Voting has opened in a major awards event recognising the work of women in the North West.

Women from across Cumbria have been chosen as finalists in the Enterprise Vision Awards (the EVAS), which have been created in association with women’s business network Pink Link.

They have been chosen from almost 1,000 entrants from across the North West.

People can go online to vote for and help decide who are announced as the winners at an event on Friday, September 27 at The Winter Gardens, in Blackpool.

People can vote

here

.

Heather Waters, of awards sponsor NatWest, said: “The calibre of the EVAS finalists bowled us over.

"They showed dedication, resilience and a touch of magic.

"We would like to congratulate them all – to get to this point in the process is testament to their talent and hard work.”

The Cumbrian finalists include:

Small business: Izzy Arrieta of Dean Taylor Bathrooms, in Grange

New Business: Samantha Gargett, Elton Business Support, Penrith.

Solo Business: Amanda Ryan, of Raindrops Comms in Carlisle; Gwen Backhouse, Curlew Secretarial Solutions, Brampton, near Carlisle; Amy Bateman of Amy Bateman Photography, in Kendal; Rebecca Watson of Rebecca Watson Brand Designer in Aspatria.

Creative Business: Jackie Harris of Brightspark Marketing in Sedbergh; Philippa Charrier of FAT Properties, in Kendal, Victoria Stott of Victoria Stott Design in Windermere.

Professional Business: Lisa Jackson, Acorn Marketing, Penrith; Angela Horn of Thomson Hayton Winkley Estate Agents, in Kendal.

Training and Coaching Business: Nicola MacPhail, of Gen-i, in Penrith; Alison Magee-Barker of AJ Lakes in Windermere; Kathryn Jackson of Kathryn Jackson Coaching, in Workington.

Hospitality business: Kirsty Mackenzie of Lakeland Inns, Ulverston; Zoe Arnold-Bennett of Shed 1 Distillery, in Ulverston, Joyce McGuire of Dome House, in Windermere.

Customer Services Business: Jane McLeod, The Rooftop Retreat, Carlisle; Tanya Tinkler, Salon-Rouge, Penrith; Jo Evans of Bespoke Aroma in Windermere; Charley Wilkinson of Westmorland Homecare, in Kendal, Michelle Wilkin of Lakeland Retreats, in Ambleside, Sara Young of CBA Events, in Keswick.

Health and Wellbeing Business: Julia Clifford, iCan Health and Fitness CIC, Carlisle.

Internet business: Joan Lind of TryBooking, in Kendal.

Inspirational business: Gemma Marshall of Slimmingworldxgemx in Millom.

Retail: Amanda Wilson, The Pie Mill, Keswick; Joanna Ireland of The Hen House, in Bowness.