There are 12 entrepreneurs from Liverpool city region on the shortlist for the Enterprise Vision Awards, a national event which celebrates female entrepreneurship. Tony McDonough reports

Organisers of the Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs) have revealed there are 12 entrepreneurs from Liverpool city region on this year’s shortlist.

Held annually, the EVAs celebrate female entrepreneurship across the UK and now claim to be the biggest awards of their kind in the country. The event is now in its 13th year.

This year there are a record 161 women on the final shortlist. Winners will be announced at a ceremony on Friday, September 27, at the Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

This year’s finalists span an array of businesses including a national beauty awards, a beauty salon and training academy, a specialist kitchen designer, a dental hygiene studio, a commercial interior designer and a retailer selling made-to-measure blinds.

There are also those who are helping victims of crime, teaching media skills to boost confidence and technical abilities among women from diverse backgrounds. The 12 Merseyside women on the shortlist are:

• Alison McCormack – Alison McCormack Solicitors (One To Watch)
• Caroline Grant – The First Step (Inspirational Woman)
• Girls on the Go (Health & Wellbeing)
• Jody Riley – National Beauty UK (Best Business)
• Jules Fisher – The Dental Hygiene Studio (Health & Wellbeing)
• Kirsten Smith   – Kirsten Smith The Kitchen Designer (Creative Industry)
• Laura Pearson – Storeton Rose Financial Planning (New Business)
• Liz Calder – Biddis Lifestyle Design (Creative Industry)
• Molly Challis – Because of you salon and training academy (Young Entrepreneur)
• Ngunan Adamu – iWoman Media (One To Watch)
• Samantha Engleby – Eckersleys Blinds (Family Business)
• Victoria Jones – Pegasus Health (Professional Services)

Click here to see the full list of finalists

Coral Horn, founder of the EVAs, said, “Every year, we discover women leading innovative and impactful businesses, from home-based ventures to global brands. This year’s entrants took their applications to another level. 

“When you witness numerous new businesses already making an impact and the remarkable rate at which women are scaling up their ventures, it’s clear that the UK is a hotbed of talented female entrepreneurs.

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“After much deliberation, we decided to introduce an exciting new category, the ‘One To Watch,’ to feature the rising stars in the business world.”

One of the evening’s highlights will be the prestigious Outstanding Achievement Award, sponsored by NatWest. All finalists are eligible for this award, which recognises extraordinary contributions and accomplishments in business.