Powerful women are into the final

A lunchtime event was held yesterday at the Langstone Hotel, in Hayling Island, to mark the next stage of the Portsmouth Venus Awards 2016, in association with Peter Cooper Motor Group.

Finalists were announced in 12 categories, ranging from Mother of the Year to Employer of the Year, and Manager of the Year plus more.

Awards founder Tara Howard said: ‘The event went really well, there was a fantastic atmosphere.’

The Venus Awards were set up in Dorset in 2009 by Ms Howard to recognise the hard work, effort and skill it takes women to successfully juggle business with other commitments.

Ms Howard, from Bournemouth, said: ‘I’m passionate that women get the recognition they deserve, but sometimes don’t realise that they deserve.’

The awards have since been expanded to Southampton, Brighton, Devon, Oxford, Portsmouth, Birmingham, Isle of Wight and Bristol.

The finalists will now go forward to a glamorous ceremony and gala dinner at The Pyramids, in Southsea, on Friday, May 6. The News is sponsoring the public vote category of Customer Service Award.

For more information on the awards and to see full list of the finalists go to venusawards.co.uk/portsmouth

THE SHORTLIST

NatWest New Business of the Year

Katrina Willis– Beautiful Bells

Becky Lodge – Little Kanga

Samantha Worsey – Southsea Bathing Hut

Changes Clinic Inspirational Woman of the Year

Adel Kaseke – Curvyswan

Tricia Lyons – Marvels and Meltdowns

Charlie Reilly – The Reilly Enterprise

Peter Cooper Motor Group Influential Woman of the Year

Jenny Docherty – Jenny Docherty

Annette Du Bois – CHAMPS Academy

Lynne Vinton – Portsmouth Military Wives Choir

Dynamite Recruitment Employer of the Year

The Car Finance Company

Checkatrade

Carte Blanche Greetings Ltd

Palmer and Harvey

Shirlaws Lifetime Achievement Award

Sharon Bannister – Shazbaz Designs

Sue Beckett – Portsmouth Music Hub

Lizz Clarke – LCM

Maggie Sawkins – Tongues&Grooves

Portsmouth Business School Small Business of the Year

Joanne Martin – Creative Clique

Lesley Weatherson – Lipspeaker UK

Katie Fairhall – Katie Bakes

The News Customer Service Award

Katie Fairhall – Katie Bakes

Alexis Trowbridge – Clean Ear Clinic

Katrina Willis – Beautiful Bells

SMART Accountancy Entrepreneur of the Year

Lesley Weatherson – Lipspeaker UK

Emily Warne – Headromance

Emma Weatherstone – Live Well Coaching

Checkaprofessional Professional/ Corporate of the Year

Charlotte Briere-Edney – That’s Solent

Liza Gatrell – Biscoes Law Ltd

Zara Hogg – Wilkins Kennedy LLP

Heart Business Mother of the Year

Maxine Fitzgerald – Amour Recruitment

Nicola Tomkinson – Sweet-Creation Ltd

Zara Hogg – Wilkins Kennedy LLP

Business of the Year

Joanne Barry – Platinum Care Solutions

Joanne Bushell – Aspex Visual Arts Trust

Jo Littler – Rare Moments Photography Ltd

Debora Parsons – Coffee Cup Portsmouth Ltd

Kelly Shaw – k:Spa

Director of the Year

Joanne Barry – Platinum Care Solutions

Stephanie Bellchambers – Biscoes Law Ltd

Catherine Carley – Parade Community Preschool

Maureen Frost – Hampshire Chamber of Commerce

Rhoda Joseph – Cascades Shopping Centre