WOMEN BUSINESS LEADERS from across Scotland were recognised in front of a sell-out audience at last night’s Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2022.
Held for the first time since 2019, the glittering Awards ceremony took place at Glasgow’s voco Grand Central Hotel, with established and emerging business leaders being celebrated in ten categories.
In notable highlights, Greenock based Poonam Gupta of PG Paper Company took the coveted Inspiring Leader 2022 Award whilst ScotlandShop, founded by Anna White, was named Growth Business of the Year.
Ergo Law, founded by Emma Reid, took the award for Outstanding Business of the Year whilst Wishaw based Beauty Kitchen picked up the Net Zero Award. Radiant and Brighter, founded by Pheona Matovu, was named Purpose Led Business of the Year. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon MSP presented Evelyn Mcdonald, CEO of Scottish Edge, with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
Carolyn Currie, CEO of Women’s Enterprise Scotland, commented, “My heartfelt congratulations go to all the finalists and winners at last night’s awards. Businesses across Scotland have faced unprecedented pressures over the past two years and despite the additional challenges faced by women-owned businesses, the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards have showcased how women business leaders have stepped up to play their role in our country’s diverse, innovative and adaptable business ecosystem. These business leaders are the visible role models who will inspire the next generation of women and girls coming through, collectively helping us to consign Scotland’s persistent gender gap in enterprise to history.”
Nicola Sturgeon MSP, First Minister of Scotland said: “The past couple of years have been exceptionally tough for businesses across Scotland, but the calibre of all of last night’s finalists and winners shows the real impact Scotland’s women entrepreneurs are making across a range of sectors.”
She continued; “These awards highlight the major role of Scotland’s businesswomen in driving our economy forward, with valued support from Women’s Enterprise Scotland. I was delighted to be able to present a Lifetime Achievement Award to Evelyn McDonald, CEO of Scottish Edge, last night, for the tremendous contribution she has made to support the next generation of women in business.”
The Awards were sponsored by Scottish Enterprise, Royal Bank of Scotland, Holistic Financial Leadership, Business Gateway and the British Business Bank.
WOMEN’S ENTERPRISE SCOTLAND AWARDS 2022
Start-up Business of the Year, sponsored by Business Gateway
Agate Kuzmina AKCC Co Ltd
Daria Filichkina AstroAgency
Tiffany Wood Dyneval (WINNER)
Clara Doran Noggin
Sophie Downes Sophie Downes
Growth Business of the Year, sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland
Lesley Fordyce AAB Consulting
Claire Donnelly Aspire Industrial Services
Jaclyn Robinson JRPS (HIGHLY COMMENDED)
Poonam Gupta PG Paper Company Ltd
Anna White ScotlandShop (WINNER)
Outstanding Business of the Year, sponsored by HFL Financial (Holistic Financial Leadership)
Karen Somerville Angels’ Share Glass
Emma Reid Ergo Law Ltd (WINNER)
Jennifer Mackenzie The TEFL Org
Jennifer Robertson SPEY
Inspiring Leader of the Year
Rachael Brown Future Economy Company
Allison Harrison Hot Yoga Edinburgh Limited
Dr Poonam Gupta OBE PG Paper Company Ltd (WINNER)
Dr Marie Macklin CBE The Halo Urban Regeneration Company
Gillian Crawford Lily Blanche
Funded Business of the Year, sponsored by British Business Bank
Jo Chidley Beauty Kitchen UK Ltd
Claudia Freigang Hearing Diagnostics Ltd (WINNER)
Carmel Reilly Neurocentrx Pharma Ltd
Jo Halliday Talking Medicines Ltd
Adaptive Business of the Year
Rachel Brown Future Economy Scotland
Allison Harrison Hot Yoga Edinburgh Ltd (WINNER)
Juliet Ibhanesebhor Sap-kreations Ltd
Anna White ScotlandShop
Ruby Sweeney The Events Hub
Susan Cohen The Wee Book Company
Embracing Technology Business of the Year, sponsored by HFL Financial (Holistic Financial Leadership)
Lesley Landels Love Scottish
Fiona Chambers SV24-7 Vending
Dr Mhairi Towler Vivomotion
Gillian Crawford Lily Blanche (WINNER)
Net-Zero Business of the Year, sponsored by Scottish Enterprise
Jo Chidley Beauty Kitchen UK Ltd (WINNER)
Jeanette Forbes Blue Gentoo Ltd
Jane Stewart Topolytics
Kristen Hunter Whisky Frames Ltd
Collaborative Champion
Karen Somerville Angels’ Share Glass
Kirsteen Stewart Kirsteen Stewart Design
Christine Esson Scottish Business Network
Sarah Heward The Real Food Café, Tyndrum (WINNER)
Purpose-Led Business of the Year
Kerry Anderson Brave Strong Beautiful (HIGHLY COMMENDED)
Kirsty Thomson Circle Scotland CIC (The Circle)
Kirsty Lunn Molke Ltd
Pheona Matovu Radiant and Brighter Community Interest Company
Rowan Morrison Rationale
Susan Cohen The Wee Book Company
Lifetime Achievement Award
Evelyn McDonald Scottish Edge
