Recognising the outstanding achievement of women in the East Midlands business community, the shortlist for the 2025 Enterprising Women Awards shortlist has been revealed.
Held on 12th June at The Tipis at Whatton House near Loughborough, finalists across 9 award categories were announced, covering business areas ranging from social commitment to innovation.
Those shortlisted will now go through to a ceremony on 26th September at Winstanley House in Leicestershire, where the recipient of the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award will also be named.
Enterprising Women Co-Chair Eileen Perry MBE DL said: “Showcasing the superb women that lead, influence or drive our businesses forward in the East Midlands is something that can never slow down. As a region, we’re so fortunate to have an abundance of women, whether in smaller or larger businesses, that excel and are to thank for its success.
“What strikes me, though, is that we have to push harder. People might say ‘it’s all equal these days’ but the FTSE Women’s Leaders Review from this year paints a rather different picture, where only 4 out of 10 roles on company boards are women, and only 3 out of 10 in the 50 largest companies. That’s not a disaster, but it’s not good enough either.
“The Enterprising Women Awards showcase the very best – the standout businesswomen of the East Midlands. The standard of entries this year has surpassed expectation and just blown us away. 26th September this year, when the awards will be presented will be one very special evening, and it’s well worth getting a place reserved to be part of the celebration.”
Enterprising Women Co-Chair Jean Mountain said: “Women are smashing it in business. I don’t think that’s any big secret – and we know that from the entries we get – but there’s a sense of modesty that can make women hesitant to shout about those wins.
“The Enterprising Women Awards are that rare and special opportunity to say ‘just hang on a second, that thing I did, that idea, that project, that propelled the business, didn’t it‘ – so what good reason is there to not shout about that?
“What I find so thrilling is the sheer brilliance of the entries that come in. As each year goes by, I think I’ve seen the best, but that bar is still lifting. Every woman that entered this year, in any of the categories has star quality, quite frankly, and I can’t wait to see who receives each award at the ceremony. It’s one of those fab, glitzy evenings where you feel like a superstar just being alongside these incredible women that the East Midlands can be so proud of.”
Lauren Cropper, PR Executive at 1284 Communications, who joined the business in 2024, was revealed as a finalist for the Apprentice of the Year category. She said: “I wasn’t expecting to hear my name read out. It was all brought by my colleagues who’d said ‘do you want to go for it?’ – I’ve been at the business for just under a year, so it’s a really good boost to my confidence and shows that I’m good at what I’m doing.”
Ruth Johnson from Bodie Hodges Foundation was revealed as a finalist in the Developing Leader category. She said: “It’s so lovely to be recognised, especially as a non-profit organisation, and I’m really excited to be at the Awards in September. The Enterprising Women Awards mean women are getting recognised, that we’re able to showcase what we’re doing, whether that’s in a small business, large business or a charity like ours.”
Sarah Thomson from De Montfort University was revealed as a finalist in the Social Commitment Award category. She said: “I felt really emotional hearing my name as a finalist. A lot of the speakers said it was a really strong field this year with lots of entries. I’ve spent the day with some amazing women, so to be shortlisted from a group of peers like this is just a real honour.”
Blu Hardy from Hardy Signs was revealed as a finalist in the Developing Leader Award category. She said: “I applied last year for a different award, but didn’t win it. This was important to me because I’ve been doing a lot of work on myself – I’m not a natural born leader, but I’ve been doing a lot of work with business coaches, shadowing business mentors to get a rounded view on what it means to be a leader and what it means to be a leader in my own eyes.
“What the Enterprising Women Awards do especially well is to give women who put themselves forward for an award the kind of space to not only feel good about what they do and to be recognised for what they do, but actually to feel in themselves that it is recognised.”
Dr Dyneshia Johnson from De Montfort University was named as a finalist for The Innovation Award. She said: “I was really excited to hear I’m a finalist as it’s nice to get your work recognised in the region. One of the first conversations I had at this Finalists Announcement was around the distance women have travelled. The Enterprising Women Awards recognise our work and we lift each other up as we climb the ladder. That’s important.”
Tomato Energy sponsored the Social Commitment Award. Head of Engagement Dominika Walker said: “Social commitment is about putting that extra something into local communities and neighbourhoods, so for me it was a logical choice for us to sponsor this award category. It fits perfectly with our mission and vision at Tomato Energy.”
Finalists for the Enterprising Women Awards 2025:
Apprentice of the Year Award (Sponsor – Futures Housing Group)
Lauren Cropper – 1284 Communications
Amia Hill – Cambridge & Counties Bank
Sharna Young – Cambridge & Counties Bank
Sofia Coviello – IMA Architects
Hannah Livingstone – Rolls-Royce
Businesswoman of the Year Award (Sponsor – Michael Smith Switchgear)
Charlie Dean – Catering24
Rachel Huxford MBE – RAFA
Mariam Smith – Data Link
Sonja Skelton – West Special Fasteners
Nipuni Karunaratne – IVY TECH
Developing Leader Award (Sponsor – Sarah Higgins Corporate Coaching)
Ruth Johnson – Bodie Hodges Foundation
Tasmin Emery – Cambridge & Counties Bank
Nicola Chambers – Dales Fabrications
Victoria Cone – Longbow Venues
Blu Hardy – Hardy Signs
Female Employee of the Year Award (Sponsor – Cambridge & Counties Bank)
Dimple Chohan – Digital Planning
Katie Angrave – The Maynard, Longbow Venues
Emma Snow – Mackworth Vehicle Conversions
Alexandra Carr – PPL PRS
Trace Voss – Voluntary Action Leicestershire
Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award (Sponsor – Freeths)
Amy Stroud – Exploding Sweets
Emily Cardy – EC Manufacturing Group
Gill Heppell – PerCurra Franchising
Cat Mitchell – True Talent
Sophie Wragg – Be Your Best Version
The Innovation Award (Sponsor – Pick Everard)
Dr Ismini Vasileiou – East Midlands Cyber Security Cluster
Dr Dyneshia Johnson – De Montfort University
Lynn Johnson – FSG Returnables
Isabel Marsh – HORIBA MIRA
Jaimini Bharakhada – Belgrave Neighbourhood Cooperative
Small Business of the Year Award (Sponsor – Unique Window Systems)
CMP Legal
HLP Therapy
IVY TECH
TGIS Aviation
Trans-Sport.TV
Social Commitment Award (Sponsor – Tomato Energy)
Sarah Thomson – De Montfort University
Lindsey Randle – HORIBA MIRA
Justine Flack – Howes Percival LLP
Trusha Lakhani – Great Business Matters
Ann Fomukong-Boden – Kakou Technologies
Team of the Year Award (Sponsor – Breedon Consulting)
Leadership & Management Team – Charnwood Nursery & Pre-School Group
Research, Business & Innovation Team – De Montfort University
HR & Resourcing Team – HORIBA MIRA
Customer Experience – PPL PRS
The Team – CMP Legal
Lifetime Achievement Award (Sponsor – Paradigm Wills & Legal Services)
Finalists are not named in this category
To attend the 2025 Enterprising Women Awards or find out more, click here.
