An audience of 600 and over 1,000 more online across the globe watched the glitzy 2023 SheInspires Awards held at the Bolton Stadium Hotel.

Almost 50 overseas visitors were present as 48 awards were given to women from across the region, the nation and the world.

The event was hosted for the third time by BBC North-west presenter Anabel Tiffin.

The big winner of the night was Bolton Council’s deputy leader Cllr Linda Thomas, who won both the local Lifetime Achievement Award and the Woman of the Year Award.

It was a family affair for the Robinsons as Bolton nursery owner Julie Robinson won the local Women in Leadership Award and her daughter Grace took the Young Achiever Award.

Inspirational hair and beauty business owner Hayley Darroch kicked off the proceedings by taking the Women in Business Award and Danielle Robinson took the final accolade of the night with the Beacon of Light Award.

Gulnaz Brennan, founder of the Awards now in their ninth year, said: “People told me it was the best SheInspires Awards yet and it was certainly the biggest.

“We had visitors from all over the world who came to Bolton to celebrate achievement by women in all walks of life and many countries.

“The judges had a remarkably difficult job this year and it is a tribute to them that we had such inspirational winners.”

Linda Thomas’s 32 years as a councillor were recognised in the Awards along with her “unwavering and passionate support” for those in need as well as “tackling crucial issues” in housing, education, finance and public health.

Well-known art historian with a lifelong commitment to mentoring emerging talents Alka Pande flew in from New Delhi, India for the event and to take the global Culture Champion Award.

And the youngest winner on the night was Violet Rose in the Under 11s category of the Young Achiever Award for dealing with anxiety and shyness to emerge as a school leader.

The awards are sponsored by Stanmore Insurance Ltd, the University of Bolton, Bolton Council, Bolton at Home, Bolton College, Bolton Sixth Form College, Leisureguard UK, Bolton Wanderers In the Community Club, BackUp North West, Ladderstore, Vertu Motors Bolton and Orlando Village.

Photos courtesy of Cllr Mustafa Desai and Henry Lisowski

SHEINSPIRES AWARD WINNERS 2023:

Business Woman of the Year – Hayley Darroch

Start Up Businesswoman of the Year – Ceri Garrity

Student Start-up Businesswoman of the Year – Integrated Maternity Services

Stepping Stone Cash Award – Stacey Withington

Shero Award – local Helen Clawson, national Devjani Mitra, global Lindsay Walter (USA)

Women in Health and Medicine – Dr Roshelle Ramkisson

Health Team Award – Kildonan House

Hair & Beauty Award – April Horner

Fashion Award – Natacha Diskin

Culture Champion – local Cara MacWilliam, national Jenny Jefferies, global Alka Pande (India)

Volunteer of the Year – Denise Silcock

Fitness and Wellbeing Award – Juanita Margerison

Women in Leadership Award – local Julie Robinson, national Sophie Ward, global Bouchra Boudchiche (Morocco)

Women in STEM Award – local Karrie Liu, national Kirsty Smith, global Joanne Pavia (Portugal)

Young Achiever Award – Grace Robinson, under 11s Violet Rose, global Simone Sharma (India)

Digital Woman of the Year – Kerry Harrison

Agent of Change Award – local Diane Elebert-Morgan, national Manjiri Gokhale Joshi, global Padmini Gupta (UAE)

Networking and Events Award – Sue France

Hospitality Award – Gayle Colman

Rising Star Award – local Sannah Adam, national Riley Sweeney, global Elif Selcuk (Turkey)

Education Team of the Year – Bolton 6th Form Careers Team

Charity Team of the Year – Z’s Defence Academy

Business Team of the Year – Serenity

Lifetime Achievement Award – local Cllr Linda Thomas, national Amina Wakefield, global Beverley Honig (Australia)

Ambassador’s Award – Becci Martin

Girl Up Award (in memory of Gay Wharton) – local Jane Stuart Putnam, national Paula Goss, global Sathya Saran (India)

Person with a Mission – Sandra McManus

Going Above and Beyond – Leisureguard Women’s Team

Woman of Courage Award – Deborah Lawson

Power Her Award – Chloe Ramsden

One to Watch Award – Jenna Martin

Beacon of Light Award – Danielle Robinson