FOUR South Lakeland businesses run by entrepreneurial women have been recognised by a prestigious new annual award ceremony.

The Lakeland Businesswomen’s Network has held its first presentation at the Netherwood Hotel, in Grange-over-Sands, to showcase the female business talent in the county.

May Crawford, who runs Kendal-based Different Strokes Painting and Decorating, with her husband Robert, won the ‘Growth Award’ after increasing the number of employees from nine to 16, and investing in new vehicles despite the recession.

“I’m very pleased that all our hard work has been worth it and it was a lovely evening,” said Mrs Crawford.

Staveley-based Pure Lake Skin Care’s Sandra Blackburn picked up the Creativity and Innovation award. The firm sells its own environmentally-friendly toiletries to the hospitality trade.

“It is great to win the award because we have been working really hard,” said Mrs Black-burn. “I won that award because we have put our own formulations together for natural eco-friendly toiletries.

“We are now supplying B&Bs and hotels all over the UK, we have had a 100 per cent increase in turnover and have expanded into new premises in Staveley Mill Yard.”

Catherine Connor of Annabel Williams Studio won the Inspir-ational Woman accolade for her positive influence on other business women in the county.

“I think it is a great honour,” she said.

Hilary Claxton, of the Beech House B&B, in Kendal, picked up the Lakeland Business-women’s Network Ambassador award.

Mrs Claxton said “I have been involved with the network for five years and I’m passionate about it. It really supports start-up businesses.

“Often businesswomen can feel isolated and I realise that and try to support other women in business.”

Jo Dix, chair of the network, said: “We’ve probably got the largest concentration of succ-essful small businesses run by women in the country.”