Member Article

Coventry businesswoman among 2013 Businesswoman of the Year finalists

A Coventry woman who started her events business from scratch and now counts Wimbledon and Wembley among her clients is among the finalists in the eagerly-anticipated 2013 Businesswoman of the Year awards.

Seven businesswomen from throughout the UK have been shortlisted to receive the prestigious title at the 31st Woman of the Year Luncheon and Awards at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Friday, October 11.

Lee Thomas, Managing Director and Founder of Aesthetic Events in Electric Wharf, Sandy Lane, Radford, is among the fantastic role models across the business spectrum who have reached the shortlist for the respected awards.

Lee has more than 8,000 staff on her company’s books and has long-term contracts with venues such as Wembley Stadium, White Hart Lane, Wimbledon, The Emirates and Silverstone to supply host and hostess staff in their corporate areas.

The awards – which are raising funds for three great charities Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer, Alzheimer’s Research UK and Vitalise – celebrate the outstanding achievements of women in their own business or organisation in a variety of sectors ranging from the legal to the leisure industries.

Dame Kelly Holmes, one of Great Britain’s most iconic and successful athletes, will speak to the audience of high-profile businesswomen about her life-changing decisions and how each individual “fork in the road” led her to achieve everything so far, encapsulating the ethos of the Luncheon and Awards.

The full list of 2013 finalists who have made a significant contribution to the financial success and performance of their organisation are:

Lee Thomas – Managing Director and Founder - Aesthetic Events Ltd Julie Kenny – Chairman and CEO – Pyronix Ltd Elkie Holland – Managing Director – Prospectus IT Recruitment Caroline Coates – Executive Partner - DWF LLP Helen Wigglesworth – Group Finance Director - Quadralene Ltd Melanie Bryan OBE – Founder – WhyNotChange Judi Leavor – HR Director – Center Parcs

Judy Groves, Awards Chair, said she had, once again, been awestruck by the achievements of the finalists who were a great example to other businesswomen and was pleased they had put their natural tendency not to seek the limelight to one side to enter the awards.

“Yet again we have an amazing array of talented, determined and inspirational women from a vast range of industries who have made a huge success of their careers,” she said.

“There is no question that women across the country are doing great things in the world of business, whether it be starting and running their own enterprises or helping to take some of our larger companies forward to greater things.

“But more often than not, they are reluctant to accept praise and recognition for their achievements. They sometimes have to be persuaded and cajoled into entering our awards and I would like to thank all the finalists for putting their modesty to one side and accepting praise.

“The finalists are superb role models across the business spectrum and we wish them all the best of luck.”

The seven finalists will meet the judging panel at the Mallory Court Hotel in Leamington Spa on Thursday, October 3.

Previous winners include Dragons’ Den star Hilary Devey CBE, The Apprentice adviser and West Ham United vice-chairman Karren Brady, D-Drill managing director Julie White and the reigning title-holder Emma Elston, co-founder of UK Container Maintenance in Cheshire.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Women of the Year awards .