There’s been a buzz on Isle of Wight social media over the last few months about a new awards programme dedicated to recognising and rewarding business women on the Isle of Wight.
The Isle of Wight Venus Awards
The Venus Awards originated in Dorset in 2009, but has now grown across the South region, also hitting Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Southampton, Portsmouth, Sussex, Devon, and even Oxfordshire and Birmingham.
The categories
During the latter part of 2015 Islanders were asked to nominate women in the nine categories
- Business Mother of the Year (public vote)
- Customer Service Award (public vote)
- Entrepreneur of the Year
- Home Based Business Award
- Influential Woman of the Year (public vote)
- Inspirational Woman Award
- Lifetime Achievement Award
- Networker of the Year Award
- Small Business Award
The shortlist for several of categories were announced back in December and those shortlisted for the categories that go to public vote (on 20th January for seven days) were announced last week.
Details of who has been put through to the semi-final below (as shared by Venus Awards so apologies if there are any spelling mistakes), along with a transparency message from OnTheWight.
Business Mother of the Year chosen by Wightlink Isle of Wight Ferries
Nicola Broadsmith
Rossanne Burfoot
Claire Critchinson
Bethan Christopher
Karen Furnell
Laura Holme
Katie Packer
Eileen Punter
Claire Rees nee Warne
Emma Theunisson
Customer Services Award chosen by Isle of Wight Radio
Rebecca Blachford
Kitty Byrne
Karen Jane Dudley
Melanie Griffith
Tina Hyde
Charlotte King
Debs Murphy Latham
Susan Martin
Michelle Newton
Sue Osmond
Jane Summerfield
Most Influential Woman Award chosen by Isle of Wight County Press
Dee Becker – Marketing consultant
Kathryn Clarke – Founder Kathryn Clarke Foundation
Nikki Collinson – Prolific charity worker (Africa’s Child)
Charlotte Corney – Runs Isle of Wight Zoo
Helen Coombes – Sales manager at IW Pearl
Fiona Gwinnett – Runs Women’s Refuge
Julie Jones-Evans – Councillor
Vix Lowthion – Leader IW Green Party
Lindsay Mattinson – Founder of Young Architect Award
Charmaine Messenger – Runs a home care service
#AgainstTheOdds
For the sake of transparency, I was very flattered to have been nominated in four categories for the Venus Awards. I was then selected to go through to the next stage for the Most Influential Woman Award for my work in founding and running OnTheWight.
With the help of the brilliant Julian Winslow we put together a one minute video (not something that’s natural for me as I’m usually behind the camera) which was then submitted to the sponsor, the County Press, to judge along with 18 others.
The editor of the County Press, Alan Marriott, decided not to put my entry through to the public vote. Hey ho, it was #AgainstTheOdds that he’d do anything but, c’est la vie.
Given Julian gave up his time to film and edit the video, I thought I’d share his work below. He’s a star! Thanks also to lovely Luke Bridgeman for helping out at the last hour by adding some on-screen credits.
https://youtu.be/pRa-waQtUZs
Final in March
Best of luck to all the women who have been shortlisted.
Once the public vote has been completed (it opens on 20th January for seven days) the three women in each of the categories that has the most votes will go through to the final that takes place in March at Cowes Yacht Haven.
It’s been a very long and drawn-out process for those nominated, but the end is in sight.
Below are the videos for those selected in public vote categories:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbW2LHg991GURYz6864ey61cdpIx59z7T
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbW2LHg991GWDKinzzRtVU0JnG1CdqJj7
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbW2LHg991GUJtJiVCJebGQYsnZOByUqp
