Inspirational achievers from Warwickshire were among those celebrated at the fourth Ladies First Network Business Awards.

More than 300 people assembled at Coombe Abbey on Thursday (March 24) for the glittering awards ceremony, hosted by BBC radio presenter Sandra Godley.

Winners were revealed across 30 categories ranging from Rising Stars, Young Achievers and Excellence Education through to Woman of Achievement,, Woman of Courage, Advocate for Women and Lifetime Achievement.

They were selected from more than 270 nominations across the UK by a panel of 18 judges at a special event in Coventry last month.

Rachel Ollerenshaw of Warwick-based charity Molly Ollys scooped the Going Above & Beyond For Charity Award.

"I was completely shocked to receive this award, but I'm very thankful to Ladies First," she said.

"We don't try to go above and beyond - we just know that we can make a difference by making the dark days brighter."

Dan Smyth is the first to receive the new Man of the Year Award from Natasha Blacklock

The awards marked a return to a live event following the pandemic, while also raising £4,000 for two West Midlands charities, St Basils and Suited For Success through an auction and raffle.

Special guests included The Lord Mayor of Coventry, Councillor John McNicholas & Lady Mayoress Dr June McNicholas; Nurse May Parsons – the nurse who gave the first ever covid injection in Coventry and former member of The Drifters, Roy Hemmings.

Key Note speakers were Louise Oliver, President of The British Association of Women Entrepreneurs and Nicola Smyth, owner of Nicola Smyth Hair Salons and last year's Business Woman of the Year.

Judge and sponsor Amanda Chalmers of Chalmers News PR announces the award for Unique Business

Awards organiser and Ladies First Network Leader, Tracey McAtamney from Balsall Common, said after the event: "I am absolutely buzzing from such an uplifting evening, celebrating the achievements of women, men and talented young ladies from the age of 10, whilst also raising funds for our Charities Suited for Success & St Basils.

"I was delighted in particular to acknowledge the wonderful work of unsung community hero's, Christine Eade and Sarah Laughton from The Pod Café and John Coote & AJ Evans from Coventry Comfort Carers Homeless Outreach Project – these people support those suffering from mental health issues and homelessness on a daily basis."

The winners:

Going Above & Beyond For Charity Award

Rachel Ollerenshaw, Warwick - of Molly Ollys

Excellence In Marketing Award

Vicki Bravington – Shakespeare Media, Stratford-upon-Avon

New Business of the Year

William & Kelsey Seymour – St Maur, Alcester

Kelsey and William Seymour of St Maur receive their award

Man of the Year

Dan Smyth Humphriss – Nicola Smyth Salons, Leamington

Achieves for Charity

Nicola Hepburn - The Centaurus Trust, Wootton Wawen

Achieves for the Community

Christine Eade & Sarah Laughton – The POD Café, Coventry

Family Business Husband and Wife

Kelsey & William Seymour - St Maur, Alcester

Excellence in Education

Suneta Bagri – Teach well, Toolkit, Coventry

Digital Star

Jacqueline Leake – V A Services, Nuneaton

Special Award

John Coote & his partner AJ Evans for their work with Coventry Comfort Carers Homeless Outreach Project.

Achieves in Business (Employee)

Corrine Seaborne – Alsters Kelley, Coventry

Achieves Through Networking

Sharon Louca – Women's Business Networking Limited, Tamworth

Advocate for Women

The Verinos – All Female Band, Leicester

Service Provider of the Year

Geraldine Davies – Senior Care Support, Solihull

Excellence in Health & Wellbeing

Asha Bezron – Inspired to Change, Balsall Common

Woman of Achievement

Suzanne Reid Barreiro de Silva – Unique Venues, Birmingham

STEM Award

Helen Routledge – Totem Learning, Coventry

Inspirational Woman

Fay Goodman – Goodmedia, Birmingham

Business Entrepreneur

Amy Davies – Madame Caci Lounge & Store & Stove, Balsall Common

Young Business Entrepreneur (Under 30)

Lauren Coombes – Pitch and Party Limited, Balsall Common

Businesswoman of The Year (Joint winners)

Olivia Mikhail – Kew Little Pigs, Amersham

Michelle Kirkham – of International Automotive Components Group

Family Business of the Year

Jayne Chambers – Haigs Hotel & McKees Restaurant, Balsall Common

Unique Business

Olivia Mikhail – Kew Little Pigs, Amersham

Successful Career from Home

Lindsay Gillespie – Pawsome Pooches, Balsall Common

Lifetime Achievement Award:

Gillian and Ruth Bridges – J Roberts SPV, Sutton Coldfield

Sandra Godley, Coventry – for lifetime achievement in Music

Venue Award

Coombe Abbey, Coventry

Woman of Courage

Andrea Rainsford – SEO Angel, Tamworth

International Award

Emily Coldwell – Online Toolbox, New Zealand

Inspirational Young Achiever

Twins Stacey & Tracey William, 13, from Coventry

Twins Alice & Hattie Mogan,10, from Coventry

Ananya Prajapati, 11, of Ananya Artistry

Young Achievers

Charlotte Durham – apprenticeship with Pertemps

Lily Wildman, from Kenilworth – Wild Beauty

Sathvika Krishnam, from Coventry – Studying Biology at Oxford University (STEM/Environmental Award)

Ella Freeman – Studying Engineering at Loughborough University (STEM)