Late venue switch couldn’t stop the EVA awards being the best yet
Outstanding food, fabulous entertainment, a late change of venue and a bucket full of awards – the 2017 Enterprise Vision Awards had it all this year.
Normally hosted in the Empress Ballroom at Blackpool Winter Gardens, organiser Coral Horn received the news just two weeks from the big night that her usual venue would in fact be out of use due to a cracked roof.
Coral and her team at Pink Link Ladies, a Blackpool-based networking group, rallied around and switched to the Pavilion in the Winter Gardens, declaring the show must go on.
More than 650 people from across the north west attended, making the 2017 awards the biggest to date. Guests enjoyed a three-course meal courtesy of Campbell & Rowley’s as well as enjoying entertainment by comedian Allyson June Smith whilst the Cheshire Fire & Service Choir opened the awards night.
Sixteen awards were up for grabs in total on the night, all categories being packed with talented businesswomen from across the county.
Entrepreneur Rebecca Jane was on mic duties after being invited back for a second year. ‘After last year’s awards, I didn’t think the EVAs could get any better, but it certainly did,’ she said.
As well as several new winners on the night, some winners were no strangers to the EVA stage but there was an added treat as Patrick McBride, the current Milk Tray Man, escorted the ladies to the stage.
There was first-time joy for Chorley-based Chantel Beech, owner of The Park Hair Room, Jane Cole, from Blackpool Transport and Sheryl Armer of Adcroft Hilton Limited.
NatWest continued to support the event as well as sponsoring the prestigious Outstanding Achievement award which was won by Margo Cornish from Maggie’s Manchester.
Heather Waters, enterprise manager at NatWest, added: ‘The EVAs is a fantastic event celebrating the many successes of female entrepreneurs from across Lancashire and the north west.’
She added that they highlighted ‘the dedication that each woman has for their business and we believe it’s important to celebrate all of these achievements.’
As well as honouring women in business, the EVAs specially selects a charity and this year was no different with The Fire Fighters Charity benefitting from all proceeds raised on the night.
Bumper plans are already being put in place for 2018 with the main aim to return back to the iconic Empress Ball Room at Blackpool Winter Gardens.
