The Best in the Business.. WES Awards Finalists Revealed

Our anticipated shortlist for the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2023 has been unveiled (full shortlist below).

Women led businesses from across Scotland have been chosen as finalists for the awards, with the judging panel facing the difficult task of determining just 51 finalists across 10 categories from an unprecedented number of entries.

Carolyn Currie, CEO of Women’s Enterprise Scotland commented;

“Our Awards recognise the considerable contribution women-led businesses make to Scotland’s economy. The cost of business crisis, coming so closely after the COVID-19 pandemic, has placed many businesses under more pressure than ever. It is vital that we put the achievements and the resilience of our women business leaders in the spotlight as they continue to innovate and push forward.”

Both the volume and the calibre of entries for the Awards were exceptionally high and the judging panel had a very challenging task to compile the list of finalists. We are now looking forward to a fantastic Awards evening next month, when we will come together to celebrate the diverse range and scale of women led businesses which are starting up and thriving across Scotland.”

Finalists at this year’s Awards include Glasgow based Little’s Chauffeur Drive, shortlisted in both the Resilient Business of the Year and Inspiring Leader categories and Perthshire based Molke, ethical manufacturers of body positive underwear, shortlisted in the Purpose Led Business of the Year category.

The winners of the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards, which is being supported by Royal Bank of Scotland, HFL Holistic Financial Leadership, Business Gateway, N4 Partners LLP, The University of Glasgow and Scottish Enterprise will be announced at a glittering ceremony which takes place at the voco Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow on Thursday 26 October.

Register for tickets for this year's event here https://wesawards2023.eventbrite.co.uk/

To book a table, please email: info@wescotland.co.uk

The keynote speaker at this year’s event is BAFTA Award winning television journalist Kirsty Wark. She commented;

“I so admire WES. Community is everything for women setting out in business and

some of the most creative successful enterprises in Scotland have women at the helm. I’m privileged to be involved in WES and I am looking forward to an exciting, affirming and inspiring event”

WOMEN’S ENTERPRISE SCOTLAND AWARDS 2023 FINALISTS

Start-up Business of the Year, sponsored by Business Gateway

Bevan O’Daly, Bawn Textiles

Chloe Oswald, Chocolatia

Alisha Fuller-Armah, Deer Manor Gourmet Mushrooms

Gemma Stuart, Gutsy Health Ltd

Rosie Davie, The Pelvic Health Specialists

Growth Business of the Year, sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland

Julie Kennedy, Mocha Jaks

Nathalie Agnew, Muckle Media

Victoria Nicol, My Language Connection

Enas Fleming, The Power Within Training

Lynn Mann, Supernature Oils

Outstanding Business of the Year, sponsored by HFL (Holistic Financial Leadership)

Dr Yekemi Otaru, Doqaru

Stephanie Stubbs, Hickory Food

Nathalie Agnew, Muckle Media

Emma Macdonald, The Tartan Blanket Company

Inspiring Leader of the Year

Ann Johnson, Blaze Manufacturing Solutions Ltd

Clare Doris, Cumulus Oncology

Julie Begbie, Happy Side Hustle

Heather Matthews, Little’s Chauffeur Drive

Sacha Woolham, The Strategy Collective

Funded Business of the Year, sponsored by N4 Partners LLP

Nicola Kennedy, Heero Technologies

Dr Eve Hanks, MI:RNA Ltd

Celia Davies, Omanos Analytics

Karen Robinson, Three Robins

Resilient Business of the Year

Danielle McKinnon, Eat, Sleep, Ride CIC

Mette Baillie, Freja Designer Dressmaking

Heather Matthews, Little’s Chauffeur Drive

Donna Cuthbertson, Orkney Dance and Fitness Ltd

Rhiannon Louden, Small Fish Brand Co

Susie Black, Susie Black Fitness

Jenny Storey, The Academy

Embracing Technology Business of the Year

Lesley Landels, Love Scottish

Celia Davies, Omanos Analytics

Pooja Katara, SENSEcity

Anne Widdop, The Virtual Reality Hive Ltd

Caroline Laurenson, TL Tech Ltd

Net-Zero Business of the Year, sponsored by Scottish Enterprise

Antoinette Fionda-Douglas, Beira

Martha Bytof, Dear Green Coffee Roasters

Kirsty Maguire, Kirsty Maguire Architect Ltd

Jane Stewart, Topolytics Ltd

Kristen Hunter, Whisky Frames

Business to Watch , sponsored by HFL (Holistic Financial Leadership)

Ishani Malhotra, Carcinotech

Kimberley Mackenzie, GlykoGlen Ltd

Nicola Kennedy, Heero Technologies

Dr Eve Hanks, MI:RNA Ltd

Rosie Davie, The Pelvic Health Specialists

Purpose-Led Business of the Year

Emma Sithole, BE United Trading Ltd

Kirsty Ritchie, Mind & Mission Ltd

Kirsty Lunn, Molke

Carolyn McNamara, My Academic Family

Zara Janjua, Scottistani Productions

Sally Gouldstone, Seilich