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.
A popular restaurant chain has closed permanently in Leeds city centre.
Popular pizzeria Franco Manca has closed its Leeds restaurant.
The chain was famed for its relaxed atmosphere, quick service and affordable sourdough Neapolitan pizzas that were on offer for as little as a fiver.
The chain occupied the site on the outskirts of Trinity Shopping Centre on Trinity Street, next door to Itsu and overlooking the back entrance of Marks and Spencer.
Hoardings have now gone up, signifying the site is now empty and Franco Manca has permanently closed.
Image: The Hoot Leeds
This can also be seen on Google when searching for the restaurant branch.
It was announced earlier this year that a number of Franco Manca's restaurants would be closing across the country.
This was down to a reconstructing plan approved by creditors for the chain. The brand said it had been knocked by “disproportionately high” UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief for hospitality.
Marcel Khan, chief executive of parent firm Fulham Shore, said at the time: “We are grateful for the support shown by our creditors today.
“Franco Manca is a fantastic brand with a strong heritage and loyal customer base. With this agreement in place, we will put the business back on a firm footing and press ahead with strengthening our customer offer and performance.”
The Leeds brand was not included in the initial list of restaurant closing, but it seems further closures were made.
Miami-inspired Leeds bodega to open second site in Horsforth following huge success of first
Clementine Hall
A sandwich shop in Leeds is expanding to the suburbs.
Famed for it’s toasted Cuban sandwiches, stacked subs and loaded breakfast bagels - Alfonsos Deli has made a name for itself for serving some of the best sandwiches around the city.
Such a good reputation in fact, that they’ve just announced a second location over in the leafy suburb of Horsforth. Get in.
Currently, you'll find Alfonso's in the Grand Arcade where their light-filled and airy space is slinging out sandwiches non-stop until sell-out.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
It's not just sandwiches, though. They're also serving up fantastic Cuban coffee, beer and even Cuban cigars.
Basically, it's everything you'd expect to find in a deli in Miami.
The team shared the news of the expansion on social media, confirming that a brand-new Horsforth site is on the way.
While an official opening date is yet to be revealed, the announcement has already sparked plenty of excitement among loyal customers, many of whom have been calling for a second location since the deli first opened.
Alfonso's has built a devoted following in Leeds, with its signature Cubano sandwich becoming a firm favourite, while its breakfast bagels draw queues of hungover punters through the doors.
The move to Horsforth marks the next chapter for the independent business, bringing its popular menu to a whole new neighbourhood. And they're in fantastic company too, in a suburb that is flourishing with independent local businesses.
If the success of the Grand Arcade site is anything to go by, the new deli is likely to be just as busy from day one. More details, including an opening date and the full menu, are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.
Good luck to the team, we can't wait to check it out.
Sophie Smith -
22nd January 2024 
