WINNERS OF THE 2019 NORTH EAST BUSINESS WOMEN OF THE YEAR AWARDS ANNOUNCED
Women from across the North East have been celebrated, as the winners of the 2019 North East Businesswomen of the Year (WIN) Awards 2019 were announced at a glittering dinner at the Grand Hotel, Gosforth Park in Newcastle.
Sophie Milliken, who runs Smart Resourcing Solutions, scooped the prestigious Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship along with the prize for the Best Small Business. Smart Resourcing Solutions provide employability assessment services in the UK.
Commenting on the win she said “I am beyond delighted to have won both the Small Business category and the Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship and see this recognition topping off what has been, without doubt, my most successful year in business to date.
“I take pride in showcasing what is possible with focus, determination, a fantastic team and a supportive network. Our region is full of amazing women in business and I look forward to using my own business success to support and encourage other women who are starting out on their journeys.”
Best New Business went to Nicola Wood from The Wonderful Wig Company, and Employer of the Year was won by Northumbria Water Ltd.
Jill Hudson from Hudson Procurement won the innovation Award and WIN’s Rising Star prize, sponsored by Go North East went to Lauren Watson of Crystallised.
Women in STEM, sponsored by Reece Group was won by Janine Marshall of RTC North, the Young Entrepreneur went to Lucy Walton of Go Gas &Power Ltd. The Role Model of the Year, which is a special award given by the Judges is Elaine Warburton of QuantuMDx.
The WIN Awards, sponsored by Sage UK, are celebrating their 20th year of highlighting the vision, enterprise and inspirational spirit of women across the region.
Nickie Gott OBE, Chair of WIN Awards said ‘I want to congratulate all the winners of these awards. The standard has been exceptional. All these women are inspirational role models. When we set up these awards, we wanted to turn the spotlight on the amazing women we have in the region, who work across a whole range of businesses and organisations and I know we have achieved that. I am so proud of everyone who took part and are helping to inspire other women in the region “.
The 2019 winners are;
BEST NEW BUSINESS
Nicola Wood, The Wonderful Wig Company
BEST SMALL BUSINESS
Sophie Milliken, Smart Resourcing Solutions
EMPLOYER OF THE YEAR
Northumbrian Water Ltd
INNOVATION AWARD
Jill Hudson, Hudson Procurement
RISING STAR
Sponsored by Go North East
Lauren Watson, Crystallised
ROLE MODEL OF THE YEAR
Decided by Judges
Elaine Warburton, QuantuMDx
SUSAN DOBSON AWARD
Sponsored by The Susan Dobson Memorial Fund
Sophie Milliken, Smart Resourcing Solutions
WOMAN IN STEM AWARD
Sponsored by REECE Foundation
Janine Marshall, RTC North
YOUNG ENTREPRENEUR
Lucy Walton, Go Gas & Power Ltd