NatWest Venus Awards Oxfordshire 2014 in association with North Oxford BMW – Winners
Following thousands of votes, over 1,500 nominations and applications and a frenzy of excitement, the
Oxfordshire Venus business women Awards announced the 2014 winners at the Oxford Belfry on Friday
14thNovember 2014. Hosted by Cerys Nelmes and Tara Howard, Venus Awards Founder, the evening
was a huge success.
Expanding across the country, in regions already such as Dorset,Devon, Southampton, Brighton,
Portsmouth, Oxford and Birmingham, this is the first year the Venus Awards were in Oxfordshire to
recognise and reward the amazing businesswomen of Oxfordshire.
The awards were founded in 2009 by Tara Howard, then Managing Director of Langtry Manor Hotel in
Bournemouth. “The night was magical, the food fabulous,the setting stupendous and the atmosphere
electric. It was so inspiring to see the wealth and diversity of successful Oxfordshire business women.
I felt so honoured to be on stage with the winners of the various categories who were deservedly
recognized for their achievements. We have not had an awards ceremony yet without lots of laughter
and a few tears – this year was no exception.”
Together with the Regional Partner for Oxfordshire, Sarah Airey, a local business women herself and
owner of The buzzworks, a PR and communications consultancy, the Venus Awards were launched in
May 2014. “Oxfordshire is a county with a tremendous future. There are so many opportunities for
businesses to succeed and grow.These awards celebrate the vital part that women play in this success.
All the women finalists – not just those that took home the trophies – and their energy, enthusiasm and
drive to succeed are an inspiration.”
Below are the very worthy winners for Oxfordshire:
Oxford Mail Business Mother of the Year
Jody Fletcher Chilli Promotional Products Limited
Jody is proud to be a busy working Mother, juggling hersuccessful business, with a hands on role as
Mum. Jody set up Chilli Promotional Products in2008 and works with many large (and small!)
businesses throughout the UK.
Henmans Freeth Businessof the Year
Alison Hargreaves Guides for Brides
Alison is the founder and Managing Director of Guides forBrides, an on-line wedding business
dedicated to putting businesses in touchwith brides. She is proud to be part of a female oriented team in
a maledominated industry of on-line publishing.
Thames SecurityManagement Customer Service Award
Michelle Jennion A-Plan Insurance – Witney
Michelle Jennion works hard to make the complicated andconfusing process of buying insurance
enjoyable and easy to understand,providing service and prices that cannot be found anywhere else.
Heart Employee of theYear
Charlotte Cardosi My Beauty Room
Charlotte takes a great deal of pride in doing an excellentjob. It is obvious by her bubbly personality and
friendly smile that shethoroughly enjoys her work. She is a caring, empathetic, positive individualwho is
entirely reliable and committed.
Employer of the Year
Emily Boardman Turpin & Miller LLP
“Emily Boardman is a Solicitor and one of the Partnersat Turpin & Miller LLP. She is the head of the
Family Department. She works in both the Oxford and Reading offices.
She studied law at The University of London (SOAS) andobtained her professional qualifications from
The College of Law (London). Shetrained in London and worked at Horwood & James in
Buckinghamshire beforejoining Turpin & Miller LLP in 2006.”
Entrepreneur of theYear
Steph Croft-Simon Nom Foods Limited
Steph is a 26 year old who started an organic foods businessafter developing severe allergies at
university and realising that there werefew tasty free-and nutrition from foods on the market. She is hard
working andtenacious.
North Oxford BMW GreenBusiness Award
Susanne Austin Oxfordshire Green Construction Showcaseand Oxfordshire Green
Construction Network
A True Earth Mother – Susanne believes in a more harmoniousrelationship between all inhabitants of
this beautiful planet. She encouragesand inspires us to respect each other, Mother Earth, and be aware
of our use ofour precious natural resources.
Home Based BusinessAward
Jayne Johnson Better People LTD
My company provides recruitment services to companieslooking to source permanent staff for
management, sales and office roles.Having experience of recruiting for teams, coaching candidates and
clients onrecruitment policies and applicant attraction it seemed a natural step tobecome a Talent
Dynamics Flow Consultant in August 2012.
Influential Woman of the Year
Cathy Dunbabin Opendoorz Ltd
Cathy is a motor sport fan – especially F1, adores heels andOTT jewellery. Mum to 2 fabulous
daughters, an eternal optimist and partial toa night at the casino! Great atuncovering synergies,
connecting people and creating a professional network.
Jennings Inspirational Woman Award
Nancy Hunt The Nasio Trust – Abingdon
Kenyan born, founder director, a charity which has grownfrom humble beginnings now provides
education, food, healthcare to over 370 HIVorphaned and disadvantaged children in Kenya and works
with disadvantage UKyoung people to transform their lives.
Lifetime AchievementAward
Catherine Blaxhall Action for Carers (Oxfordshire)
Catherine is incredibly proud of the work she carries outfor Carers Oxfordshire and Age UK
Oxfordshire in helping to support the manythousands of vulnerable people who are caring for a family
member, neighbour orfriend.
MX Marketing Networkerof the Year
Placi Espejo Bicester Vision
Placi has a passion for helping businesses, particularlyinnovative Oxon start ups, loves being part of the
Bicester Vision team and is extremely honoured of being a Director of Oxfordshire Business First and a
mentor for OxfordEntrepreneurs.
Inca Caring Accounting New Business Award
LinWorthy Worthy Conclusions
Lin is an experienced and professional PA, very adept at providingan extra pair of hands a exactly when
and where you need them. The people around Lin describe her as extremelypersonable, utterly reliable
and wonderfully helpful.
New Media &Online Business Award
ChristineMcRitchie Earthwise Trading
Christine is the owner of Earthwise Trading – a businessshe’s been running for the last 10 years that
encompasses 3 cloth nappy retailwebsites, an eco-menstrual retail website and cloth nappy brand
Wonderoos.
Checkaprofessional.comProfessional of the Year
Sarah Morris HR2YOU
Sarah Morris is the Director of HR2YOU and hassinglehandedly grown the brand since 2009. Sarah has
an enthusiasm for peopleand business which is testament to its success and continued growth.
NatWest SmallBusiness Award
Sue Caulfield Metro Rod (Oxon and West Bucks)
Susan is very proud of her achievements, after lifesavingsurgery in 2009 she has
thrived on running and growing her business. Increasing turnover year on year
andconstantly striving to improve the service Metro Rod (Oxon and West Bucks)provide.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Amber-Lauren Ballantyne-Styles AMBER-LAUREN FINE ART
Amber is a 19 year old Commercial Artist, who’s BrandAmber-Lauren Fine Art is proudly back by The Prince’s Trust.
Tara Howard (front-centred) with all winners
