A BALSALL Common woman launched an awards campaign that celebrate the nation’s most inspirational female achievers at the House of Commons.
Tracey McAtamney, the Ladies First director, set the cogs in motion for the sixth Ladies First Professional Development Awards, which highlight success stories and this year will raise funds for The Giles Trust Brain Tumour Fund at its awards ceremony in the summer.
A host of new categories are among the 20 being contested this year, including Sustainable Business Leader, Trailblazer of the Year and Inclusivity Leadership Award.
The gongs also honour, among others, Start-up of the Year, Excellence In Technology and Innovation, Excellence In Health and Wellbeing, Charity/Community Champion, Campaign of the Year, Family Business of the Year, Business Resilience Award and Business Woman of the Year, as well as seeing the return of the popular men’s category, Man of the Year.
Guests at the launch event heard from host and speaker Colleen Fletcher, Coventry’s first female MP for 36 years – and last year’s recipient of The Ladies First Lifetime Achievement Award.
This year’s awards are also supporting The Giles Trust Brain Tumour Fund, funded in 2015 by former England cricketer Ashley Giles and his wife Stine, who was diagnosed with three brain tumours over 12 years.
The charity raises funds for research, pioneering equipment and support for patients.
Stine said: “These Awards are a fitting and fabulous platform to celebrate the achievements of women in our community. We’re so proud to be the chosen charity for the Ladies First Awards 2024 and look forward to working with the organisers and members over the next few months.”
The awards are sponsored by Janine Edwards Wealth Management in Berkswell and Midlands-based recruitment agency Pertemps and headed up by Ladies First’s Tracey McAtamney and her newly-appointed co-director, Karen Massey.
Tracey has been recognised nationally for her work with the networking group as well as her charity The Surviving Bereavement Foundation, which provides practical and emotional support for those coping with loss.
Tracey said: “Every year we look forward to championing women who deserve recognition but who don’t go looking for the spotlight, so we want to shine it on them.
“This year’s awards are going to be the Ladies First’s biggest and brightest celebration of these women yet and we’re incredibly excited to be partnering with such amazing individuals such as Colleen and Stine, who set the tone perfectly at the launch day, along with the incredible setting of The House of Commons.”
Closing date for nominations is March 12.
For further information about how to nominate, click here.
Finalists will be invited to an independent judging day at Mallory Court in Leamington in April 8 before the glittering awards night at IXL Dallas Burston Polo Club in June.
