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.
Leeds Playhouse delivers a powerful story about the walls we build.
August Wilson’s Fences is a powerful and deeply personal family drama, exploring race, fatherhood, ambition and the emotional scars that can be passed from one generation to the next.
At Leeds Playhouse, the strength of the production lies largely with its cast. Ray Fearon gives Troy Maxson a commanding presence, balancing humour and charm with a growing sense of anger and resentment. It is an uncomfortable performance at times, but one that keeps you invested in Troy even when his actions become increasingly difficult to accept.
Madeline Appiah brings real warmth and emotional depth to Rose, while Josh Tedeku captures Cory’s frustration as a young man determined to make his own way rather than inherit his father’s limitations.
Image: Supplied
For me, though, Act 2 is where the production really comes alive.
The first half feels comparatively restrained. That isn't necessarily a criticism of the performances or Wilson's writing, but having experienced previous Headlong productions, I went in expecting a little more theatrical imagination from the staging. There were moments where I felt the production could have pushed the material further visually.
Act 2 begins to deliver that.
The rotating set adds movement and energy, while the bright LED lighting works particularly well with the live music, creating a more heightened atmosphere as the family's tensions reach breaking point. The production suddenly feels more visually ambitious, and the design starts to work hand-in-hand with the emotional journey of the characters.
Images: Supplied
The fence itself is an effective recurring image, initially a practical task, but gradually becoming a representation of Troy's need for control, protection and separation. The more the story unfolds, the more the fence feels like a barrier between Troy and the people he loves.
There is a lot to admire here, particularly in the performances, and Wilson's writing remains as relevant and affecting as ever. However, I couldn't help feeling that some of the theatrical ambition found in Act 2 could have been introduced earlier.
Ultimately, Fences is a moving and thought-provoking evening, with a particularly strong second half. For me, it was Act 2 that turned a solid production into a genuinely memorable one.
Running until 23 September at Leeds Playhouse, get your tickets here.
A new açai cafe promising to be Leeds’ ‘neighbourhood social club’ is opening soon
Clementine Hall
An independent açai bowl pop-up is opening a permanent cafe in Leeds city centre.
It seems the açai bowl trend isn't over just yet, and we're absolutely not mad about it.
The aesthetically purple frozen treat isn't just delicious, but is also known to have numerous health benefits making it guilt-free and the perfect post-workout pick me up.
You may remember Açai Social Club that opened as a pop-up in the Victoria Quarter last year, and now they're moving into a permanent spot in the city centre.
Run by a lovely husband and wife duo who have spent the last 15 months exploring cafes around the world, it's safe to say they know exactly what they're talking about.
Their açai is made with the very best ingredients, topped with the freshest fruit and sprinkled with their homemade granola - it doesn't get much better then that does it?
Announcing the very exciting news to Instagram, they said: "Açai Social Club is getting a home. Our very first store is officially on the way! We’ve been working behind the scenes to create a space that’s more about than just açai.
"What started as an idea is finally becoming something you can walk into…There’s still a lot we’re keeping under wraps for now, but we’re so excited to finally share the beginning of what’s to come.
"We can’t wait to open our doors and welcome you in. Your new neighbourhood social club, coming soon."
The exact location of the cafe and its opening date is still under wraps, but we'll of course keep you updated as and when we find out.
Sophie Smith -
22nd January 2024 
