It's no longer a man's World. Today sees a number of women in powerful and influential positions, no where more obvious than in business. March 8th is International Women's Day, when these women are celebrated.

Gone are the days when women were unfairly oppressed. History has shown that they often outshine men in straight competition. And the business world is a fine example. There are a number of strong, powerful women who are members here at thebestof Bolton, many leaders in their respective fields.

Here are just a few examples:

Lubna Alum-Orths - True Dentistry

Principal at True Dentistry, Lubna took over the practice in 2007 before relaunching as True Dentistry in 2010. Having practiced dentistry in Wales and Germany, Lubna truly is an expert at all things mouth-related, and constantly produces outstanding results.

Jayne Hart -  Amity Law

Full of dogged determination, Jayne has over 20 years of experience in property law, working tirelessly to make sure your buying or selling experience is comfortable and stress-free. That;s why Amity has been voted the Most Loved Conveyancer in the UK for the past three years.

Karen Willcock - Bolton Therapy Centre

Having just celebrated it's 21st Birthday, Bolton Therapy Centre was set up by Karen Willcock, a chartered physiotherapist with all the credentials of a true expert. Her practice continues to go from strength to strength thanks to excellent results and great service.

Maura Jackson - Bolton Young Persons Housing Scheme

Maura has dedicated her life to helping those who find themselves homeless in and around Bolton. This work has seen her grow the charity, as well as earning her some well-deserved recognition.

Jackie Hyde - Stanmore Insurance / Dot2Dot

The World of insurance can often be dark and confusing, but not for Jackie Hyde, Director of two of Bolton's biggest insurance companies. Always receiving excellent results for her clients, Jackie is definitely a leading figur in Bolton business.

Gaynor Ramsden - thebestof Bolton

And, of course, there would be no blog here without the impecable drive and desire of Gaynor Ramsden, Queen of the Social Media scene, and marketing genius. With unrivalled knowledge of Bolton, Gaynor is the perfect person to head up thebestof Bolton.

Many of the businesses here on thebestof Bolton could not exist without some of the women that work for them. So let's show some love for them, not just on the 8th of March, but on every day of the year.