Jan Smith EOL IT Services

Jan set up EOL IT Services from her kitchen table after recognising that many companies were irresponsibly disposing of IT related equipment in an environmentally damaging way. She is now Chairman of the data erasure and IT asset recycling company, operating a zero landfill policy with 90% of products being recycled and 10% being refined. The company thrives on integrity and Jan has refused opportunities rather than get involved in projects that are outside her moral guidelines. Jan’s sheer determination has seen her take her idea and overcome initial funding obstacles to develop a business that now employs over 50 people, has an annual turnover of £2 million and is highly respected in the industry, especially for its environmental approach.

2007 FINALISTS

Jacqueline Duncan Inchbald School of Design

Being a female entrepreneur in the 1960’s was not easy. As a divorced mother of 2, Jacqueline initially found it difficult to secure funding for her businesss but she persevered and founded the Inchbald School of Design. This was the first interiors school of its kind in Europe. With its inception, Jacqueline single-handedly created the interior design profession in the UK. Ten years later she expanded, founding the Inchbald School of Fine Arts and, in 1972, the Inchbald School of Garden Design. Inchbald was and remains a pioneer of serious design training, providing its students with an identity of true excellence. At the age of 75, Jacqueline is still Principal of the Schools and plays a dominant role in the day to day running of the business.

Hilary Devey Pall-ex Group

Hilary started Pall-Ex, the country’s leading logistics provider in palletised freight, after identifying a niche in the market. Determined to succeed, Hilary wanted to provide for her seven-year old son and set about convincing the bank manager and fellow business owners of the viability of her plan. Now with a £14 million annual turnover, Pall-Ex has gone from strength to strength and plans to build a further 100,000 sq ft warehouse at their central hub, a far cry from its humble beginning in porta-cabins with no water or electricity! At first, as a woman in a man’s industry, Hilary wasn’t taken seriously but she has now gained the respect of hauliers all over the country. It has taken her 10 years to do what other haulage companies would do in 100 years.

 

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2006 WINNER

Wendy Sandeman Wendy Sandeman Dental

Dentist Wendy Sandeman had a long-standing dream about creating a holistic practice that would be a joy to patients and a wonderful place for staff to work. But it took inspirational business coaching to unlock her confidence and enable her to risk selling her house and set about creating a thoroughly modern and unconventional new practice in a Dorset village. With an outdoor waiting room, Alpacas grazing in the distance, soothing music, cool drinks and hand treatments on offer, the practice has an atmosphere more like a spa than a conventional dentist’s surgery. Success has been phenomenal with roughly three times the number of new patients most practices would expect. Crucially, Wendy places as much importance on the employee experience as she does on the customer experience and her staff enjoy an unusual 9 day working fortnight with long weekends in between, as well as regular team workshops.

2006 FINALISTS

Lady Harriet Bridgeman The Bridgeman Art Library

Recognising the need for a central source of fine art images, Harriet Bridgeman started her picture library with just one box of photographs in her attic in 1972. Her aim was to protect the copyright of art owners and provide an essential link between them and image users. Today the Bridgeman Art Library is the world’s leading source of fine art images, with over twenty nine thousand artists represented. Technological challenges have been Harriet’s biggest struggle. Always a progressive thinker, she began the process of digitising the collection 19 years ago, but it took many years of research and construction to create Bridgeman’s first fully searchable website, which launched in April 1999. Harriet is renowned for her passion for art, her generous spirit and her philosophy of always trying to see how her business can benefit others. She is repaid by great loyalty from her staff.



Angela Hamlin Draycott Nursing

Angela Hamlin had been nursing all her life, but witnessing her own mother’s suffering from Alzheimer’s disease prompted an overwhelming desire to set up a home care nursing agency with a difference, one that would provide first rate medical attention combined with thoughtful and sensitive personal care. Realising that she lacked business skills, at the age of 49 Angela enrolled for an MBA. With no capital and only an abundance of vision, drive and focus, Angela set up Draycott Nursing from an Internet café. Over the last ten years the agency has established the highest reputation and most business has been generated by word-of-mouth. Angela’s staff, many of whom have been with the company since its creation, were responsible for her award nomination. All commend Angela’s humour, compassion, integrity, warmth and generosity of spirit. Angela is also unstoppable. Determined to go on and on, she has huge plans for the future.

 

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2005 WINNER

Susan French  E A Bird & Sons Ltd

From its inception in 1902 as a pork butcher to the general butchers and sandwich bar business it is today, E. A. Bird & Sons has survived several recessions, enormous technological and retail upheaval and two world wars. Susan, previously referred to as ‘only' the owner's wife, became a majority shareholder in 1999 and was catapulted into the role of managing director following a significant internal restructure. Having left school at 16 with no qualifications, Susan undertook studies in later life. As a result she never refuses an employee's request for training and will also offer financial assistance if a team member decides to embark on further education. With no previous ‘baggage' to limit her creativity in the business, Susan encourages her team to be open-minded and quick-footed in the way that they respond to customers demands.

