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.
The foodie-favourite restaurant and bar is now under new management.
The eagle-eyed amongst you may have noticed that Woodside has sadly been closed for a few months.
We certainly have, and ever since December we've had a Woodside Sunday roast-shaped hole in our hearts that's been gasping for one of their glorious Marmite glazed parsnips.
But luckily, it has now been confirmed that Woodside isn't going anywhere as Superfriendz, the team behind Headrow House, Belgrave and many other top Leeds spots will be taking over. Hallelujah.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Woodside opened at the end of 2024 from the owners of The Brunswick and The Melbourne.
Labelling itself as a 'neighbourhood eatery and bar', Woodside quickly became a favourite amongst Leeds foodies and was known for its smoked meats, great cocktails and stellar Sunday roasts (do I need to talk about the parsnips again).
The menu was fresh and innovative, with oysters topped with kiwi granita and an incredibly garish banana split standing out as highlights.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
We hope that the new management continues to maintain Woodside's brilliance, but mainly we're just so glad that it's sticking around.
Superfriendz take care of a whole host of spots in the city, including proper Leeds favourites Headrow House, Belgrave Music Hall and Waterlane Boathouse.
Announcing the news to Instagram, Woodside said: "After a longer-than-expected winter break, Woodside is back and will reopen on Thursday 19th March!
"Your favourite neighbourhood bar and eatery returns with the same warm welcome, but an all new management team.
"We can’t wait to see you so keep your eyes on our socials for news on great food and drinks, big screen sports, quizzes and more.
"We’d also like to thank Sam and the original team for all the hard work that went into setting-up the venue. We hope we can do it justice."
A new female-founded business has opened in Leeds and it’s a trinket-lover’s paradise
Clementine Hall
Lisa Angel has just opened inside the Victoria Gate and it’s an Aladdin’s Cave full of jewellery, prints, gifts and everything in between.
The best part? It’s a female-founded brand that has chosen our wonderful city for their first Yorkshire site. We absolutely don't blame them.
Founded in 2004 by Lisa hand making jewellery which she sold at craft fairs local to her Norfolk home, the business has gone from strength to strength every since.
The brand is now a recognised part of the British high street landscape, boasting seven other stores across Norfolk, Suffolk, and the Midlands.
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Shoppers can expect beautifully handcrafted jewellery, unique trinkets and wonderful staff who are open to have a natter.
It's the perfect shop for when you don't exactly know what to buy that someone special, just pop in here and you'll be hit with a wave of inspiration immediately.
We could've genuinely spent a good hour in there and come out with a much lighter wallet.
Lisa herself spoke about the opening: “As an independent retailer, we are thrilled to launch in a destination with such a reputation as Victoria Leeds.
"We believe retail should remain grounded in inspiration and discovery, and we look forward to bringing just that to the vibrant city of Leeds, in our first store in the north.”
Images: The Hoot Leeds
Managing Director James Moody said: “We're incredibly excited to be opening our first northern showcase store in such a prestigious location.
"Victoria Leeds represents exactly the kind of vibrant retail destination where we can bring the full Lisa Angel experience to new customers. This is a significant milestone for us as we continue to grow our retail presence."
Sophie Smith -
22nd January 2024 
