SOUTHAMPTON businesswomen will be going head-to-head with fellow hard-working ladies from across the UK.

The Venus Awards national final will be coming to Hampshire later this month and 14 women from the city will be competing.

It’s an event which celebrates the achievements of inspirational mums, sisters, daughters and friends – but only came to Southampton for the first time last year.

More than 600 nominations for women in Southampton were received for the awards, which are backed by the Daily Echo and three of the regional winners were chosen by our readers.

The Venus Awards initially launched in Dorset six years ago but spread to people in the SO postcode area when women wanted to recognise achievements elsewhere.

They highlighted the achievements of the city’s most impressive female entrepreneurs, bosses and employees across 13 categories, including Lifetime Achievement, Businesswoman of the Future, Entrepreneur, Best New Business and Small Business.

Finalists chosen by Daily Echo readers were Business Mother of the Year Pam Marshall, a mum-ofthree who runs children’s cancer charity Hannah’s Holiday Home Appeal; Andrea Waring, a solicitor who owns and runs the Hythebased Waring Partnership; and Sarah Prince, who runs Prince Garden Services, which operates in Southampton and the surrounding area.

Now the regional winners will go to the final on January 23 at the Audleys Wood Hotel in Basingstoke, to see who takes home the ultimate prize.

Founder of the awards Tara Howard said: “It was inspiring to see the wealth and diversity of successful Southampton businesswomen and the winners of the various categories recognised for their achievements.

“The final is the jewel in the crown and the best of the best will come together for a day of appreciation and admiration.”

Southampton finalists

  • NatWest Entrepreneur of the Year Juliet Blundell, Propaganda Hair Salon  
  • Peter Cooper VW Southampton Influential Woman Award Natasha Jones, Baby Resuscitation
  • Silverlake Green Business Award Alex Herring, A & S Painting Services  
  • DynoRod Inspirational Woman Katie Humphreys, Mind Training for Sport
  • Rothmans LLP New Business Award Katy Handley-Quint, PINKS.
  • Children’s Boutique n Your Southampton New Media & Online Business Award Cecile Bergart, Hampshire Wine School
  • Dutton Gregory LLP Small Business Paula Warman, Aura Landscapes Ltd
  • Heart Southampton Employee of the Year Award Natacha Still, Parkhouse The Jeweller
  • Southern Daily Echo Business Mother Award Sarah Hibbert, Charmed Glass
  • Condor Lifetime Achievement Pam Bates, Countess Mountbatten Hospice Charity
  • Employer of the Year Catherine Sousa, Sousa Richards Solicitors
  • Professional of the Year Catherine Maxfield, Eric Robinson & Co
  • Home Based Business Kimberley Garrod, Kimberley Garrod Photography
  • Customer Service Award Jo Hicks, Jo Hicks Flowers