Fylde Coast Businesses Win Big at the EVAs
Celebrating Blackpool’s (and the North West’s) award-winning businesswomen.
Once again, Blackpool Unlimited was delighted to be sponsoring the New Business award and, because we’re eager to champion all women-led businesses across the region. The winners of this year’s EVAs have been announced. At a ceremony at Blackpool’s Winter Gardens on Friday 23 September, the North West’s premier business awards for women whittled down some incredible finalists to 20 category winners.Here’s a quick recap of the finalists in the New Business category:
- Steph Buttery is founder of Cho-Lo, “a collection of Japanese-inspired soft drinks with East Asian style flavours and branding that are shaking up the soft drinks market.”
- Holly Challinor leads Cheshire Botanicals, home of the award-winning Nantwich Gin
- Heather Glover runs Skarlette, “lingerie for flat women, designed by flat women.”
- Amanda Harrington runs Zerofat, a weight loss wellness company. She published her own recipe book ‘At Home With Miss Harrington’
- Raina Heverin leads ReCulture, offering “culture-led recruitment for growth-focused companies.”
- Angela Marsland is founder of Blues Baby, “designers and producers of classic English babywear.”
Winner of the New Business EVA
The winner of this year’s New Business EVA was Joanna Hill of Thornton Cleveleys-based Sid Hill Transport. The general transport and logistics business owns 6 HGVs and works with 20 full-time subcontractors to support local business with their freight needs.
Joanna was thrilled to have won: “When I was told I was a finalist it felt amazing. I was just excited to attend my first EVA's event but to come away with an award is fantastic!”
She offered some inspiration to other local women thinking of launching their own business: “I am proof that you just have to take small risks for a plan to pay off. Without support and information it can be daunting but, from charities to your local authority, there is support out there to help new businesses. If you ask the right questions you'll find the right answers.”
An evening of local business success
Joanna wasn’t the only Fylde Coast businesswoman celebrating success at the EVAs. Huge congratulations must also go to Sonia Carpentio of Poulton-based, family-run restaurant Bistro Italia, winner in the Customer Service category, and Kila Redfern of Charity of the Year, Blue Skies, which supports patient care and medical research for the Blackpool, Fylde and Wyre area.
We’d like to congratulate all winners and finalists, but we’re particularly happy that our local successes were able to collect their awards at a local and iconic venue. It really was a memorable night.
If, with a little support, you feel you could be entering next year’s EVAs, talk to us about your business plans now. We’d love to help.
