Our founder, Rachel Eden, is for the second year running a finalist in the Santander Thames Valley Venus Awards Entrepreneur of the year category.
Although only in their 2nd year, the Thames Valley Venus Awards are extremely popular, Venus Awards founder Tara Howard said: “We received more than 1,000 nominations and applications for the 15 award categories, which highlights the huge contribution that women in business are making to businesses in the Thames Valley Region,” Launched in November, participants have been whittled down to the Finalists stage through a combination of sponsor and public judging.
The Venus Awards – dubbed by Channel 4 as “The Working Women’s Oscars” – celebrate the vital contribution that women in business make to the local, regional, and national economy, and are unique in that anyone can nominate a friend, client or family member.
The winner will be announced on on 8th June 2018 at the Madejski Stadium at an award ceremony and dinner in Reading.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed for Rachel.
The full list of Finalists are:
IKEA Green Business
- Cathy Cornish of Wild to Wonderful Garden Design
- Victoria Lochhead of Frankie & Ruby
- Julianne Ponan of Creative Nature
Parfitt Cresswell Solicitors Influential Woman of the Year
- Louise Fetigan of Little Troopers
- Katherine Knight of Intelligent Health
- Emma-Jane Taylor of The Inspirational Mentor
Marshalls Volkswagen Customer Service
- Nicola Butler of Nikki Butler Medical Tattooing
- Jayne Tilsley of Wadworth Brewery
- Lesley Wallace of Dream Doors (Basingstoke & Newbury)
ShowState Marketing & PR
- Nikki Ball of Reading Buses
- Sophie Comas of Rimu Marketing
- Vanessa Hunt of Vanessa Hunt Consulting Ltd
Sandler Training Sales Director of the Year
- Clare Waterfall of Cascade Software
- Sam Stanfield of Powered by Pie
- Rachel Gray of Experian
Sandler Training Executive PA of the Year
- Robyn Thompson-Vango of Reaction Engines
- Kate Napier of Rank Group
- Sarah Heineman of Woodford Investment Management
The Reading Chronicle Business Mother of the Year
- Debbie Whiteley of Pink Spaghetti PA Services
- Rachel Lambden of Heritage Estate Planning
- Sara Southey of The Southey Way
Reading University Inspirational Woman
- Anna Sampson of Boomerang Creative
- Louise Fetigan of Little Troopers
- Julianne Ponan of Creative Nature
Benefex HR Manager of the Year
- Hayley Fisher of Allied Bakeries
- Ruth O’Loughlin of Oxfordshire County Council
- Emily Murphy of IKEA Group
Grandesco Entrepreneur of the Year
- Sue Randall of Oxford Fine Dining Ltd
- Sam Willoughby of What’s on 4
- Rachel Eden of Holy Brook Associates Ltd
Santander Director of the Year
- Sharon Collins of Venture Life
- Elona Mortimer-Zhika of Iris
- Sally Preston of Kids Foods
Local Buzz Small Business
- Anna Davies of Therapists on the High Street
- Celia Smith of Bluebell Biscuiterie
- Sarah Riggott of Sarah Riggott Ltd
Wise Owls Lifetime Achievement
- Jackie Chappell of The Ironing Lady Ltd
- Gerry Lejeune OBE of Berkshire Community Foundation
- Jo Cooke of Hoarding Disorders UK CIC
The Breeze Radio Employer of the Year
- Judith Tinker of M-four Promotions Limited
- Katherine Knight of Intelligent Health
- Sambit Mohapatra of Siyona Tech
Prysm Group Networker of the Year
- Amanda Ayres of The Business Girls Network
- Aduke Onafowokan of The Sister Sister Network
- Jade Binsted of Ribbons Media
Photograph: 2018 Finalists at Newbury Racecourse at the Thames Valley Finalist Announcement. Photo by John Rose of John Rose Photography.