and celebrating

the exceptional achievements

of businesswomen in Scotland

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know women

in business?

Celebrate them at

the #WESAwards

to attend in 2020?

Date coming soon!

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Introduction

Women’s Enterprise Scotland (WES) and Scottish Business Insider are collaborating to mark the achievements of the growing numbers of women-led businesses.

The prestigious awards evening will celebrate the talents of women across Scotland - and help to create more business role models to inspire the next generation of leading women.

Join us for a champagne reception and 3-course meal at the Grand Central Hotel as we recognise the notable contribution women are making to boost Scotland’s economy. Creating and developing a diverse and thriving world-class business ecosystem.

Wed 18th Sept 2019
6.30pm - 11.15pm

Congratulations to all our winners

Video clips


Award Categories


  • Start-up of the Year

    (Up to 3 years old)

    This award celebrates the entrepreneurial aptitude, vision, ambition, drive and commercial acumen to build a successful enterprise in Scotland from start-up.

    Emerging Business Leader 2019

    This award celebrates an emerging leader in business in Scotland, evidencing strong vision, ambition and drive to progress the business to a key milestone whether the business is pre-trading, start-up or growth.

    Best Rural Based Business

    This award is for recognising the wide variety of businesses operating from a rural base in Scotland and making a key contribution to more remote rural communities.

    Business Leader 2019

    This award recognises a business leader (male or female) in Scotland who has contributed to enhancing the landscape for women-owned businesses.

    Demonstrating support and involvement with the women-owned business community. Leading and playing an instrumental role in enabling women to start up in business and thrive.

    Growth Business of the Year

    This award celebrates Scotland’s growing businesses and recognises those that have achieved growth and financial performance. It recognises the businesses who have best demonstrated an understanding of their competitors, customers, and markets they operate in; and have the foundations in place for continued commercial success.

    Invested Business 2019

    This award marks the businesses in Scotland attracting investment to support growth.

    Assessing the investment received and the impact achieved by the business from the investment.

    Innovator of the Year

    This award marks the development and implementation of new ideas or approaches to gain business advantage by businesses based in Scotland whether by increased efficiency, competitive advantage or increased revenues.

    Board Member 2019

    This award recognises the contribution of a woman based in Scotland on a Board of Directors or Trustees.

    This may be for a business, social enterprise or charity.

    Best Social Enterprise

    Sponsored by CYBG PLC

    This award celebrates a social enterprise in Scotland with a clear social or environmental vision and purpose, achieving an evidenced impact.

    Business of the year

    (Over 3 years)

    This award will recognise the development and growing success of a business in Scotland, looking at business growth and strong financial performance, profitability, and brand awareness achieved in relation to the number of employees and budget.

2019 Winners

  • Start-up of the year – Matugga Distillers Limited

    Start-up of the year

    Matugga Distillers Limited

    Best rural based business 2019 - The Real Food Cafe

    Best rural based business 2019

    The Real Food Cafe

    Emerging business leader 2019 - Sara Roberts, Healthy Nibbles

    Emerging business leader 2019

    Sara Roberts, Healthy Nibbles

  • Growth business of the year - Tag Digital Ltd

    Growth business of the year

    Tag Digital Ltd

    Innovator of the year - Amanda Pickford, ThermaFY

    Innovator of the year

    Amanda Pickford, ThermaFY

    Invested Business 2019 - Talking Medicines

    Invested Business 2019

    Talking Medicines

  • Board member 2019 - Tracy Cheyne, Roz Cuschieri , Worldwide Cancer Research

    Board member 2019

    Roz Cuschieri, Worldwide Cancer Research

    Best social enterprise 2019 - Adopt an Intern

    Best social enterprise 2019

    Sponsored by CYBG PLC

    Adopt an Intern

    Business of the year - Little's Chauffeur Drive Ltd

    Business of the year

    Little's Chauffeur Drive Ltd

  • Business leader 2019 - Lynn Laughland, HRM Homecare Services

    Business leader 2019

    Lynn Laughland, HRM Homecare Services

Host

Clare English

Clare English

Veteran BBC Radio Four/ Radio Scotland presenter Clare English now regularly leads public discussions and hosts events across a diverse range of sectors. Most recently she co hosted Tedx Glasgow and coached speakers. Her passions are sharing her communications and presentation skills to support education, confidence, mental health and wellbeing. With nearly 30 years of BBC journalism and presentation notched up, Clare has covered a wide range of specialist areas including politics, Europe and identity, news and current affairs, mental health, arts, culture, science/technology and food. Clare is a Non-Executive Board Member of Women’s Enterprise Scotland.

Speaker

Wendy Hallett MBE

Wendy Hallett MBE

Founder and Managing Director of Hallett Retail and Hallett Retail Logistics

Wendy Hallett spent 13 years at Arcadia before starting her own business, Hallett Retail Services in 1999. Hallett Retail offers a unique concessions concept pulling together fashion, accessory and jewellery brands under one concession umbrella. Today, Wendy works with over 100 brands and many of the High Street’s top retailers, instore and online, including Debenhams, John Lewis, DPs and House of Fraser. Hallett Retail brands can be found in over 600 sites across the High Street.

In 2013 Hallett Retail acquired a warehouse, Hallett Retail Logistics, giving brands and hosts an end-to-end, full service solution. Collectively Hallett Retail and Hallett Retail logistics employ over 600 employees.

Wendy is committed to the enhancement of women in business. She is an everywoman Modern Muse and works with schools, colleges and women’s groups to inspire the next generation of working women. She was a founder member of the Women’s Business Council, a Government body that aims to find better opportunities for women to contribute to the economy. Wendy is interested in key areas such as the gender pay gap and looking at ways to fully engage retailers. She has been involved in Retail week’s Be Inspired initiative from the outset.

In 2011 Wendy won the Nat West Everywoman Award and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business from the University of East London in 2012. She was Chair of the 2013 Retail Trust London Ball which raised over £1 million for the Retail Trust, the principal charity of the retail industry and was President of the Twenty Club, a members-only dining club for Retailers, for 3 years. Wendy has recently joined the Committee for Children with Cancer’s annual charity Ball.

Wendy was awarded a MBE in 2013 for services to diversity in the retail sector.

Sponsorship

There are various sponsorship opportunities available.
To discuss sponsorship opportunities please contact Aileen Turnbull on 07825 899 187 or at aileen.turnbull@insider.co.uk

Event Partners