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.
One of Leeds' longest-running pub will be closing.
The Cross Keys in Holbeck is a lovely little boozer.
And it's got a fair bit of history too. Dating back to the early 1800s, the pub has stood on Water Lane for more than two centuries, with its story closely tied to Holbeck's industrial past.
Back when the area was one of Leeds' major manufacturing hubs, the Cross Keys was a local drinking spot for workers from the surrounding foundries and engineering works.
The pub itself fell into disrepair and was abandoned in 1980s, before being brought back to life during a major restoration in the 2000s.
But now, The Cross Keys is closing once again.
Images: The Cross Keys
Announcing the sad news to Instagram, the pub said: "It's with a heavy heart that we share the Cross Key's will be closing its doors on the 3rd of October.
"The whole team thank you for your support during our time in business."
In classic Leeds fashion, the comments were flooded with support from fans of the pub alongside fellow local businesses.
One comment reads: "Absolutely gutted about this. I held my fiance (now husband’s) 30th at The Cross Keys and it was excellent and the team were so helpful and hospitable. So sad to hear this."
Whilst another said: "Gutted, the home of some great memories and significant pints in my life."
So, if you've had a significant pint in The Cross Keys and wish to bid it a proper farewell, you've got until Saturday 3 October to do so.
Brand-new ‘party pub’ to take over the old Revolution site on Call Lane after £600,000 investment
Clementine Hall
We hope you're ready to party Leeds, because a 'party pub' experience is coming to Call Lane.
Following a whopping £600,000 investment, Bonnie Rogues is preparing to open in the former Revolution site in Leeds city centre that will close this month.
After a major refurbishment, Leeds’ first Bonnie Rogues venue and the sixth site for the fast- growing UK brand will open in November 2026.
Designed as an all-day-to-night social destination, Bonnie Rogues combines live music, live sport, and late-night celebrations in one immersive venue.
From big nights out to spontaneous after-work drinks and even Sunday Roasts, Bonnie Rogues aims to offer something completely different from the traditional pub experience.
Expect live performances, crowd-involved entertainment and interactive moments in an atmosphere that flows seamlessly from day to night.
Russell Quelch, CEO of NEOS Hospitality, said, “Leeds has such a strong social scene and a real appetite for experience-led venues, so we think Bonnie Rogues will fit perfectly into the city.
"It’s a concept that brings together everything people love about going out - live music, sport, food, entertainment and great atmosphere, all in one place. We’re excited to bring something new to Leeds and can’t wait to welcome guests later this year.”
The Leeds opening forms part of a wider rollout of Bonnie Rogues venues across the UK, as NEOS Hospitality continues to expand its portfolio following its acquisition of multiple Revolution and Revolución de Cuba sites earlier this year.
We'll keep you updated with opening dates as and when we know more.
Sophie Smith -
22nd January 2024 
