Outsourcing firm Mitie took the top honours at last night's Bristol and Bath Women in Business Awards.
Group finance director Suzanne Baxter was named Woman of the Year and the firm also took the Business of the Year title back to its Bristol offices.
The awards were organised by the Bath Chronicle and its sister paper the Bristol Post.
Suzanne, who was unable to attend the event at the Bristol City Centre Marriott due to a prior charity commitment, said in a video message: "I have a passion for equal opportunities and I am lucky that I can influence how people will live their lives and what opportunities they are given."
Her deputy Rosie Everson, 31, head of group finance, collected the awards on her behalf. She said afterwards: "Suzanne has been an inspiration to me in my career as a boss, mentor and friend. The culture our management has created at Mitie is of diversity of opportunity. It's all about talent. It doesn't matter if you are a man or woman, if you have got talent, you will succeed."
The other big winner on the night was Susie Hewson, 61, founder of Natracare, who was given the award for Outstanding Contribution to Business in Bristol and Bath, in recognition of her work over the past 25 years.
Susie founded the Kingswood-based business in 1989, not because she wanted to be an entrepreneur but because she was an environmental campaigner and was angered by harmful by-products from the manufacture of feminine hygiene products. So she set up her own business making an alternative.
"It was a surprise to be given this award and I am obviously honoured because it is great when other people recognise the value of what you do," she said.
"It's like having a good friend or sister say to you 'what you have been doing is the right thing and we want to say that we are proud'. It's brilliant."
She added it good to see the contribution of women to business and the economy being recognised at the awards.
The Female Apprentice Development Award went to Emma Sparks of Bath-based Geometry PR, who has mentored apprentices at the firm after leaving teaching to enter the industry herself.
"I am really delighted to have received this award as helping to develop our apprentices is a key part of my role and one that I find very rewarding," said Emma
"When an apprentice joins Geometry usually they have never worked in an office environment before, so there are lots of areas they need support in.
"Daily tasks like answering the phone can be daunting but with the right encouragement and support they quickly become at ease. It is really satisfying to see how much they progress in the space of a year."
Fashion Bloodhound founder Grazziella Pinto was named Young Entrepreneur of the Year for her online business selling second hand designer fashion for women without the time to do it for themselves.
Grazziella, who is from Bitton and has had a pop-up shop in Milsom Place in Bath, said: "I feel really honoured to have won. I'm very happy."
Your Street, a gift card that can be used in independent shops, won two awards, the Award for Innovation and the New Business of the Year crown.
The business was set up by Anne-Louise Perez, 44, and Imogen McIntosh, 38, when they wanted to be a present for a friends who loved to shop in Gloucester Road, Bristol, and realised there was no such thing as a gift card for those independent retailers.
Anne-Louise said: "We are really excited and quite surprised to have won because there were some other great people in the room being nominated. We're surprised, but happy."
Amy Robinson, 36, collected the Contribution to the Community Award for her organisation, Low Carbon South West, which aims to promote the region as a centre of excellence for its low carbon economy.
She said: "I'm thrilled. It's a real honour especially given that it is the first Bristol and Bath Women in Business Awards.
"It's lovely to be recognised for the work we do in the community and I hope this will encourage other businesses to support their communities too in whatever big or small way they can."
The Women in the Workplace Award, celebrating businesses that are flexible and innovative in how they meet the needs of their workforce went to the HR Dept.
Merlin Housing Society won the Marketing Campaign of the Year prize for a campaign to encourage people from more diverse backgrounds to apply for its apprenticeships.
Jessica Britton and Karen Thatcher, both 33, devised the campaign for the Chipping Sodbury group. Jessica said: "It's amazing. We didn't expect to win, we just wanted to do some work to encourage apprentices into our business, particularly from underrepresented groups in those sectors. We have taken on nine apprentices today, including three women who will be painter and decorators."
The awards were hosted by Bath-based television presenter Charlie Vernon, with Confused.com founder and Ospreys Rugby Club director Debra Williams as guest speaker.
Professor Jane Harrington, head of the Business and Law Faculty at title sponsors UWE told the audience the university was delighted to be supporting the event.
She said: "It's fantastic to see so many talented women in this room."
The results
Outstanding Contribution to Business in Bristol or Bath, sponsored by UWE: Susie Hewson
Woman of the Year, sponsored by PPC: Winner, Suzanne Baxter, group finance director of Mitie, Emersons Green; finalists: Romy Gill, of Romy's Kitchen, Thornbury; Susie Hewson, managing director of Natracare, Kingswood; Michelle Michael, of Weston's Grand Pier; Rachel Demuth, of Demuth's Cookery School, Bath.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year, sponsored by bClear Communications: Winner, Grazziella Pinto, Fashion Bloodhound, Longwell Green; finalists: Rebecca Kench, of PropertECO, Bath; Amy McCormack, ETM Recycling, Ashton Vale
Mentor of the Year, sponsored by Lloyds Banking Group: Winner, Joni Farthing, Women Outside The Box, Bristol; finalists, Debs Eden, of Debs Eden & Associates, Southville; Emma Sparks, Geometry PR, Bath
Business of the Year,sponsored by City of Bristol College: Winner, Mitie, Emersons Green; finalists, 1pm, Bath; Fabulous trading as Pandora, Bath
Contribution to the Community Award, sponsored by Southgate Shopping Centre: Winner, Low Carbon South West CIC, Queen Square, Bristol; finalists, Jenny Foster, of Bristol Fairtrade; Geometry PR, Bath
Women in the Workplace, sponsored by Crest Nicholson: Winner, The HR Dept, Henfield; finalists: 2S Recruitment, Bedminster; Brunelcare, Whitehall
Female Apprentice Development, sponsored by the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership: Winner, Emma Sparks, of Geometry PR, Bath; finalist Jessica Docherty, PES Consulting, Rudgeway, South Gloucestershire
Innovation Award, sponsored by Ashfords: Winner, YourStreet Ltd, Ashley Down; finalists LiteTile Ltd, Rooksbridge; In Touch Studios, Bedminster
New Business of the Year, sponsored by HSBC Commercial Banking: Winner, YourStreet Ltd; finalist Granny's Secret, Chipping Sodbury
Marketing Campaign of the Year, sponsored by The Art Team, Bath: Winner, Merlin Housing Society, Chipping Sodbury; finalists, Hancock Communications, Bath;; Rapport Digital, Brislington
![Mitie in strong showing at Bristol and Bath Women in Business Awards 2014]( "Mitie in strong showing at Bristol and Bath Women in Business Awards 2014")
