Devon Venus Awards 2016 in partnership with Alexis Bowater of Bowater Communications were announced at a Grand Ceremony and Gala Dinner at The Great Hall, University of Exeter on Friday 18th November 2016.
Finalists of this year’s Devon Venus Awards 2016 in partnership with Bowater Communications attended a glamorous Ceremony and Gala Dinner at The Great Hall, University of Exeter on Friday 18th November 2016 to hear who would be declared winners in each of the 15 categories. Now in its fourth year in Devon, the Venus Awards have proved to be ever popular with the business women of the region, with over 1,612 nominations and 375 applications received in one or more categories. Launched at Plymouth Science Park in May this year participants have been whittled down to the Finalists stage either by sponsor judging or public voting. Sponsors and candidates have attended a variety of events over the intervening months to reach this point. Dubbed the “Working Women’s Oscars” by Channel 4, the Awards celebrate the vital contribution that women in business make to the regional and national economy, and are unique in that anyone can nominate a friend, client or family member. Co-hosts for the evening’s celebrations were Tara Howard, Founder of the Venus Awards and Venus Awards Regional Partner Alexis Bowater. Over 330 guests soaked in the atmosphere as they enjoyed a three-course dinner and entertainment from three-piece band Five Finger Discount, whose upbeat lyrical “hip pop” music brought the “Wow” factor to the evening. Each and every sponsor emphasised in their speeches the outstanding calibre of their Finalists on presenting the “Venus”’ trophy to their winner. This year’s Charity Sponsor for the Devon Venus Awards 2016 is Jeremiah’s Journey whose work in Plymouth and the surrounding area is focused on children and young people and their families who are experiencing grief due to death or terminal illness. Attending the event was Phil Sampson, Founder of business development consultancy Sampson Hall and Sponsor of the Company of the Year Award, who said, “The Venus Awards gives you a real chance to get out and get your product, your company and your organisation out there, but it also helps you to support someone else in business, and that’s great. We’ve seen so many really deserving businesses and organisations.” Also attending was Fleur Lewis, Partner at Bishop Fleming, the tax accountancy company who have supported the Venus Awards in Devon since its inception, who said of their sponsorship this year of the Director of the Year Award, “We’ve been sponsors for four years now and been with Venus Devon since it started. It’s been fantastic for us as we have met so many fantastic women in business. Every year it’s just amazing who you meet.” As seen in the roll call of winners this year’s Sponsors in Devon are testament to the wide appeal of the Venus Awards.
The Venus Awards Winners are:
Atkins Ferrie Wealth Management Lifetime Achievement
Ros Debenham – Radiance MediSpa
Bishop Fleming LLP Director of the Year
Karen Milner – Friary Mill Bakery Ltd
Bond Dickinson LLP Green Business of the Year
Kim Stead – twool
Brend Hotels Customer Service Award
Lynette Dare – Flossy and Jim
Employee of the Year
Clare Geraghty - Barclays
Entrepreneur of the Year
Rebecca Marks – Scarlett Entertainment
Heart FM Business Mother of the Year
Soo Brizell-Hogg – Shekinah
Marketing Award
Sally Bell – Harbour Lights Media Ltd
New Business of the Year
Amber Haigh – Ambers Angels Trust
Plymouth City Bus Ltd Networker of the Year
Sam Cross – The Independent Living Advisor
Plymouth Science Park Digital Media and Online Business
Rebecca Garrett – Rebecca Garrett Media Ltd
PR Works Ltd Inspirational Woman in STEMM
Katie Goode – Triangular Pixels
Sampson Hall Company of the Year
Ladram Bay
Santander Employer of the Year
Julie Hawker – Cosmic
University of Exeter Inspirational Woman of the Year
Kay O’Shaughnessy – Friends and Families of Special Children Ltd
