2026 Finalists
Congratulations to all finalists. We look forward to celebrating with you on the 6th of March at The Ashford International Hotel
Unfortunately the following categories are not going ahead this year:- Sustainability and Environment Champion Award, PR & Marketing Business of the Year and STEM Businesswoman of the Year
New Business of the Year
Amanda Klopper – Omnipresent Property Limited
Angela Houckham & Janine Martin – Unique Support Early Years Agency Ltd
Charlotte Lindfield – Balloons & Cakes
Clare Readman – Gingerly Green Flower Farm
Danielle Butler – Build the Buzz
Jade Repsch – Fit Mum Squad UK
Kayleigh Wild – Wild Events & Consulting
Lorraine Stapley Shelley Hallen – Staywell Clinic
Sarah Smitherman – Bambinos Childrens Hair Salon
Home Based Business of the Year
Michelle Wren & Karen Whiteside – Icing on The Cake School
Beau Yeung – She Leads Socials UK
Lucy Jessey – Crescent Digital Marketing
Karen Dawkins – Wraithmaille Ltd
Claire Bullen – Claire Bullen – Personal Travel Consultant at Hays Travel
Chantelle Wicks – Halo Nails
Danielle Butler – Build the Buzz
Emma Youell – Emma Youell Design Ltd
Heart of Kent Award
Karen Clifford – Vision communication & Vision Signing Choir
Sam Mishra – The Medical Massage Lady
Abby Barford – Pet Set Party Animals
Emma Kluibenschadl – STAK.life CIC
Ami Southon – Therapy on the farm
Angela Houckham & Janine Martin – Unique Support Early Years Agency Ltd
Sophie Spillett – So-Phi Tuition
Sophie Shepherd – Devoted Homecare Ltd
Louise Smith – Braeside Property Solutions
Women’s Champion of the Year
Karen Brinkman – Thanet Female Founders
Gemma Adams – Legal Lounge HQ
Cherie Bennett – Natural Definitions
Lucy Johnstone – Lucy Johnstone Social
Jade Repsch – Fit Mum Squad UK
Jasmine Chapman – JOsteopathy
Beau Yeung – She Leads Socials UK
Wendy Reynolds – The Happy Guru
Clare Burgess – Kyndi Ltd
Sam Mishra – The Medical Massage Lady
Social Enterprise and Charity Award
Becky Grace, Jodi Eales, Gianna Pollero, Jess Stockwell – Maidstone Literary Festival
Adelle Martin & Fiona Shoults – Stronger Together Through Cancer CIC
Karen clifford – Vision communication & Vision Signing Choir
Emma Kluibenschadl – STAK.life CIC
Education and Training Award
Alexandra Hall – QPQuandary Ltd
Kerry Stubbs – Pet Owners First Aid
Michelle Wren & Karen Whiteside – Icing on The Cake School
Alexandra Duncan – The Teenage Tutor
Helena Sait – The 11+ Supertutor
Dee Mistry-Patel – Academic Achievements Ltd
Karen Clifford – Vision communication & Vision Signing Choir
Laura Ansell – TriSwim Ltd
Sophie Spillett – So-Phi Tuition
Michelle Smith – Liberty Training
Hospitality, Food & Drink Award
Miranda Vernon – Pretty Petal Cake Co
Sally Martin – Bun In The Oven Cakery
Rebecca Ballard – Hive Homes Management Ltd
Jane Bevan – Cherry Bakewell World
Charlotte Silver – Silvers Showbar
Joanne Slaughter – 363 Coffee Lounge & Event Catering
Health, Wellbeing and Beauty Award
Lorraine Stapley Shelley Hallen – Staywell Clinic
Jo Halls & Olivia Boniface – Boniface Hair and Beauty
Hanna Longstaff – Mind Food Body Ltd
Sam Mishra – The Medical Massage Lady
Sandra Tamakloe – Aligned Wellness
Ami Southon – Therapy on the farm
Paula Hatfield – Hub of Happy
Laura Ansell – TriSwim Ltd
Francoise De Smet – Hypocore
Tracy May – Tracy May – Spiritual Tree
Innovation Award
Tawa Dowling – TD Aesthetics Ltd
Becky Grace, Jodi Eales, Gianna Pollero, Jess Stockwell – Maidstone Literary Festival
Hanna Longstaff – Mind Food Body Ltd
Jane Bevan – Cherry Bakewell World
Dee Mistry-Patel – Academic Achievements Ltd
Lorraine Chapman – Lorraine Chapman – Unleash Your Fire
Paula Hatfield – Hub of Happy
Clare Burgess – Kyndi Ltd
Creative Business Award
Esther Johnson – Designed by Esther
Heather Williams – HW Marketing Studio & The Rookie CEO
Nikita-Dean Hart – NDH Productions
Vikkie Richmond – Red and White Media Limited
Emma Youell – Emma Youell Design Ltd
Becky Grace, Jodi Eales, Gianna Pollero, Jess Stockwell – Maidstone Literary Festival
Jo Mason – Kent Academy of Musical Theatre & Kent Perfect Parties and Events
