Sponsors recognising female success at Highland Business Women Awards
Highland businesswomen are among those supporting an event to celebrate other women on their own business journeys.
The annual Highland Business Women Awards recognise females excelling in their sectors and making a difference in their community and local economy.
It takes place at the Drumossie Hotel on Thursday August 22 when the winners of nine awards will be announced.
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In addition to the main sponsor, Safekab, Ncnean Distillery - the only Scotch whisky distillery in the country to be founded and run by a woman - will sponsor the drinks.
Clare Campbell, who founded the Prickly Thistle womenswear brand and runs the only tartan weaving mill in the Highlands, is sponsoring event host Nicky Marr.
The entertainment will be sponsored by Lorraine Christie who created LWC Events Ltd to provide opportunities for new and upcoming artists to have a space to perform.
Nc’nean, chief executive Annabel Thomas has built a thriving business in the Highlands in a male-dominated industry and is supported in her venture by a great team of women, and men, who love working for the brand.
The company said: “Her approach to whisky as a woman has been a great advantage and we wanted to sponsor the women in business event, because we wanted to put our products in the hands of women who are on their own business journeys across the Highlands.”
Clare Campbell, of Prickly Thistle, explained why she is supporting and sponsoring the awards.
“We opened our flagship store in the Highland capital having started our mill six years ago and in the last six months we have been overwhelmed by the support of local highland women,” she said.
“We are proud to say we are Highland women making cool as clothes for the women of the Highlands.
“We are disrupting the stereotype that is “tartan”, we hope reminding as many people as possible that this is “our cloth” it was born in the Highlands and we can take it home again and make it relevant to our world.
“Collectively we write the future history of tomorrow.”
Entertainment sponsor Lorraine Christie launched her own company LWC Events Ltd to provide opportunities for new and upcoming artists to have a space to perform.
Having worked at Ross County and in the Coop as regional manager for many years previously, she had done events for a long time and run some weekend events but could only do a couple due to work commitments.
Her dream was to expand what she was doing and ensure creativity.
Many of the artists she manages and promotes are from Ireland and she has also been working with the popular Highland band Scooty and the Skyhooks for its 40th anniversary tour, alongside helping organisations and businesses running events.
Lorraine said: “Woman in the Highlands are playing a prominent role in shaping of the future of business, and although there are challenges women in business face, there are plenty of positives and it is a pleasure to support these awards to celebrate success and enjoy the entertainment provided.”
Applications for this year’s awards will close at midnight on Sunday, June 30. Forms can be found at www.hbw.scot/awards.
