On Friday 27 September, the Winter Gardens in Blackpool played host to the 2024 Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs), a prestigious event celebrating the remarkable achievements of women in business. Recognised as the UK’s largest awards dedicated to female entrepreneurs, the ceremony attracted attendees from across the nation and garnered a global audience, with viewers tuning in from countries like India, the USA, and New Zealand.
The atmosphere at the Winter Gardens was charged with energy as small businesses, social enterprises, and international brands converged to connect, collaborate, and honour the spirit of female entrepreneurship. The evening provided an invaluable platform for networking, idea exchanges, and forging new partnerships, as heartfelt acceptance speeches resonated throughout the room, inspiring many.
Now in its 13th year, the EVAs continue to highlight women who lead change and innovation across diverse industries. This year, more than 150 trailblazing women were recognised for their creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit.
Katrina Hutchinson O’Neill, CEO of Join Talent, was awarded the coveted Business Woman of the Year award. In her impactful acceptance speech, she expressed gratitude to her fellow finalists while bringing attention to the ongoing funding inequalities faced by female entrepreneurs. She noted that investment in women-led businesses has declined from 2p to 1.8p per pound over the last decade. Hutchinson O’Neill’s company revolutionises the recruitment industry through a hyper-agile managed service talent acquisition model, serving some of the world’s most dynamic companies.
The Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by NatWest, was presented to Christine Nichols of Atlantic Pacific Global. Nichols, who recently received the King’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade, was recognised for her advocacy for gender equality, demonstrating her commitment to fostering a diverse workplace with a 50% female board. Described as a self-starter and champion for women in her industry, Nichols has made a significant impact through her leadership.
Heather Waters, Regional Enterprise Manager NW at NatWest, expressed her pride in sponsoring the EVAs for 11 years. She remarked, “This was a truly inspirational evening, celebrating the success of ambitious, tenacious women entrepreneurs. Congratulations to all the winners and finalists – your dedication, talent, and hard work have been rightfully recognised.”
One of the most competitive awards of the evening, the Inspirational Woman of the Year, was awarded to Juliet Sanders of Feeding Families. Drawing from her personal experiences, Sanders aims to be the person she once needed, inspiring others in the process. Her charity has successfully distributed over one million food items to more than 46,000 households, with demand surging by an astonishing 101% over the past year.
Coral Horn, founder of the EVAs, highlighted the awards’ mission to champion women in business, from startups to industry giants. “These awards give a voice to the women who are driving change,” she stated. “The room was filled with businesses, from those turning over tens of thousands to billions, united by a common goal: to inspire and empower women to aim higher.”
The full list of winners featured a diverse array of categories, recognising excellence in various fields. The Outstanding Woman of the Year award went to Christine Nichols, while Katrina Hutchinson O’Neill secured the Business Woman of the Year accolade. Other notable winners included Julie Robinson of Eagley School House Nursery, who took home the Best Business Award, and Pamela Aculey of Just Like Me Books & MIXD Reality, who received the Creative Industry Award.
The Customer Service Award was presented to Rebecca Morgan-Brennan of Morgan’s Wigs, while Cheryl Loak of TUTS UK was honoured with the Diverse Business Award. Helen Clayton of PM+M was named Employer of the Year, and the Family Business Award went to Jenny McFadden and Alex Malley of Pretty Mama.
In the health and wellbeing sector, April Wild of Wild & Wild received the Health & Wellbeing Award. The Hospitality Industry Award was given to Rachael Foster-Jacob of Short But Sweet, and Juliet Sanders was once again recognised as the Inspirational Woman of the Year.
New Business Award winners Katie Summers and Julianna Beavan of The Mellow Patch Company were also acknowledged for their contributions, alongside Fiona Moss of The Natalie Kate Moss Trust, who won the Not For Profit Award. The One To Watch Award was presented to Abigayle Clayton-Grimshaw and Sophie Birtwell of House of Clarity.
Additionally, the Professional Services Award went to Melissa Gauge of SpareMyTime, while Emma Haigh of Jailhouse Frock won the Retail Business Award. Preeti Choudhary of Pro-Business Consulting received the Scale Up Award, and Shalom Lloyd MBE and Hannah White of Naturally Tribal Skincare were recognised with the Sustainable Business Award.
Jessica Crane of Jessica Crane LTD received the Training & Coaching Award, and Nadina Grigoras of Milky Plant was awarded the Young Entrepreneur Award. Francesca Barker-Mills of Coming Home received a Highly Commended nod in the Inspirational Woman category, while Alice Potter of AJP Social Studio was recognised in the One To Watch category.
The event concluded with a Special Recognition Award, Champion of Women, presented to Heather Waters of NatWest. Looking ahead, the 2025 Enterprise Vision Awards will open for nominations on Monday, 20 January. For further details, visit the official website enterprisevisionawards.co.uk or contact Coral Horn directly.