Exceptional leaders, teams, apprentices and entrepreneurs were among East Midlands women in business to receive awards at the packed ceremony at Center Parcs, Sherwood Forest on 25th September.
Delivered by East Midlands Chamber’s Enterprising Women network and sponsored by headline partner Michael Smith Switchgear, the event was hosted by ITV presenter Emma Jesson.
Awards were presented across 10 categories which included Small Business of the Year, Developing Leader and Social Commitment.
The prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by NOCN Group, was presented to TV presenter Anne Davies, while the Businesswoman of the Year Award, sponsored by Michael Smith Switchgear, went to Lisa Craven of Stormsaver.
Enterprising Women Co-chair Eileen Perry MBE DL said: “East Midlands women in business always shine that bit brighter, setting a sky-high benchmark for innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership the UK can be proud of.
“2026 has lifted that bar even higher, with the level of accomplishment of Enterprising Women Awards finalists and award recipients showing the world just what this region is made of.
“Whether AI and digital, manufacturing and advanced manufacturing or the creative industries, whether a start-up, a medium or large-scale operation, there are East Midlands women leading, setting the direction, changing the story, driving cultural change, driving economic growth.
“Company Boards are more than 40% made up of women, according to FTSE figures released earlier this year and we’re seeing that number gradually increase. I want to see that accelerate, not level out, and with the outstanding businesswomen at the 2026 Enterprising Women Awards, I know the East Midlands can really lead that push.
“I would like to extend my thanks to our headline sponsor Michael Smith Switchgear and all the sponsors, as well as our amazing finalists and award winners that made the 2026 East Midlands Enterprising Women Awards such a memorable evening.”
Enterprising Women Co-chair Jean Mountain said: “The sheer brilliance of East Midlands businesswomen is something I’ve been fortunate to see evolve and develop over the years with 2026 proving once again why every East Midlander should be taking a moment to reflect on what we have right here – women that get on with it. They start a business. They overcome barriers and they make it to the top. They influence. They lead.
“One of our jobs at Enterprising Women is to make sure that is noticed – it’s seen, it’s recognised. The East Midlands has female directors driving growth and apprentices that will become those influential leaders tomorrow.
“That’s why we must never hold back in celebrating the outstanding achievement of East Midlands businesswomen.
“The Enterprising Women Awards bring that glitzy vibe as women stand shoulder to shoulder with those that share a journey and vision that mirrors their own.
“The 2026 ceremony was simply exceptional and to the sponsors, partners and every winner or finalist, I thank you for your part in this very special evening.”
The Lifetime Achievement Award, sponsored by NOCN Group, was presented to TV presenter Anne Davies. Speaking afterwards, Anne Davies said: “Receiving this was just amazing – so lovely. It was a wonderful evening.
“I have essentially been delivering the news for the people of the East Midlands for 40 years and to be a part of a place like the East Midlands, which I love, is just lovely. People say hello to you and you feel that you belong – it’s one of the nicest feelings.
“Now I just want to pass all the things I’ve learned to other people because without communication, we don’t exist. If we can make that the best we can then I think it’s halfway to an important life.
“Enterprising Women is so inclusive. It’s so celebratory – of women everywhere, and men are part of it as well, but it underlines the strengths and the capabilities that women have with all kinds of businesses.”
Lifetime Achievement Award sponsor NOCN Group Director of Customer Service and Operations Rachel Hobson said: “We wanted to sponsor the Lifetime Achievement Award to recognise and acknowledge the fantastic work females in the region do. Being able to recognise someone that’s dedicated so much to the business community and to women – giving women the platform to be able to progress in work, in life and business has meant so much to us.
“The Enterprising Women Awards are an opportunity to give women a platform to progress themselves, to acknowledge the great work that women are doing – that’s so critical.”
The Businesswoman of the Year Award – sponsored by Michael Smith Switchgear went to Lisa Craven of Stormsaver. Speaking afterwards, Lisa said: “My team – they’re absolutely amazing – and to my daughter, my family, everyone that supported me along the way, I thank you. I feel really humbled.
“I just do what I do every day. I’m really passionate about water. I’m really passionate about leadership. I’m really passionate about doing the right thing.
“I don’t want to run a business where we’re not doing the right thing and we’re not upholding values every day and I really want my team to embody that. So they come to work every day and we try to make a difference and that’s what I want to do with my life.
“Women are amazing. They go silently about their work, not wanting to be recognised and often having imposter syndrome but they’re doing amazing things.”
Businesswoman of the Year Award sponsor and headline sponsor for the Enterprising Women Awards 2026 Michael Smith Switchgear Managing Director Sean Smith said: “My business partner Emily won this back in 2022 and ever since we wanted to be involved in it. It was such an inspirational process and we love seeing how incredible businesswomen in the region don’t believe they’re doing incredible things day in, day out.
