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Daily Echo: Venus Awards 2013

They are the ten supermums who juggle business success with bringing up a family.

After more than 1,000 nominations the judges have now decided which mums should face the public vote for the Daily Echo Business Mother of the Year 2013.

This is one of three categories in the prestigious Daily Echo backed NatWest Venus Awards where readers decide who will go to the ball.

There is also the Heart Employee of the Year and the Future Employment Employer of the Year.

The candidates visited the Daily Echo offices in Southampton where they all made video presentations before judges shortlisted them to the final 10.

The top three with the most votes will be invited as a guest of their sponsor to the glitzy awards ceremony at the Grand Harbour Hotel on June 18 where the winners will be announced.

The three award categories open to the public vote are among 14 hotly contested categories which recognise the achievements of the region’s most remarkable business women from mums to entrepreneurs.

The awards were founded by mum-of-four Tara Howard, the managing director of Langtry Manor Hotel in Bournemouth, who wanted to celebrate the often undervalued achievements of women in business through nominations from colleagues, friends and family.

Voting also begins today for the two other categories open to the public vote- the Heart Employee of the Year and the Future Employment Employer of the Year.

• To cast your vote, see the details below the list of nominees.

**Voting will close on May 9 at midnight.

Daily Echo: Alex Herring, Venus Awards

Alex Herring - 0428
 A&S Painting Services
Mum-of-two Alex has been self employed since starting a family. In 2012 when her husband was made redundant Alex went back to her practical roots by starting a painting and decorating business.

Daily Echo: Rachel Brown, Venus Awards

Rachel Brown - 0429
Signature Balloons
Mum-of-two Rachel from Totton strives to perfect the balance of being a 40-something mother, wife, daughter, employer, award-winner, businesswoman, fundraiser and balloonologist as well as finding time to perform with Rock Choir and volunteer for Age UK.

Daily Echo: Natasha Jones, Venus Awards

Natasha Jones - 0430
Baby Resuscitation
After Natasha’s 11 week old baby Ava-Mai suffered a near-miss cot death, the mum-of-four founded her company giving parents basic life-saving skills.

Daily Echo: Lucy Stacey, Venus Awards

Lucy Stacey - 0431
Lucy's Cakes
After becoming a single mum of a nine-month-old baby and a two-year-old Lucy started her business in 2010, by day a full-time mum and by night a bespoke cake artist.

Daily Echo: Nikki Jones, Venus Awards

Nikki Jones - 0432
Academy Studios
Nikki battled with planners to get a change of use on an industrial unit. Now Academy Studios in Romsey, which Nikki runs with her four children has been open two years, has become a thriving venue for businesses and members of the community.

Daily Echo: Lisa Suswain, Venus Awards

Lisa Suswain - 0433
Wagging Tails UK
Lisa launched her home dog boarding company Wagging Tails after retiring from a career as a ballet dancer and returning to her first love- dogs. The high level of demand from owners wanting an alternative to kennels led Lisa to franchise the business.

Daily Echo: Katie Dubief, Venus Awards

Katie Dubief - 0434
Jiggywrigglers
Katie is 28 and she owns and runs two successful businesses alongside a busy family and social life.

Daily Echo: Sue Leach, Venus Awards

Sue Leach - 0435
New Forest Homeopathy
Thanks to Sue’s work in homeopathy her daughter is 19 yet has never taken antibiotics or even met her GP. She offers help for women, children and babies with emphasis on emotional health and particularly enjoys helping couples get pregnant.

Daily Echo: Rose Glendinning, Venus Awards

Rose Glendinning - 0436
Nappy Network
Founding Nappy Bliss combined mum-of-one Rose’s two passions of the environment and helping others. Campaigning tirelessly Rose retails and launders real nappies and attends family festivals in summer months providing free nappy loan and demonstrations. She set up and continues to support the New Forest Nappy Network.

Daily Echo: Emma Sheldon

Emma Sheldon - 0437
SCILCC - Sothampton Centre for Independent Living Continuing Care
: Emma is a disabled mum who has built a successful business on her vision that person-centred support should mean that- providing disabled people with choice and control over their care to lead to better lives. Daily Echo Business Mothers

BUSINESS MUM OF THE YEAR - How to Vote

• BY PHONE - Call 0901 151 and enter the unique four-digit code printed by each nominee. For example, if you wanted to vote for nominee 1, the four-digit code is 0428 so call 0901 151 0428. Calls cost 51p from BT Landlines, calls from mobiles and some other networks may cost more.

• BY TEXT - Start your message by entering keyword VENUS, then leave a space and key in the four-digit code number for the nominee you wish to vote for. Send your text to 80360. Texts cost 50p plus your normal operator text charge.

• BY WEBSITE - Go to southampton.venusawards.co.uk/vote/

• Closing date for voting is midnight, May 9, 2013.
• Rules* For Full terms visit newsquest.co.uk/terms
• Service Provided by Newsquest Media Group. Customer Service 0800 280 0896