Venus Awards semi-finalists announced
Excitement is building for this year’s Devon Venus Awards with the announcement of the semi-finalists at a packed awards ceremony in Plymouth.
More than a hundred women attended the event at Plymouth Science Park, which provided complementary canapés and drinks for the nominees. Venus Awards founder Tara Howard was also on hand to congratulate all the nominees and semi-finalists.
The Venus Awards recognise the efforts and talents of local businesswomen and are split into 12 categories covering all aspects of business and personal achievement.
This year more than 2,000 women were nominated for the awards in Devon.
Marc Astley, CEO of The Exeter Daily who sponsor the Employee of the Year category said: “We’re delighted to sponsor the Employee of the Year category. There’s been a big increase in the number of applicants this year, which is fantastic. It shows how more women than ever are at the forefront of business. We need to celebrate the employees who are achieving so much.”
The public vote for two of the categories is still ongoing and the glittering red carpet final of the Devon Venus Awards will be held on 27th November.
Semi-Finalists Devon 2014
Customer Service Award sponsored by Brend Hotels.
Ava Barron Thomas – DanSci Dance Studio
Karen Chugg – Intelligent Abodes Ltd
Nicole Flanagan – Vagabonds Milkshake Bar
Ros Debenham – Radiance Medispa
Donna Wright – World Inspired Ltd
New Business sponsored by Wizard Jeans.
Ava Barron Thomas – DanSci Dance Studio
Imogen Clements – MANOR Publishing Ltd
Phoebe Mytton – Riviera Wellbeing – Chiropractic and Wellness Centre
Sara Paleschi – SARA PALESCHI HAIR DESIGN
Sarah Yates – Wellies
Lifetime achievement sponsored by Atkins Ferrie Wealth Management.
Caroline Bramwell – The Olden Group
Ros Debenham – Radiance MediSpa
Jane Dumeresque – Folk2Folk
Jane Maynard – Maynard Johns Chartered Accountants
Pauline Guifoyle – SILVALEA LIMITED
Inspirational Woman sponsored by the University of Exeter Business School.
Terri Bainbridge – Thermalogica Health Screening
Natalie Clapshaw – Headway Devon
Jackie Evans – Isca Forwarding Limited
Laura Higgins – South West Grid for Learning
Ellen Rodger – Sungift Solar Ltd
Employer of the year sponsored by Natwest.
Louise Arnold - Peninsular Care Homes.
Steve Franks - Waterbabies Holdings Ltd.
Rebecca Garrett - Rebecca Garrett Ltd.
Helena Holt - Devon Air Ambulance Trust.
Louise Pasterfield - Sponge UK.
Business of the year sponsored by Sampson Hall.
Pauline Guifoyle – SILVALEA LIMITED
Tracie Gunningham - Envy
Jane Maynard – Maynard Johns Chartered Accountants
Kathy Murdoch – Ocean Kave & Westward Living
Tracy Perryman – Denbury Diesels
Digital media and online business sponsored by Plymouth Science Park.
Becky Bettesworth – Becky Bettesworth
Laura Higgins – South West Grid for Learning
Louise Pasterfield – Sponge UK
Ashley Petrons – Make it Marketing
Thomasina Ward – WebBased Ltd
Entrepreneur of the Year.
Melanie Houghton – Sagenesis Consulting
Laura Wall – Laura Wall Art
Lisa Battershill – Feet Fixers
Claire Robinson – Extra Help Ltd
Jacqueline Waggett – PacaPod
Small Business.
Alyson Johnson – The Nail Fairy
Rebecca Lippett – The Umbrella Group
Cathryn Clayden – Terrace Podiatry
Sally Wonnacott – Sally Wonnacott Ltd
Lisa Portman – Thermalogica Health Screening
Heart Business Mother of the Year
Ava Barron Thomas – DanSci Dance Studio
Becky Bettesworth – Becky Bettesworth
Kate Bolsover - SEEDS Devon
Jodine Boothby – Gummee Ltd
Sonya Ellis – South West Athletics Academy
Tracie Gunningham - Envy
Steph Knight – DOMINO PR
Tiffany Macedo-Dine – Tiffany Macedo-Dine
Rebecca Sutheran – Westcountry Direct and Westcountry Hampers
Charley Tipper – Love at first bite
Julie Waddell – Moorish
Employee of the year sponsored by the Exeter Daily.
Rebecca Cordran – The Treatment Loft
Libbie Davis – Maynard Johns
Lisa Downing – Beach Schools South West
Holly Eddings – Radiance MediSpa
Clare Geraghty – Barclays
Natalie Hawke – Virtual Jet Centre Ltd
Louise Pen-Collings – Extra Help LTD
Lara Robinson-Pratt – Exeter Fabrication Ltd
Nicola Stacey – Bluebird Care
Katharine Bourke – GrowthAccelerator
Sarah Chapman – Envy hair design
Ashley Petrons, CEO and founder of Make it Marketing and a semi-finalist for Digital media and online business, said: “This is my second year as a semi-finalist in the Venus awards. I’m thrilled to have been nominated and to have made it this far. The competition in my category is incredibly fierce so to have been whittled down to the final five is a great honour.”
Alexis Bowater, Regional Partner for the Devon Venus Awards 2015, said: “It was a pleasure to host the semi-finalist announcement event at Plymouth Science Park. I love seeing all these amazing women come together and be celebrated. I would like to congratulate everyone who has become a semi-finalist and I can’t wait for the next event.”