“It’s great to be a part of, to see this journey and highlight incredible business leaders such as Lisa Craven and what they are doing day in, day out – it’s astonishing and something to be very proud of.”
The Developing Leader Award – sponsored by Sarah Higgins Corporate Coaching went to Preethi Kang of Qinesis. Speaking afterwards, Preethi said: “To be recognised as a developing leader, it just means the world.
“I think what makes a good leader is to be self-aware. You’ve just got to be you and be empathetic with other people and just be human and I everything else just naturally falls in place, if you just do that and take people along with you.
“The Enterprising Women Awards are really important because I think we don’t often just stop and recognise how far we’ve come.
“Entering awards like this, you might not always win straight away, but you might then win another award. You keep going and eventually get there.”
Award Sponsor Sarah Higgins Corporate Coaching CEO and Founder Sarah Higgins said: “We’ve made great advances in society and in the world to help women, help anyone who might be disadvantaged in any way, to be able to succeed.
“We do still need to help people build their confidence in all walks of the life, especially women. What’s important about the Enterprising Women Awards for me is that I want to help build women’s confidence, to be able to believe in themselves, to know they can do great things, to celebrate their success and to feel good about what they’re doing. That means the world to me.”
The Social Commitment Award – sponsored by Mackworth Vehicle Conversions went to Katrice Rodriguez of Unity Swimming. Speaking afterwards, Katrice said: “It’s about all those people that wouldn’t have started swimming and they’re the people that Unity Swimming is all about – creating the safe spaces for people, parents that don’t swim, watching their children swim and then they come to me and go, ‘Katrice, I can’t swim. My kids are swimming and I need to get in with them.’ I’m enabling them and empowering them to get in that water and swim.
“It’s not just the people that learn to swim in the sessions that it makes a difference for, it’s their families and their whole communities. I love seeing the journey and being on that journey with them all.”
Award sponsor Mackworth Vehicle Conversions Sales Manager Paul Chambers said: “Social commitment is really important to us as a business. We’ve been on site at our business in Derby for 65 years. Our social commitment to the local community over those 65 years has been massive, so it’s really important to us.
“It’s such a fantastic thing that Katrice does with her business. It literally is life-saving.”
The Female Employee of the Year Award – sponsored by Cambridge & Counties Bank went to Nichol Thompson of West Special Fasteners. Speaking afterwards, Nichol said: “To be announced on stage was a privilege and I felt really honoured at the fact that they recognised the good work that I’d done within the company. So, I feel excited at this minute.”
The Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award – sponsored by Freeths went to Tania Gerard of Tania Gerard Digital. Speaking afterwards, Tania said: “I’m very honoured. We’re making really big changes in marketing right now, making it more inclusive, training companies across the UK and the US about being inclusive and being better leaders, being more open-minded.”
Award sponsor Freeths Office Managing Partner Lisa Gilligan said: “This was an amazing category. We met some really inspirational women who have innovation, drive and sheer resilience.
“It’s having that drive, that entrepreneurial drive but wanting to do it authentically and wanting to make a difference for the right reasons. That’s what stood out to me. And Tania Gerard and the business is absolutely flying but it is making a difference in people’s lives.
“It’s essential to celebrate women in business. Nights like tonight just prove it. People need amazing role models and they should be celebrated.”
Winners of the Enterprising Women Awards 2026:
Social Commitment Award – sponsored by Mackworth Vehicle Conversions
WINNER: Katrice Rodriguez – Unity Swimming
Apprentice of the Year Award – sponsored by Datalink Electronics
WINNER: Eve Hunt – LJM Solutions
Female Employee of the Year Award – sponsored by Cambridge & Counties Bank
WINNER: Nichol Thompson – West Special Fasteners
Developing Leader Award – sponsored by Sarah Higgins Corporate Coaching
WINNER: Preethi Kang – Qinesis
Innovation Award – sponsored by Pick Everard
WINNER: Lynn Johnson – FSG Returnables
Female Entrepreneur of the Year Award – sponsored by Freeths
WINNER: Tania Gerard – Tania Gerard Digital
Small Business of the Year Award – sponsored by Knights
WINNER: Creative Triangle
Team of the Year Award – sponsored by Azets
WINNER: Stormsaver
Businesswoman of the Year Award – sponsored by Michael Smith Switchgear
WINNER: Lisa Craven – Stormsaver
Lifetime Achievement Award – sponsored by NOCN Group
WINNER: Anne Davies
Find out more about the Enterprising Women network, click here
Co-founders Eileen Perry MBE DL and Jean Mountain feature in an episode of East Midlands Chamber’s podcast The One for Business. To listen or download, click here
Photos: courtesy Pete Martin Photography