Gina Smith – PhotoGnic Business and Brand Photography
Growth Award
Alex Tyler – Clutter-B-Gone Ltd
Louise Fitzgerald – Sterling & Law – Tunbridge Wells
Eleanore Quadri – Revive Cosmetics
Stephanie Nicolson – Books & Balance Ltd
Claire Grylls & Jan Stanton – Stantons
Jo Mason – Kent Academy of Musical Theatre & Kent Perfect Parties and Events
Jodie Hudson-Garrett – Flex and Flow Chiropractic Kent
Gillian Huntley Elite – Probes & Appearances Aesthetics
Natalie Potter – Nouveau Beauty Clinic
Retail/Ecommerce Business of the Year
Suzanne Johnson – EJ’s Pursuits Ltd
Karen Dawkins – Wraithmaille Ltd
Lisa Jane Wheeler – The Butterfly Creation
Isabella Beeler – Candle Wise
Service Excellence Award
Sophie Drury – Baby Bliss
Cherie Bennett – Natural Definitions
Jasmine Chapman- JOsteopathy
Pip Rothwell – Technology Triumphs
Hanna Longstaff – Mind Food Body Ltd
Miranda Vernon – Pretty Petal Cake Co
Rebecca Ballard – Hive Homes Management Ltd
Joy Potter – Medway Property Matters
Helena Sait – The 11+ Supertutor
Digital Business Award
Michelle Newman – Flow Business Support
Nicola McKenzie – The Dog Advisor Kent
Emma Youell – Emma Youell Design Ltd
Gergana Argirova – London Music Box and The Tunbridge Wells Mummy
Inspiring Leader of the Year
Laura Ansell – TriSwim Ltd
Alex Tyler – Clutter-B-Gone Ltd
Claire Grylls – Stantons
Michelle Newman – Flow Business Support
Clare Stokes – MaB Kent Ltd
Grace Crofton – The Salon Hythe
Kate Monteith Ross – The Clinic by La Ross
Clare Burgess – Kyndi Ltd
Michelle Smith – Liberty Training
Natalie Potter – Nouveau Beauty Clinic
Professional Services Award
Amanda Nicholls – HR solve it
Louise Fitzgerald – Sterling & Law – Tunbridge Wells
Jenni Miller – Inspiring Cultures Ltd
Dayzee Potter – Norse Health & Safety Group Ltd trading as WPS Kent Ltd
Julia Crawford – People Pillar Ltd
Judith Andrews – Business Tamer Limited
Stephanie Nicolson – Books & Balance Ltd
Clare Stokes – MaB Kent Ltd
Joy Potter – Medway Property Matters
Laura Alam – The SEND Consultancy Group
Businesswoman of the Year (under 5 years in current role)
Francoise De Smet – Hypocore
Alex Tyler – Clutter-B-Gone Ltd
Grainne Dunne b – The SideKick Co. & Mums In Business Network LTD
Claire Hill – Claire Hill
Sophie Shepherd – Devoted Homecare Ltd
Stephanie Nicolson – Books & Balance Ltd
Charlotte Howden – OBSIDIAN GYM LTD
Laura Alam – The SEND Consultancy Group
Businesswoman of the Year (over 5 years in current role)
Jasmine Chapman – JOsteopathy
Joanne slaughter – 363 Coffee Lounge & Event Catering
Pip Rothwell – Technology Triumphs
Jodie Hudson-Garrett – Flex and Flow Chiropractic Kent
Eleanore Quadri – Revive Cosmetics
Gillian Huntley – Elite Probes & Appearances Aesthetics
Clare Stokes – MaB Kent Ltd
Michelle Smith – Liberty Training
Entrepreneur of the Year Award
Heather Williams – HW Marketing Studio & The Rookie CEO
Karina O’Donnell – The Wedding Business Mentor
Andi Weaver – Sit-n-Paws Dog Training
Nicola McKenzie – The Dog Advisor Kent
Lorraine chapman – Lorraine Chapman – Unleash Your Fire
Dayzee Potter – Norse Health & Safety Group Ltd trading as WPS Kent Ltd
Kate Monteith Ross – The Clinic by La Ross
Tracy May – Tracy May – Spiritual Tree
Amanda Linehan – Linehan and co
Jo Halls -Boniface Hair and Beauty
Mumpreneur Award
Lisa-Kay Muggridge – Lisa-Kay’s Beauty Box
Tracey Vince – Zerenity Creates
Jodie Hudson-Garrett – Flex and Flow Chiropractic Kent
Lucy Johnstone – Lucy Johnstone Social
Claire Bullen – Claire Bullen – Personal Travel Consultant at Hays Travel
Natalie Potter – Nouveau Beauty Clinic
Rebecca Shannon – Complement Coaching
Gergana Argirova – London Music Box and The Tunbridge Wells Mummy
Claire Hill – Claire Hill
Young Businesswoman of the Year (Under 30)
Shannen Lythgoe – Shannen Lythgoe – Photographer
Esther Johnson – Designed by Esther
Alexandra Duncan – The Teenage Tutor
Olivia Boniface – Boniface Hair and Beauty
Emilee Dexter – Elsie’s Tiny Tot Adventures
Heather Williams – HW Marketing Studio & The Rookie CEO
Molly Stephens – Weddings & Events at Quex Park
Nikita-Dean Hart – NDH Productions
Charlotte Silver – Silvers Showbar