New names add to judges' task

THE judges had a difficult task when they met to consider the entries for the 2013 Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo Women in Business Awards.

They were impressed with the contenders who came from all sections of business life throughout the county.

The judging panel, who met at Gloucestershire Media headquarters in Cheltenham, included Sarah Pullen, managing director of Gloucestershire Media, Sylvia Bullock, executive director of Gloucestershire College, Rebecca Jeal of Gloucester Quays, Alan Jones of GE Aviation, Angie Petkovic, representing Tayabali Tomlin, Suzanne Hall-Gibbins of Gloucestershire Chamber of Commerce, Kimberley Hatherall of Holiday Inn Express, Cheltenham, Victoria Adams of GE Propellers, Chris Norbury of EDF Energy and Christine Wadley of Coutts & Co.

Sarah Pullen said: "I think we had some excellent judges this year who are really knowledgeable.

"The entries were very good. There are some admirable women in this county who juggle business and family life. We have an enormous amount of talent.

"There are some new names amongst this year's entries as well as some established business women who deserve recognition."

The winners will be announced at the Women in Business Awards evening at Hatherley Manor Hotel on March 21.

For details about the event, visit www.thisisgloucestershire. co.uk/wib

Today we reveal the first batch of finalists – we will publish the rest next week.

Women of the Year (sponsored by Coutts&Co)

Helen Hammond (managing director, Elephant Creative, marketing and PR agency, Northleach)

Julie Moore (managing director, Green Gourmet, Stonehouse)

Debbie Franklin (area manager, Andrews and Partners, estate and lettings management)

Contribution to the Community (sponsored by Gloucester Quays)

Chris Roberts (freelance writer and business facilitator, Fairford)

Anna Wood (solicitor, BPE, Cheltenham and charity fundraiser)

Debbie Moore (Cedars Amethyst Trust, Cheltenham)

Anna Buckland (director, Global Art Inc Ltd, Gloucester)

Female Apprentice Development Award (sponsored by Gloucestershire College)

Mary P's day nursery (Tewkesbury)

Laura Leigh Hairdressing (Cheltenham)

Agnieszka Soroka (head chef, Pepper Crescent, Cheltenham)

Award for Innovation (sponsored by GE Aviation)

Vanilla Moon (Eastcombe)

Tait Technologies (Cheltenham)

Jaz Media (marketing and communications, Cheltenham)

Rising Star of the Year

Sarah Churchill (The Artisan Kitchen, Gloucester)

Laura Milne (Your Final Fitness Formula, Cheltenham)

Lyndsey Burnett (head of marketing and online sales, Dynmark, Cheltenham)

Wendy Thomson (Wendygoesgreen, Stonehouse)

Communicator of the Year

Sali Gray (Pink Car Rally, Gloucester)

Felicity Read (managing director, Leapfrog PR, Cheltenham)

Angela Edwards (Gloucester Rugby)

British Association for Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) (Gloucester)

BOR (Big On Results) (communications agency, Cheltenham)

Women in the Workplace (sponsored by EDF Energy)

WSP Solicitors (Stroud)

Attivo Group Ltd (Cheltenham)

Expectations! Recruitment Services (Gloucester)