Numill’s Anne Wilson crowned "Business Woman of the Year"
A BOOKKEEPER who went to work for a tool reclamation business and then bought the company has been crowned “Business Woman of the Year” in the 2014 Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards.
Anne Wilson – now managing director of Sheffield-based Numill – received a hand blown glass bowl at the awards ceremony held at the Queens Hotel, in Leeds, last Friday.
The company helps engineering companies reduce costs, maintain functionality and fulfil eco targets through tool reclamation and repair.
Its exports have grown from 19% to 50% and have been crucial to its success during the downturn.
She worked through managerial change and returned to the classroom to gain qualifications in accounting, before gaining a management degree and then post-graduate qualifications.
For her dissertation, she planned the theory of a management buy-out, which she went on to make a reality.
Anne was presented with her award by Debra White, regional director for small businesses at HSBC which was the awards’ headline sponsor.
Debra White said: “The winner is a truly inspirational woman, and embodies what the Forward Ladies Women in Business Awards are all about.
“Anne has taken her business to the next level, which is particularly significant since the company faced exceptionally difficult trading during what was a catastrophic economic period.
“Yet she has more than doubled exports by building new international markets and launching an apprentice scheme to allow the skilled, but ageing workforce, to pass on their invaluable knowledge to the next generation, ensuring the continued survival and sustainability of the company.”
Anne was also the winner of the SME Business Woman of the Year category, sponsored by Sagars, and shortlisted in the international category.
Other category winners in the awards were: Corporate Business Leader of the Year sponsored by Finance Yorkshire and presented by Julian Viggars:
Joanna Robinson is MD of Mansfield Pollard.
The Bradford-based company designs, manufactures and installs energy efficient products and systems.
Joanna has thrived in this male-dominated environment while contributing to increased turnover and ambitious expansion plans.
Home Based Business Woman of the Year sponsored by Amplitude and presented by Vicky Hobson, of Amplitude: Faye Smith, of Keep Your Fork, leads a marketing, PR and training consultancy in Sheffield, specialising in supporting and training charities, social enterprises and small businesses.
Faye is a volunteer and founder of the Sheffield Media Hub, and has been a finalist in the Sheffield Hallam Student Employer of the Year for supporting, employing and training interns, Business Woman finalist in the Yorkshire Woman of the Year and winner of the Yorkshire Trainers Association Innovation in Training and Best Client Testimonial awards.
International Business Woman of the Year sponsored by UKTI and presented by Mark Robson: Sara Davies of Bishop Auckland is the founder at Crafter’s Companion, which she set up while still at university.
She designs, manufactures, distributes and retails hundreds of craft-related products across the globe.
With sales of £8million and 60+ employees, she appears on the Craft TV shopping channel “Create and Craft,” while often making TV appearances around the world.
She also has a base in California and sits on the board of the US chapter of the Craft and Hobby Association, of which she is also the founding head of the board of directors in the UK.
The Not For Profit Award sponsored by East Coast and presented by Heidi Rowan: Alison Lowe is chief executive of Touchstone, a mental health charity in Leeds that employs 96.
She was rated “inspirational” by her team in the Sunday Times survey, and was awarded the Stonewall Yorkshire and Humber Senior Champion of the Year 2014.
Income in the past year is up by £1m, and Alison has spearheaded new ways of working and forging new strategic partnerships.
PA of the Year sponsored by Q Hotels and presented by Kelsey Summerfield:
Hollie Lawson is a PA at Premier Farnell, a FTSE250 company which distributes and maintains electronic products and serves two million customers globally.
She often travels internationally and was involved in project managing communication events relating to the closure of the company’s European contact centre and creation of a new commercial centre in Krakow.
Professional Services Business Woman of the Year sponsored by Forward Ladies and presented by Griselda Togobo: Emilda Eaton is a partner and head of private clients at Wosskow Brown Solicitors, Sheffield.
Born in Malaysia, she moved to the UK to study and qualified as a solicitor.
She has substantial experience working with high net worth individuals to manage their estate and trust administration, tax planning and asset preservation.
She has grown her department to 13 members of staff while also managing trainee contracts, delivering the CSR strategy and supporting the company’s vision and leadership.
Property Business Woman of the Year: Amy Wray of Applegate Properties, Holmfirth, was the winner of the young business woman of the year in last year’s awards.
She bought her first property aged just 20, and when all her friends were going out, she worked a part-time job to help her finances and to pay the mortgage on her investment property.
She later included small commercial lettings and added a sales arm to the business, recently expanding to launch a department for new homes, land and developments. She now employs six staff and recently opened the company’s first high street branch.
Retail Business Woman of the Year sponsored by Asda and presented by Stuart Wiggins: Adele Carnell is the MD of Filmore and Union healthy eating restaurants.
Based in Wetherby, she has seven sites ranging from healthy take-out shops in York and Newcastle stations to full restaurants in York and Wetherby. Her company employs 100 staff and they buy 80% of their produce from local suppliers and make everything themselves from scratch.
The company’s focus is on healthy, clean food, free from chemicals and preservatives, and on products for their customers with dietary intolerances, including making their own 100% gluten-free dishes.
Start up Business Woman of the Year sponsored by Microsoft and presented by Sharon Jandu: Rashmi Dubé is the founder of Leeds and London-based Legatus Law, which specialises in services related to commercial law, tailored for the SME market.
Her expertise is in construction and commercial law, with emphasis on turnaround and restructuring.
She has worked with developers and sub-contractors on projects such as Primark, Sainsbury’s and Manchester Justice Courts. She is also a mediator and business mentor, and is due to publish a book on her experiences and the importance of networking in business.
Science, Technology, Engineering and Manufacturing Business Woman of the Year sponsored by Yorkshire Water and presented by Carolyn Bywater:
Kate Krachai is a director of Quality Context of Sheffield, providing integrated quality management solutions to improve regulatory compliance within the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries.
A development scientist, Kate founded the company in 2009 and in the past 12 months has doubled both turnover and staff.
The team has delivered 300 client projects in 50 countries in five years using innovative business processes, including an electronic quality management system which has automated workflow and increased efficiency.
Young Business Woman of the Year sponsored by O2 and presented by Donna Howden: Jules Quinn is MD of the TeaShed, based in Gateshead.
During work placement in a previous role she was sent to the supermarket to buy tea for the office.
Seeing a huge selection of coffees but a very limited tea selection, the idea for her business was born.
After sourcing different teas, she launched her own tea company in Fenwicks department store, and is now looking to export globally – including taking her tea to Asia.
She has an online presence and is investing in social media to encourage awareness, growth and sales.
