EVAS takes female entrepreneurship conversation to Westminster

The Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAS) brought the conversation around female entrepreneurship to Westminster after hosting a reception at the House of Lords.

Founded by Blackpool businesswoman Coral Horn, EVAS has grown from a North West initiative into the UK’s largest celebration of women in business, attracting founders, policymakers, investors and industry leaders from across the country.

Sponsored by Baroness Valentine and attended by Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Westminster reception became a platform for discussions around the realities women still face in business.

Keynote speaker and former Dragons’ Den star Theo Paphitis spoke about seizing opportunities, backing yourself and taking action before everything feels “perfect”.

His message was simple: “Make money, have fun… and don’t forget to make money!”

Paphitis has partnered with EVAS through the Theo Paphitis Small Business Sunday Award, with the collaboration built around shared values of entrepreneurship, accessibility and championing small businesses.

Coral Horn, EVAS founder, said: “We are not just creating awards ceremonies or networking events. We are creating access, visibility and opportunities for women who deserve to be in these rooms and shaping these conversations.

“Women are tired of waiting quietly for permission. They are building businesses, creating jobs, driving innovation and challenging systems that were never designed with them in mind.”

She added: “This event didn’t happen by chance. We planned it, pushed for it and believed we belonged in those rooms.

“I left school with one GCSE and interviewed Theo Paphitis in the House of Lords. If that doesn’t show women what’s possible when you keep going, I don’t know what does.”