Breastvest Ltd.

Gillian Rice – Tyne Valley Plastics Ltd.

Gill Southern – Wessington Cryogenics Ltd.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Harvey and Hugo .