[S]outh Lakes MP, Tim Farron, has met – and praised a group of successful businesswomen for ‘putting Cumbria on the map’, after they were named as finalists at the prestigious North-West-based Enterprise Vision Awards (EVA). In 2017, 11 ladies from the county were nominated at EVA; this year, there are 17, a number described by Tim as both ‘impressive’ and ‘astonishing’.
Shortlisted in the ‘Hospitality’, ‘Financial Services’, ‘Retail Business’, ‘Solo Business’, ‘Small Business’, ‘Creative Industry’ and ‘Internet Industry’ categories, Cumbria’s finest female business brains will be in extremely good company, with EVA, which celebrates female enterprise and the accomplishments and success of businesswomen throughout the North West, the largest ‘female-only’ awards ceremony outside of London.
Judges received hundreds of applications from businesses across the North-West this year, and as EVA representative, Camille Winkleman, explains, Cumbria’s ‘bumper year’ is extremely encouraging: “This is our strongest year to date with entries from Cumbria, this year we have 17 finalists from Cumbria across the 16 categories. It’s great to see so many businesswomen thriving in the Cumbria area. We had five winners last year from Cumbria; could we have more this year?”
The meeting with Tim was organised by Susan Robinson, one of the EVA finalists and owner of arts and crafts Ambleside-based B&B, Nanny Brow. Certainly no stranger to picking up accolades, Susan, who has been nominated in the ‘Hospitality’ category, won no less than five awards in 2017. Similarly, Amy Onyango and Claire Mansfield, the creative duo behind ‘Felltarn Friends’, won the Creative Industry category at EVA in 2017. This year, they will be hoping to lift the trophy in the Small Business category. The standard of businesses representing Cumbria at this year’s EVA is exceptionally high, as Susan explains: “It goes without saying that I’m delighted to have been shortlisted for an EVA, but to be sharing this platform with such accomplished ladies from the Cumbrian area, is very exciting,” she says. “We know that EVA sets the bar incredibly high, so for 17 businesswomen to be recognised in such a way, is tremendous. We are all determined to continue to promote Cumbria and work collaboratively going forward.”
“It was a real pleasure to meet these ladies and hear all about how they have built their businesses,” added Tim Farron. “We know that we have a fantastic pool of talent in Cumbria. As a county, it’s buzzing with creative individuals and entrepreneurs. I applaud the achievements of these businesswomen and will be supporting them all as they continue to shine a light on our very special corner of the UK.”
The ladies will be dusting off their frocks for the grand ceremony, on 28th September.
The full list of EVA finalists from Cumbria:
Susan Robinson – Nanny Brow, Ambleside (Hospitality Industry)
Amy Onyango and Claire Mansfield – Felltarn Friends, Kendal (Small Business)
Jules Natlacen – The Churchmouse at Barbon, Barbon (Hospitality Industry)
Amanda Ryan – Social Elf, Carlisle (Solo Business)
Angela Black – AB Accountancy Solutions (Financial Services)
Samantha Gargett – Elton Finance (Financial Services)
Gina Pennington – Penningtons Tea & Coffee Ltd, Kendal (Retail Business)
Michelle Partington – Shelly’s Drinks Ltd, Holme (Retail Business)
Faye Ramsey – Porto Restaurant, Windermere (Hospitality Industry)
Yvonne Gainford – Culinary Occasions, Workington (Hospitality Industry)
Alison Magee-Barker – AJ Lakes Consultancy (Professional Services)
Alison Tordoff – Fidget Design (Creative Industry)
Rebecca Watson – Rebecca Watson Design & Marketing, Aspatria (Creative Industry)
Nici Hewitson – One Little Bird, Cockermouth (Professional Services)
Tracy Johnson and Lisa Jackson – The Sugar Shed, Holme (Internet Industry)
