SIX Dorset businesswomen have been named winners of the first nationwide Venus Awards held in the New Forest.

Around 120 people attended the ceremony at the Rhinefield House Hotel, hosted by the founder of the Venus Awards, Tara Howard, and Celia Delaney, of SpeakingSuccess.

Tara, with the help of other local businesswomen, launched the Venus Awards to recognise businesswomen across the UK.

Established in many regions such as Dorset, Southampton, Devon, Brighton and soon Bristol, Portsmouth and Cardiff, Tara says she is committed to taking the Venus Awards to more regions across the country.

She said: “The moment you walked into the room you could feel a buzz of anticipation.

“Each winner was announced and produced with their certificates and awards after they enjoyed a sumptuous three-course meal. The day was a resounding success.”

The six Dorset winners were:

  • Young Entrepreneur of the Year: Jemma Cooper – HI Therapies. Jemma started her own business two years ago at the age of 23. She has a great deal of enthusiasm and passion to deliver excellent standards of work. She has also won 2013 Dorset Rock Stars Entrepreneurial Star of the Future and 2013 Princes Trust Enterprise Award, South West. Jemma has a natural business acumen combined with a passion to always succeed.
     
  • PA of the Year: Lisa McKenzie – Autism Wessex. Professional and motivated, Lisa is the main first point of contact for anyone contacting the charity and is welcoming to all. As PA to both the chief executive and the charity’s facilities and procurement manager, Lisa is helpful, practical, loyal and knowledgeable and treats everyone with dignity and respect.
     
  • Home Based Business: Samantha Acton – Domestic Angels. Domestic Angels is not only run from home, the Angels also work close to their homes and have work schedules to support their roles as mums and carers. Domestic Angels has its heart in one concept, namely people. The angels are strongly people-focused, enjoying the relationships they build with clients. A growing local business, for local people.
     
  • High Achiever: Michelle Tatner – Dutton Gregory. Michelle is a highly driven and self-motivated person with strong leadership skills and always has an eye for the bigger picture. Fun to be with, with a positive ‘can do’ attitude, Michelle is not your typical accountant. She is always looking for the next opportunity and is a firm believer that anything can be achieved with hard work and self belief. Michelle will go where angels fear to tread and never accepts no for an answer!
     
  • Employee of the Year: Ebony Butler – Beales Gourmet. Ebony started at Beales Gourmet in 2009 as a waitress and, through dedication and hard work, has worked her way up to assistant events manager. She is passionate about making everyone she comes into contact with happy, especially customers, and will always go that extra mile to make this happen. In the four years she has been there, she has exceeded all expectations of her and continues to do so.
     
  • Outstanding Achiever: Tricia Walker. Tricia Walker is an acclaimed author whose novel Benedict’s Brother was selected as a Book of the Year and is being turned into a movie with some of the UK’s leading industry figures and Tricia as an executive producer.