Bolton Women in Business Awards goes ahead of the first time

The awards evening was held at the Albert Halls with more than 180 people attending and hosted by Jimmy Mac and football legend John McGinlay.

The first such awards evening was organised by Anita McKay who has run the Bolton Health and Wellbeing Awards for three years, but saw a gap in the market to celebrate the success of local business women.

There were category winners and standalone winners, with 33 women receiving awards.

The included Bolton's own Maura Jackson, CEO of Back-Up North West, who won the Bolton Hospice  Super John Award 2023.

Guests enjoyed a meal provided by town centre cafe Odessa.

John McGinlay and Anita McKay (Image: Submission)

Anita said: “The event could not have done any better, what a fantastic way to celebrate the success of our town’s women in business.

“The event will definitely be back next year, the feedback since the event has been so positive.”

Among those to be honoured were Sophie Hutton who won the category of Outstanding Women in Health Care.

She is a speech and language therapist who runs The Nest which includes a nursery for people with additional support needs as well as a specialist language therapy centre which works with schools in Bolton.

The majority of the children in the nursery are non-verbal and some have other physical disablities.

This year the Nest will take on two new speech and language therapists as it works to continue to serve children in Bolton.

The 32-year-old from Heaton said: "It was amazing, I did not expect to win in the category I was in.

"I feel immensely proud of myself, it was nice to be recognised for all the hard work I have put in."

Also picking up an award was Ashley White.

She was listed as self-employed businesswoman of the year for her work with Signature Dog Grooming in Tonge Moore.

She set up the business in the middle of the Covid pandemic after working in the industry for seven years.

The 34-year-old from Little Lever used the opportunity to send a message to people from backgrounds like hers, in foster care from the age of 12, that it was possible to be a success.