THE cream of Dorset’s business women are heading for a national awards ceremony.

The Venus Awards national final takes place on January 23, with Dorset’s winners of 2014 taking on more than 100 from around the country.

Founded in Bournemouth as the Langtry Manor Business Women Awards in 2009, the Venus Awards have spread to seven other regions.

They were devised by founder Tara Howard as a way to celebrate hard-working women and have recognised tens of thousands of women in work and business across the country.

Among those representing Dorset is Sarah Milligan of Elite Technologies, who won the Daily Echo Business Mother of the Year title at the 2014 ceremony at Poole’s Lighthouse.

Tara Howard said: “The national final is the jewel in the crown of the Venus Awards calendar. The best of the best come together for a day of appreciation and admiration. “What is different about the nationals is they all arrive as winners already.”

The sold-out final is being held at the Audleys Wood Hand Picked Hotel in Basingstoke.

Dorset’s regional winners are as follows:

  • Daily Echo Business Mother of the Year: Sarah Milligan, Elite Technologies.
  • Stewarts Garden Centre Customer Service Award: Joanna Boughton-White, Dorwest Herbs Ltd. Inspirational Woman Award: Linda Parkinson-Hardman, The Hysterectomy Association.
  • Move On Rentals Lifetime Achievement Award: Joanna Kane, Trailblazers Coaching and Consulting.
  • NatWest New Business Award: Claire Tillotson, Treehouse Family Play Ltd.
  • Bournemouth Town New Media & Online Business: Anna-lee Kewley, Baby Moo’s.
  • Heart Employee of the Year: Lesley Telford, The Grove Hotel.
  •  Gem Freeman Jewellery Home Based Business Award: Jane Adkins, A Head for PR Ltd.
  • Dutton Gregory Small Business Award: Pippa Latimer-Harris, Latimer House.
  • Evenlines Professional of the Year: Maria Kemp, Kemp & Co Property Ltd.
  • Inspire Accountants Entrepreneur of the Year: Rachel Day, LoveKeepCreate Ltd.
  • Breeze Volkswagen Influential Woman of the Year: Pauline Monk, Purple Teardrop Campaign.
  • MX Marketing Green Business Award: Sarah Watson, Rural Works Ltd.
  • Employer of the Year: Olga Clapcott, Tigerlilly Nails.
  • Marketing & PR: Thomas Simone, Mwah Hair