THE finalists have been announced in the awards for Dorset’s working women.

Around 120 people gathered at Stewarts Garden Lands at Christchurch for an afternoon tea with organisers and sponsors of the Dorset Venus Awards.

Founder Tara Howard said there had been 1,300 nominations, which were whittled down to 450, then to 90 semi-finalists and 45 finalists.

“Everybody that’s here today has made it against the odds,” she said.

Stewarts Garden Centre owner Martin Stewart, whose business is sponsoring the Lifetime Achievement Award, said: “It was the hardest thing I’ve ever done in the 35 years of running this business to whittle the initial applications down to five semi-finalists.”

The finalists for the Daily Echo-backed title of Business Mother of the Year are: Julie Cook-Hughes, SOS Recruitment; Lorraine Squires, The Roman Group; Alison Williams, Ministry of Dog; and Caroline Swatton, Swalings Academy & Franchises Ltd.

The rest of the finalists are as follows.

Dutton Gregory Small Business Award: Munchkins Play Café, Michelle Cheeseman; Simply Amazing Training Ltd, Dee Clayton; The Sensory Smart Store, Melanie Thomsett.

Breeze Volkswagen Influential Woman Award: Gill Donnell, Successful Women Ltd; Margaret Farman, NHS; Georgina McBurney,Wiltshire Social Services.

Tigerlilly Nails New Business Award: Clinic Visjeune, Lisa Niemier; Minster Designs Bridal Boutique,Oxana Ruckhaber; The Little Sewing Company, Susan Walker.

Bournemouth University Inspirational Women Award: Jaya Da Costa, Dorset Blind Association; Wendy Imashev, Seamless Social Support Services; Emma Willis, Shine Cancer Support.

Desixn Digital Media and Online Business: Arena4fFinance, Debra Adams; Ratio, Tara Mussell (Flynn); Artist’s Adventure (with Postcards from the Edge), Michelle Rumney.

Stewarts Garden Centre Lifetime Achievement Award: Barbara Cox, Nutrichef / BC Nutrition Ltd; Linda Eve, EVENLINES; Mandy Payne, Spotcheckers Ltd.

Playgolf Bournemouth Networker of the Year: Zelda De Hollander, Studio Shotz Photography; Barbara Fowler, MyBabylog Ltd; Caroline Swaine, InXpress UK Ltd.

Kier Entrepreneur of the Year: Hollie Power, Holliepower.com; Simone Thomas, Simone Thomas Salon; Ratio, Tara Mussell (Flynn).

Exterion Media Marketing and PR: Little Bird PR, Sunny Bird; Move On Rentals, Sharon Canning;

Whitehall Hospitality Ltd, Sara Uzzell.

SMART Accountancy Business of the Year: SOS Recruitment, Julie Cook-Hughes; Waste Management Facilities Ltd, Lisa Delahunty; Marsham Court Hotel, Rosie Wallace.

Enhanced Director of the Year: Paula Jordan, McCarthy & Stone; Anna Louise Rosier, Organix; Annette D’Abreo, Ceuta.

Rubicon Employer of the Year: Atlas Electronik, Dorset Cereals, Health-on-Line.

Gem of England Customer Service: Marsham Court Hotel, Nicki Allan; Forum Jewellers Ltd, Helen Molloy; Moving You Forward, Lisa Pierson.

Heart Employee of the Year: Rhianon Greenslade, Safer Poole Partnership; Perrie Rendell, TigerLilly Nails

Caroline Swaine, InXpress UK Ltd

The finals will be held at Poole’s Lighthouse on September 18.