A COVENTRY businesswoman who went from selling pizza in a bikini to running a multi-million pound drilling company has won a regional award.
Julie White, managing director of D-Drill, has been named the Business Woman of the Year 2011 at a ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole.
The 29th annual scheme, which is sponsored by disabled services charity Vitalise, celebrates women’s achievements across the Midlands.
Before buying family-owned firm D-Drill from her father in 2008, Ms White did a range of jobs including being a yacht’s skipper and selling pizza on a beach during a 12-year stint travelling and working across the globe.
She has increased D-Drill’s turnover and, as well as being managing director, has just signed up for the company apprenticeship scheme to see what the firm’s other drilling apprentices go through.
“The competition was so tough and I am just thrilled that the judges chose me and I will use this as an opportunity to further champion the cause of women in business,” she said.
“The industry that I am in is traditionally dominated by men and if I can do what I have done – other women can too.”
Runners-up included Sarah Balfour, founder of Music by Arrangement, Sara Fowler, senior partner of Ernst and Young in Birmingham, and Professor Julia King, vice-chancellor at Aston University.
