A record 31 businesswomen from Cumbria have been chosen as finalists for some of the biggest awards honouring female entrepreneurs outside London.

They are all hoping to win one of the Enterprise Vision Awards (the EVAS) which have been created in association with women’s business network Pink Link.

The 31 have been chosen from almost 1,000 entrants from across the North West. Interviews will take place in July to decide who will win one of the 16 EVA statues.

The awards will be presented at a black tie event on Friday, September 27 at The Winter Gardens in Blackpool.

Coral Horn, of Pink Link Ladies Networking, who founded the EVAS nine years ago, said: “A record number of nominations were received this year, reinforcing what we have been shouting about for almost a decade – that the North West is a hotbed of highly talented women!”

“The combination of resilience, determination, hard work and a touch of magic has made it particularly difficult for the judges to whittle down the applications to the EVAS2019 finalists. Congratulations, ladies, you are already winners in our eyes!”

An additional award, the Outstanding Achievement Award, will be presented by NatWest to one of this year’s finalists in recognition for her exceptional achievements.

The Cumbrian finalists are:

Small Business

Izzy Arrieta of Dean Taylor Bathrooms in Grange

New Business

Samantha Gargett of Elton Business Support in Penrith

Solo business

Amanda Ryan of Social Elf in Carlisle

Amy Bateman of Amy Bateman Photography in Kendal

Gwen Backhouse of Curlew Secretarial Solutions in Brampton

Rebecca Watson of Rebecca Watson Brand Designer in Aspatria

Financial Business

Sarah Edwards of Mulberry Asset Finance in Kendal

Creative Business

Alison O'Neill of The Shepherdess in Sedbergh

Jackie Harris of Brightspark Marketing in Sedbergh

Philippa Charrier of FAT Properties in Kendal

Victoria Stott of Victoria Stott Design in Windermere

Professional Business

Angela Horn of Thomson Hayton Winkley Estate Agents in Kendal

Lisa Jackson of Acorn Marketing in Penrith

Training and coaching business

Alison Magee-Barker of AJ Lakes in Windermere

Kathryn Jackson of Kathryn Jackson Coaching in Windermere

Nicola MacPhail of Gen-i in Penrith

Hospitality business

Kirsty Mackenzie of Lakeland Inns in Ulverston

Zoe Arnold-Bennett of Shed 1 Distillery in Ulverston

Joyce McGuire of Dome House in Windermere

Customer Services business

Charley Wilkinson of Westmorland Homecare in Kendal

Michelle Wilkin of Lakeland Retreats in Ambleside

Sara Young of CBA Events in Keswick

Jane McLeod of The Rooftop Retreat in Carlisle

Jo Evans of Bespoke Aroma in Windermere

Tanya Tinkler of Salon-Rouge in Penrith

Health and wellbeing business

Julia Clifford of ICan Health and Fitness CIC in Carlisle

Leah Dalby of Lune Valley Physiotherapy in Carnforth

Internet business

Joan Lind of TryBooking in Kendal

Inspirational

Gemma Marshall of Slimmingworldxgemx in Millom

Retail

Amanda Wilson of The Pie Mill in Keswick

Joanna Ireland of The Hen House in Bowness