Inspired boss wins entrepreneurial award

Janet Thornton, chief executive of Inspired Energy, has been named as North West Woman of the Year Medium Business at the inaugural Barclays Celebrating Women in Business Awards.

The awards, aimed at senior business women and businesses operating across all sectors and sizes in the North West, attracted over 100 nominations which were shortlisted to 23 finalists from across the region.

Janet's award recognises her achievements for growing a business, a market leading energy advisory service based in Preston, from scratch in a traditionally male dominated sector.

Janet left school at 16 to support her mother and two older siblings, setting up the business from nothing which now turns over £21.5m, and earned 42 per cent growth in 2015.

Other winners on the night included Clare Roberts of Kids Planet Day Nurseries in Lymm, Marnie Millard of Nichols plc inNewton-Le Willows, Victoria Molyneuxof  Want That Trend in Stockport, Karen Jackson of Roberts Jackson in Wilmslow, and Jo McGrathof Enterprise Stuff in Stockport.

Karen Johnston, Barclays head of larger business in the North West, said: “Women from all sectors across the North West are securing key roles in businesses and we wanted to recognise exceptional achievements for the contribution they are making.

"The applications were all exceptionally good and the judges had a tough job drawing up the short list and selecting the finalists. Congratulations for all our finalists today who are role models for business women and have significantly contributed to the North West economy.”

Guests attending the awards lunch heard from guest speakers including Dena Brumpton, CEO Wealth And Investment Management, Barclays; Diana Hunter, CEO, Conviviality Retail; and motivational speaker, professional adventurer and serial entrepreneur, Debra Searle.