Southampton’S business sisterhood were united yesterday ahead of a prestigious new set of Daily Echo-backed awards.

More than 500 nominations have been received for the first Venus Awards, which aims to highlight the achievements of the city’s most impressive female entrepreneurs, bosses and employees in 14 categories.

Judges will select from the finalists at a glitzy ceremony at the city’s Grand Cafe on May 22.

Founder Tara Howard said: “There is so much on our plates as women. Therefore, sometimes we feel we are not getting enough done and not achieving.

“So it just means the world when someone comes along to say ‘Girl, you are doing a good job’.

“It gives me such a buzz to see these women appreciated just once for all their efforts.”

Mrs Howard, who is the managing director of Langtry Manor Hotel in Bournemouth, said she would be now rolling out the awards across the country after requests from women wanting to recognise achievements elsewhere.

Among the other prizes up for grabs in the awards are the Daily Echo Business Mother of the Year, with finalists including Pam Marshall, a mum-of-three who runs children’s cancer charity Hannah’s Holiday Home Appeal; Andrea Waring, a solicitor who owns and runs the Hythe-based Waring Partnership; and Sarah Prince, who runs Prince Garden Services, which operates in Southampton and the surrounding area.

Ms Prince, a 38-year-old mumof- two from Totton, said: “My son has learning difficulties so it is difficult being a working mother and running my own business.

The challenge can be sometimes standing back to give the children some time.”

A limited number of tickets to the black tie event at Grand Cafe, Terminus Terrace, are still available at venusawards.co.uk/ southampton.