Devon Venus Awards 2016 are go!

More than 160 women in business attended this year’s record-breaking Venus Awards launch at Plymouth Science Park this week.

The Awards celebrate the vital contribution that women in business make to the regional and national economy. In Devon this year, nominees and applicants will be competing in up to 14 categories, including two that are voted for by the general public.

A new category has been introduced in Devon this year – Inspirational Woman in Science and Technology (STEMM - Science, technology, engineering, maths and medicine).

The Awards are unique in that anyone can nominate a friend, client or family member.

Alexis Bowater, Regional Partner of this year’s Devon Venus Awards, said of the launch,

“This has been the biggest launch of Venus in Devon and it shows the amazing reach of women in businesses we have here. I am really excited at the prospect of celebrating women in business through these awards this year and particularly thrilled that we are launching the Inspirational Woman in STEMM category.”

The STEMM award will be sponsored by PR Works, the only specialist health and science PR consultancy in the South West which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year.

Sandra Sampson, Director of Exeter based company Sampson Hall, who are sponsoring the Company of the Year category, said of their continuing support of the Venus Awards,

“Our decision to sponsor again this year was most definitely the right one, we attended the 2016 launch event last night that had the highest number of attendees ever since Venus began! This is proof to us that supporting and celebrating the achievements of Women in Business, is the right thing to do.”

“We are thrilled to be sponsoring Company of the Year in 2016 and we look forward to meeting with business owners who are forward thinking in their approach to encouraging women to reach and work in jobs and positions at the highest level in business”

Heart FM is sponsoring the exceptionally popular Business Mother of the Year Award that pays homage to the extraordinary role played by women not only in the workplace but as working mothers.

Charity sponsor for the Devon Venus Awards 2016 is Jeremiah’s Journey whose work in Plymouth and the surrounding area is centred on children and young people and their families who are experiencing grief due to death or terminal illness.

The Venus journey will culminate in a glamorous Ceremony and Gala Dinner at The Great Hall, University of Exeter on Friday 18th November 2016.

Do you know a woman that deserves recognition? Nominate her now at www.venusawards.co.uk/devon

Categories in the Devon Venus Awards 2016 are:

Sampson Hall Company of the Year

Atkins Ferrie Services Ltd Lifetime Achievement Award

Brend Hotels Customer Service Award

Bishop Fleming Director of the Year

Plymouth City Bus Ltd Networker of the Year

University of Exeter Inspirational Woman of the Year

Plymouth Science Park Digital Media and Online Business of the Year

Heart FM Business Mother of the Year

PR Works Inspirational Woman in Science and Technology (STEMM disciplines)