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The Midlands shortlist unveiled for the FL National Awards & Summit 2018

The FL National Awards & Summit, now in its 9th year and proudly supported by headline sponsor HSBC UK, has announced its anticipated regional shortlist.

The annual National Awards & Summit are designed to recognise and promote the pipeline of female talent in the UK, across a diverse range of industry sectors, which this year is stronger than ever.

In what promises to be an impactful event, Forward Ladies Managing Director Griselda Togobo revealed the names of 51 female business changers in the Midlands region, who will compete across 11 categories, including business, not for profit, technology and more.

Women are not solely responsible for bridging the gender gap in business. So this year, we are delighted to also showcase top ‘male agents of change’ who are championing and leading the drive for diversity and inclusivity in their businesses and the wider community.

Griselda added: “The FL National Awards & Summit will celebrate exceptional women and the contribution they make to the UK economy. Leaders, men and women will be brought together to discuss the transformative role that companies can play to support gender equality and the role a diverse work force will play in advancing UK competitiveness. Events like this are essential as we strive for gender parity and inclusive leadership.

“It’s a 100 years since women got the right to vote in the UK, yet female chief executives in the FTSE 100 are still outnumbered by male bosses earning 77 percent more than their female counterparts.

“Outside the boardroom, women have taken on the world of entrepreneurship with both hands and are creating jobs like never before. We’re delighted with the quality and diversity of the applications we received this year from all sectors and from the most diverse backgrounds.  A huge congratulations to all of our very well-deserving shortlist. We can’t wait to meet them and are very much looking forward to celebrating and sharing their success.”

The shortlisted applicants (outlined below) in each of the categories will be invited to an exclusive awards lunch on Friday 26th October at The Hyatt, Hyatt Regency, Birmingham. The winners from this, and the other regional finals, will then be invited to appear before a live panel of independent judges in November, followed by the National Grand Final in Leeds on 7th December.

Jennifer Crawley, UK Head of Performance for Small Business Banking, HSBC UK and chief judge said: “We’re proud to be working with Forward Ladies as part of our ongoing commitment to supporting women in business across the UK.  Each year we are inspired by the number of high-calibre entries, and this year has highlighted the exceptionally talented businesswomen we have in the UK.

“These entrants are the future entrepreneurs of our country and play a critical role in our economy. HSBC will be supporting them every step of the way, enabling their businesses to thrive and prosper in the long term.”

This year’s judges includes Sahar Hashemi Founder of Coffee Republic; Linda Plant of The Apprentice; Bill Henry, retired PWC partner and Forward Ladies Advisory Board Member; Rachel Hannan, Angel Investor; Ajax Ahmed, founder of Free Serve; Catherine Doran, Former CIO of Royal Mail Group and Nigel Lockett, Professor of Entrepreneurship at Lancaster University Management School.

The Awards are delighted to welcome back HSBC UK as headline sponsor, and are supported by many sector leading businesses including tastecard, Leeds Beckett University, LCF Law, Winburn Glass Norfolk, GKN Aerospace, Carrwood Park, Grant Thornton UK, London North Eastern Railway, Institute of Directors, Yorkshire Post and Miles Smith the Insurer.

The full shortlist for the Midlands region is:

Corporate Leader Category:

Dee Kundi, VWV, Partner; Lucy Antrobus, Caldwell Partners, Partner; Rebecca Bryant, Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive; Tracy Westall, Department for Transport, Non-Executive Director

Diversity Champion of the Year Category:

Rebecca Bryant, Staffordshire Fire & Rescue Service, Chief Fire Officer/Chief Executive; Isabella Moore, COMTEC Translations, Director and Chair; Lucy Kenyon, Adjust4work, Founder

Emerging Leader Category:

Charlotte Horobin, EEF The Manufacturers’ Organisation, Region Director – Midlands & East;

Emilia Hardern, Network Rail, Diversity & Inclusion Manager; Emma Markham, Innovate UK, Portfolio Manager

Female Entrepreneur of the Year Category:

Amanda Daly, Dalycom, Managing Director; Amy Seton, The Whisky Clubs Group Ltd, Owner; Anmarie Spaziano, Annie’s Burger Shack Ltd, Founder; Carolyn Dailey, Bluebird Care Newmarket & Fenland, Director; Eileen Richards, Eileen Richards Recruitment, Owner; Joanne        Bass, XL Displays Ltd, Director; Laura            Rycroft, Progress Recruitment Solutions (UK) Ltd, Managing Director; Naomi Mills, Radcliffe Chiropractic Clinic, Principal Chiropractor; Rebecca Aldridge, Balance: Wealth Planning Limited, Managing Director; Alex Peace-Gadsby, Musto Limited, Director (Majority Shareholder)

International Entrepreneur of the Year Category:

Helen Routledge, Totem Learning, CEO; Tracy Pound, Maximity Ltd, Managing Director

Public Sector/Academia/Not for Profit Sector Category:

Anne Adams, Open University, Director Academic Professional Development; Fiona Shelton, University of Derby, Head of the Centre for Excellence at the University of Derby; Louise Teboul, Common Purpose UK, Operations Director; Louise McCathie, Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust, Director of Fundraising; Nadia Rasul, Pathway2Grow – Samosas Saturday, National Director

Social Entrepreneur of the Year Category:

Alison  Delaney, Little Bird, Founder; Amy Cunningham, The Strings Club Ltd, Founder and Director; Beverley Nielsen, IDEA Institute, Founder Director, IDEA Institute; Raj Holness, Breaking the Silence (BTSUK), Founder & Director; Rosie Ginday, Miss Macaroon, Managing Director; Trishna Daswaney, Kohl Kreatives, Director; Sarah Crawley, iSE, CEO

 Start Up of the Year Category:

Chantal Matthews, White Collar Consultants Limited, Managing Director / Founder; Fran Glover/Carrie            Weekes, A Natural Undertaking, Owner / Director / Undertaker; Jennifer Cross, Cross Productions Ltd, Founder and Managing Director/publisher and editor of Niche Magazine; Rebecca Bull, My HR Hub, Owner and founder; Shiwon Green, 4CYTE UK, Owner;

Sohini Buswas/Desi Gray, Skat Limited, Directors

STEM Leader Category:

Farheen Ahmed, Kier, Design Manager Roads; Sara Cameron, Norfolk County Council, Chartered Commercial Property Surveyor; Suzanne      Oliver, Arm Ltd, Senior Director, Patents & Trademarks

STEM Rising Star Category:

Aimee Tinkler, The Silver Spoon Company, Visual Communication & Customer Relationship Manager; Clare Renshaw, Kier, Graduate Civil Engineer; Faye Pressly, Vanti, Chief Operating Officer; Rachel Gittens, Arup,            Associate

Young Entrepreneur of the Year Category:

Harriet Butler, Hazelwoods, Director; Jessica Leach, The Hair Bears and The Hair Carers, Managing Director; Jordana Chin, Nutri2Go Ltd., Director of Nutri2Go; Megan Scaddan, Doughnotts, Co-owner and director; Natalie  Moores, Laced Agency, CEO

The Male Agent of Change will be announced at the event.

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