2005 FINALISTS

Jo Hansford   Jo Hansford Hair Salon

Following a bitter business partnership break-up more than 13 years ago, Jo could only ever imagine working for herself. Shy and modest by nature, Jo needed the intense encouragement of her family to help her find the confidence and drive within herself to embark upon her venture. With the unstinting support of her business partner and husband, David, she sourced the most prestigious Mayfair location for her salon. She has since built up a multi-million pound business and a reputation so solid that clients are prepared to wait months for an appointment with her top colourist, reputed to be the best in London. The sad death of David three years ago tested Jo's strength of character, but her leadership skills, industry expertise and pragmatic approach to business and people is an enduring inspiration to many customers and colleagues.

 

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2004 WINNER

Pollyanna Pickering   Pollyanna Pickering Ltd

Recognised as one of Europe's foremost Wildlife Artists - a remarkable achievement in a male-dominated field - Pollyanna's talent is matched by her abilities as a businesswoman. Widowed at 36, she faced life as a single parent while trying to succeed without financial backing. Her drive, vision and talent have resulted in her becoming the UK's most published fine artist, with an extensive range of prints, cards, books and giftware exported to 83 countries world-wide. Renowned for travelling into the world's most inhospitable regions to paint endangered species, Pollyanna designs exclusively for Harrods, and has been commissioned by every major wildlife charity in Britain. Even being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2002 did not stop her working. She acts as patron for charities including The Wildlife Defence Fund and Naturewatch, and has established her own charitable Foundation.

2004 FINALISTS

Doreen McKenzie   Knock Travel

Doreen's passion for travel led her to establish Knock Travel, a travel-related service focusing on business and leisure travel in 1990. Having worked in the travel industry since 1974, Doreen spent the early years of the business reinvesting all profits and she now has three retail agencies, a highly motivated team and an annual turnover of over £6 million. Her commitment to the company and staff remains a priority and in the past year she has invested £300,000 into the refurbishment of the head office. While the travel industry has been hit hard with the recent threat of terrorism and SARS, Doreen has faced these challenges head on to make the business the success it is today. Her commitment to sit voluntarily on thirteen different committees shows dedication to her business and to the Industry as a whole.


Pamela Garnett   Garnett Farms Engineering Ltd

Garnett Farms Engineering Ltd was set up by Pamela in 1998 to produce quality agricultural machinery with the aim of giving good value for money and delivering on time. The idea came about when, Andrew, the youngest of Pamela's four children, designed a piece of machinery to use on the home farm. The design was so useful that Pamela thought it should be put into production. When the UK's three largest agricultural manufacturers turned it down, Pamela made the decision to manufacture it themselves. Numerous obstacles, including an inability to secure financial backing and having no experience in manufacturing and engineering, did not deter them. Today, as a result of sheer hard work and determination, the business sells world-wide with a turnover beyond all expectations.

 

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2003 WINNER

Carole Nash   Carole Nash Insurance

In 1985, with a small redundancy cheque, Carole Nash Insurance was launched on Carole's small, suburban kitchen table. With the support of a DTI initiative grant in 1991, her business really took off (she says she used some of the money to buy 'proper letterhead') and has seen her succeed in two male-dominated worlds - motorcycling and insurance. Now the country's leading motorcycle insurance specialist with premium income of over £52 million, her company has offices in Manchester and Dublin and employs over 400 people. Adamant that her own business success would never be at the expense of the quality of her family life, Carole is regularly seen indulging her passion for classic cars and motorcycles - and enjoying her role as 'Nanny Nash' as she is called by her four grandchildren.

2003 FINALISTS

Avril Owton  The Cloud Hotel

With four children to raise and a home to maintain, Avril was plunged into managing her husband's hotel when he died suddenly 12 years ago. As a professional dancer, she admits that she didn't know the bottom line from her chorus line, but following a successful hotel refurbishment and a steep learning curve to master financial and people management skills, the turnover of the Cloud Hotel has increased six-fold. Still very much at the heart of running the hotel, Avril also dedicates much of her time and energy to supporting other women in business. She has set up the Wessex Women's Network and speaks regularly at many national and international conferences.

Anne Wallace  Taylor's

At the age of 16, Anne set up Taylor's, a traditional fish and chip shop, with her mother. Firmly believing in the importance of training and developing her team's skills, Taylor's is the only fish and chip shop to be recognised as 'Investors in People'. Having been in business for 36 years, Anne admits that being self-employed is not an easy road, but recognises the immense support she has had from her husband and her mother, who at nearly 80 still works in the business. Anne's passion is to gain recognition for this great British dish and its status as a good healthy meal a world apart from 'junk food'. The Heart Foundation obviously agrees, having awarded Taylor's with the 'Heartbeat Award'.