Competition has been fierce this year for the Dorset Venus Awards with a record-breaking number of nominations and applications across the 15 award categories in Dorset and with 5,862 votes cast in the three Public Vote categories.
Dubbed the ‘Working Women’s Oscars’ by Channel 4 and now in its sixth year, the Venus Awards goes from strength-to-strength in recognising and shining a light on the talents of enterprising women in our midst.
The finalists were announced last month by the sponsors of each category.
The Venus Awards in Dorset will culminate on 18 September with a grand Awards Ceremony and Dinner at the Lighthouse, Poole.
The finalists are:
Small Business Award
- Munchkins Play Café, Michelle Cheeseman
- Simply Amazing Training Ltd, Dee Clayton
- The Sensory Smart Store, Melanie Thomsett
Influential Woman Award
- Gill Donnell, Successful Women Ltd
- Margaret Farman, NHS
- Georgina McBurney, Wiltshire Social Services
New Business Award
- Clinic Visjeune, Lisa Niemier
- Minster Designs Bridal Boutique, Oxana Ruckhaber
- The Little Sewing Company, Susan Walker
Inspirational Women Award
- Jaya Da Costa, Dorset Blind Association
- Wendy Imashev, Seamless Social Support Services
- Emma Willis, Shine Cancer Support
Online Business Award
- Arena4fFinance, Debra Adams
- Ratio, Tara Mussell (Flynn)
- Artist’s Adventure (with Postcards from the Edge), Michelle Rumney
Lifetime Achievement Award
- Barbara Cox, Nutrichef / BC Nutrition Ltd
- Linda Eve, EVENLINES
- Mandy Payne, Spotcheckers Ltd
Networker of the Year
- Zelda De Hollander, Studio Shotz Photography
- Barbara Fowler, MyBabylog Ltd
- Caroline Swaine, InXpress UK Ltd
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
- Holliepower.com, Hollie Power
- Simone Thomas, Simone Thomas Salon
- Ratio, Tara Mussell (Flynn)
Media Marketing and PR Award
- Little Bird PR, Sunny Bird
- Move On Rentals, Sharon Canning
- Whitehall Hospitality Ltd, Sara Uzzell
Business of the Year Award
- SOS Recruitment, Julie Cook-Hughes
- Waste Management Facilities Ltd, Lisa Delahunty
- Marsham Court Hotel, Rosie Wallace
Director of the Year Award
- McCarthy & Stone, Paula Jordan
- Organix, Anna Louise Rosier
- Ceuta, Annette D’Abreo
Employer of the Year
- Atlas Electronik
- Dorset Cereals
- Health-on-Line
Customer Service Award
- Marsham Court Hotel, Nicki Allan
- Forum Jewellers Ltd, Helen Molloy
- Moving You Forward, Lisa Pierson
Business Mother of the Year Award
- Julie Cook-Hughes, SOS Recruitment
- Lorraine Squires, The Roman Group
- Alison Williams, Ministry of Dog
- Caroline Swatton, Swalings Academy & Franchises Ltd
Employee of the Year Award
- Rhianon Greenslade, Safer Poole Partnership
- Perrie Rendell, TigerLilly Nails
- Caroline Swaine, InXpress UK Ltd
