The 2007 Finalists!
Company Women of the Year Awards - Finalists Announced
The enthusiasm for these awards has surpassed all expectations. Entrants, nominees as well as local and national businesses have certainly embraced the first ever business awards for women here on the Costas. Caroline Garrett, Company Women Founding Member commented, "before launching the awards were we getting about 400 hits per month to our website, that has now rocketed to 1600!” Caroline added, “membership numbers are up, international business groups have contacted us and we’re getting pleas from women in Almeria to set up a third group there”.
The Company Women of the Year Awards, sponsored by Touchstone Solutions, aim to recognize the outstanding female success stories here in Spain and highlight their achievements within the business community.
Setting up a new business in your native homeland is hard enough. Imagine attempting to do that in Spain, without the support of your friends, family and valued business contacts that were previously close at hand. That's where female-only, networking support group Company Women can help. Their regular lunches are a great place to get advice, gain a better understanding of how things 'work' in Spain, grow your business and even make some new friends.
These awards will give much deserved recognition to women that are working hard, building a successful business whilst often starting a new life here in Spain.
The judging committee had no easy task to reduce the vast number of entrants to a shortlist of 30 and then whittle those down to just three finalists per category. Claire Worland, General Manager of the CoastRider kindly agreed for the judging reception to take place at the CoastRider office. This event allowed the judges to meet all the nominees as well as providing candidates with an opportunity to see who else was in the running.
Lead sponsor, Touchstone Solutions, naturally took their role extremely seriously and sent two directors to meet the nominees and ask more probing questions. Lorraine Pearce, Founder of Touchstone Solutions said, “We were very impressed with the caliber of entrants that attended that evening.” Lorraine added, “Our judging task was not an easy one with so many passionate, driven and focused individuals to choose from!”
But choose they had to. Only three finalists per category are permitted.
We’re delighted to announce the finalists for the Company Women of the Year Awards 2007 are -
The Bright Idea Award for Innovation, sponsored by Touchstone Solutions – For women that have had a great idea and implemented it. A pioneer, broken new ground, spotted a gap in the market and led the way with their creative idea.
Angel Neal, The Wedding Guide Espana www.theweddingguide.eu
Carolyn Shedden, Pocket Pages www.pocketpages.info
Clare Gale, Natural Health & Diagnostic Centre www.naturalhealthspain.com
Smart Small Business Owner – For women that have been successfully running a business for two years or more.
Jane Cronin, Cronin Language Services www.croninlanguages.com
Natasha Moon, Hair OTT tel 966 927 036
Sharon Richards, Live Spain for Life www.livespainforlife.co.uk
Customer Service Ambassador, sponsored by Castelar College - For women in any position in any organization who consistently deliver exceptional levels of high customer service
Annette Bray, Weight Watchers Spain www.weightwatchers.es
Biggy Marshall, ASSSA www.asssa.es
Fiona Harlowe, Skin Care Expert www.fionaharlowe.com
Start-up Success Star, sponsored by Touchstone Solutions - For women that have set up a new venture recently (under 2 years) and are already turning heads with their success.
Alison Byrne, Market Street Restaurant www.marketstrestaurant.net
Clare Gale, Natural Health & Diagnostic Centre www.naturalhealthspain.com
Judy Webber, The Fusion Gallery www.thefusiongallery.com
Against all odds, sponsored by Weight Watchers - For women that have overcome hurdles to achieve their goals where others would have given up.
Kate Milton-Jones, represented by her husband Grahame Milton-Jones
Marie Holliday, EFT Spain www.eftspain.com
Natasha Moon, Hair OTT tel 966 927 036
Congratulations must go to the finalists and also to all the women that had the courage to enter but didn’t make it to this stage. Fellow founding member of Company Women and awards judge Tracey Cavill was keen to add, “all the women that took part in these awards deserve a huge round of applause, the calibre of entrants was very high. On behalf of all of the judges I would like to thank everyone for taking time to enter and making these first awards such a resounding success.”
Each of the finalists will receive a free place at the Gala Awards Dinner and winners of each category will receive additional press coverage, an award trophy as well as a goody bag containing gifts and vouchers.
Lead sponsor Touchstone Solutions will also give each of the five category winners a training course of their choice from their extensive range of courses. The overall Company Woman of the Year Winner will receive free membership to Touchstone TEC, which is a business-mentoring course run over a period of six months. The value of this is approx 3,500 euros and will take their business to a new level.
REM FM has donated a month's supply of advertising for the overall winner's business worth 4000 euros.
The winners will be announced at the glittering Gala Awards Ceremony and Dinner Dance on Friday 16th November, which will be held at the Thalasia Hotel & Spa, San Pedro del Pinatar. REM FM's Maurice Boland has agreed to travel up from the Costa del Sol to host the awards ceremony.
Each category winner will automatically be entered for the overall award, The Company Women of the Year 2007 – a real inspiration to us all. That winner will also be announced at the Awards Ceremony.
This black tie event will be filmed by television production company Blanco y Negro and the footage used to produce a programme which is being made for SKY Channel 293 ‘Living in Spain TV’.
There will be a cava reception, three-course meal, with wine, entertainment from Andrea Marshall and dancing courtesy of 200% Sound International.
For more information call Caroline at Spice Marketing & PR on 619 519 919