The inaugural Yorkshire Businesswoman Awards is just a few weeks away.
The first of what hopes to be an annual event is officially underway. Founded by regional magazine Yorkshire Businesswoman, the awards recognise the talents and achievements of inspiring women across the wider Yorkshire area.
And now you can find out exactly who is in the running for each award.
There's 11 awards in total that celebrate women from all four corners of Yorkshire, at varying stages of their career. From the rising stars to lifetime achievement, the Yorkshire Businesswoman Awards plan to showcase the very best of mentors, managers and founders in a ceremony right here in Leeds.
Image: Yorkshire Businesswoman via Instagram / Roth Read Photography
The purple-themed, black-tie event is set to take place at the Leeds Marriott Hotel on International Women's Day, Friday 8 March 2024.
The finalist for each award are as follows...
Equity and Diversity Award
Yasmin De Nardo, Head of Connected Technology Academy at KPMG
Alia Nessa, Sales Leader, Operations Manager of Getaway Girls
Zoe Hayden Jones, Director of Jobs For Women
Networker of the Year
Zoe Hands, Sales Leader at Leeds Marriott Hotel
Sam Hartley, Founder of SAM Networking
Natalie Sarabia-Johnston, Director and Founder of Southgate & Sarabia Architects
Digital Award
Georgia Halson, Group CEO of Halston Marketing
Annie Moss-Quate and Rose Montague, Founders of She Does Digital
Zoe Thompson, Founder of Build It Brilliant
Rising Star Award
Lisa Shepherd and Saskia Roskam, Co-Founders and Directors of The Biskery
Colette Safhill, Managing Director of Myth Drinks Ltd
Alexa Wilkinson, Founder of Social By Alexa
Mentor Award
Julie Bickerdyke, Managing Director of MoonStone FD
Deborah Ogden, Founder of Deborah Ogden Limited
Naimah Kazi, Specialist Orthoptist at Leeds Teaching Hospital NHS Trust
New Business Award
Drapers England Ltd
Blossom Training and Development
The Eye Retreat
Inspirational Volunteer Award
Tracy Foster, Founder of Burns Club
Louise Reed, Founder and CEO of Focus 4 Hope
Samantha Tootsie, Photographer and Social Entrepreneur at Simon On The Streets (Volunteer)
Social Media Award
Freda Shafi, Creative Industries Consultant at Freda Shafi
Erin Rush, Content Creator at Yorkshire Tots to Teens
Rebecca Hopwood, Marketing Director at Youbee Media
Mandy Taylor Award
Lisa Darwin, Founder at FB Fashion Ball
Emma Gibson, Co-Founder of Missing Pieces
Sharon Brigden, MD at SLBPR
Lifetime Achievement Award
Sarah Loftus, Managing Director at Make It York
Melinda Schofield, Regional Director at Bauer Media
Dianne Watson, Principal Partner at St James' Place Wealth Management
Women Of The Year Award
Rachel Varley, Co Founder of Thrive In Mind
Hannah Strawbridge, CEO and Founder of Han Law Co.
Fiona Rocket Taylor, Porfolio Financial Director at Rockett-Taylor Consulancy
Poonam Kaur CEO of FDS Director Services Limited
Kate Ball, Founder and Managing Director at Mini First Aid
How to attend the Yorkshire Businesswoman Awards
Tickets are still available via the Yorkshire Businesswoman website and cost £75 each.
Singer-songwriter Myles Smith has just announced his biggest headline tour and is set to play a huge arena gig in Leeds this year.
Quit ‘Stargazing’ and get ready to fight for tickets as Myles Smith has just announced he’ll be visiting Leeds later this year for his biggest arena gig to date.
Known for hits like ‘Nice To Meet You’, ‘Stay (If You Wanna Dance)’ and ‘Wait For You’, this BRIT School graduate is now heading on the road for some headline shows across the UK.
Recognised for his folk-pop sound, Smith has built quite a name for himself just three or so years into his career, with solo efforts and a few collaborations under his belt.
Myles Smith is heading to First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds, on tour this year / Credit: Press shots (supplied)
Recently, the Luton-born artist collaborated with some well-known names like Shaboozey on their track ‘Blink Twice’ and even features on a new single from former One Direction member Niall Horan titled ‘Drive Safe’.
It was only last year that the ‘Stargazing’ songwriter visited Leeds, bringing his high-energy hits to O2 Academy back in February.
Now, Smith is ready to tackle an arena crowd and has chosen Leeds First Direct Bank Arena and is expected to raise the roof when 13,500 fans flock to the star’s show this winter.
Titled after his upcoming album My Mess, My Life, My Heart, Smith will be playing a variety of well-known and brand new hits when he makes his way up North.
Fans who are signed up to the official artist presale can get exclusive access to tickets from Wednesday, 25 March at 10am, with the window closing on Friday, 27 March at 9am.
Meanwhile, general admission tickets go live by 10 am that same Friday (27 Mar).
Myles Smith is embarking on his ‘My Mess, My Life, My Heart’ tour this winter and visiting First Direct Bank Arena, Leeds on Sunday 8 November – tickets and more info HERE.
Leeds city centre crowned one of the best places to live in the north by The Sunday Times
Clementine Hall
Today, Leeds city centre earned itself a coveted spot in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.
What brilliant news to end the week on, hey?
Leeds city centre was amongst eight other locations across the north and the north east to be featured on the list.
The market town of Skipton took home the dazzling first prize, but it's still nice to be included isn't it.
Here's what the judges had to say about Leeds city centre: “Leeds has five universities, the fourth largest urban economy in the UK (with job opportunities in finance, insurance and big business), a youthful vibe and a relatively affordable average house price (£285,100).
Image: Unsplash
“Stay close to the centre, where you won’t have to worry about the patchy public transport, and it all adds up to a fun-filled, fulfilled life within walking distance of stylish shops, cafés, bars and restaurants. There’s a good choice of riverside homes, where you may spot kingfishers and otters, and even the schools are good.”
In total, 72 places across the UK were selected by The Sunday Times to showcase the very best of Britain, with Norwich named the overall national winner.
The full list of locations in the north and northeast include:
Skipton
Howardian Hills, North Yorkshire
Leeds city centre
Morpeth, Northumberland
Newcastle: Gosforth
Saltburn-by-the-Sea, North Yorkshire
Slaithwaite, West Yorkshire
York
Helen Davies, editorial projects director and Best Places to Live editor, said: “This guide is a great opportunity to highlight the best places in Britain.
“It is full of places that show that our village, town and city centres can still be full of life, as well as places bursting with natural beauty, culture, connectivity and most importantly a sense of community.
“Our expert team of judges visit every location on the list and talk to the locals to find out what they love about the place they live."
Sophie Smith -
22nd January 2024 
