West Country Women Awards 2025 Announces This Year’s Winners

The West Country Women Awards has celebrated another landmark year, unveiling 21 category winners at a sold out ceremony on 28th November 2025 at the Crowne Plaza in Plymouth. More than 2,000 nominations were received, marking a new record as women from across Devon, Cornwall, Somerset, Dorset and the Isles of Scilly were recognised for their impact in business, charity, STEM, the arts, community work, health, hospitality, sport and digital innovation.

Thousands of pounds were raised on the night for the charity of the year, The Womens’ Centre Cornwall.

A Night Honouring Leadership, Resilience and Innovation

This year’s winners were chosen through a judging process carried out by category sponsors using the awards scoring matrix.

Founder Alexis Bowater OBE praised the winners and nominees, saying:
“Every one of our finalists and winners represents the very best of the West Country: women who uplift others, challenge inequality, transform their industries and change lives. Their stories demonstrate courage, innovation, compassion and leadership in action. It has been an honour to celebrate them.

“The West Country Women Awards are here to elevate and celebrate women all across the region, providing them with a platform for change and joining a community that stretches from north of Taunton to the Isles of Scilly.

“Our winners shine brightly in their field and every single one of our nominees, more than 2,000 of them this year alone, are now part of our network, from the moment that email first lands in their inbox and I hope they all remember to wear the words of their nomination every single day.

“It’s the commitment, vision and dedication of our sponsors and Ambassadors that make this such a special movement and I can’t thank them enough for their support and inspiration.”

The evening welcomed civic leaders, sponsors, community champions and former winners, including the Lord Lieutenant of Devon, the High Sheriff of Devon and the Lord Mayor of Plymouth.

The 2025 Winners

• Apprentice of the Year, sponsored by PRO Apprenticeships: Honor Lovell, University of Exeter (Devon)
• Best Supporting Act, sponsored by Genius PR & Events: Clare Farthing, Inspiring Success (Somerset)
• Combating Violence Against Women and Girls, sponsored by the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon and Cornwall: Rebecca Hewitt, South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership and Teignbridge District Council (Devon)
• Community Award: Fiona Mahoney, Reminiscence Learning (Somerset)
• Director of the Year, sponsored by Business Fest South West: Fran Hughes, CEO of The Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly (Devon)
• Diversity and Equality Award, sponsored by The Plymouth Charter and partners: Deborah O’Nyons, NHS Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly ICB (Cornwall)
• Employee of the Year, sponsored by Womble Bond Dickinson: Anna Potgieter, CareyourWay Franchising (Devon)
• Employer of the Year, sponsored by Simpkins Edwards: Rachel Buckley, The Family Law Company (Devon)
• Green Business of the Year, sponsored by Cavanna Homes: Laura Hudspith, Hiyield (Cornwall)
• Phoenix Award, sponsored by Ladies Investing Club: Charlie Flounders, Charlie Flounders Photography (Devon)
• Small Business of the Year, sponsored by Vivobarefoot: Emma Drummond, EM-MAgination Craft (Devon)
• Start up Business of the Year, sponsored by The Franchise Consultant: Lisa Haywood, Stutt Associates (Cornwall)
• Women in Arts, Media and Culture Award: Eloise Johnson, Mrs Murals (Devon)
• Women in Digital and Marketing Award: Lyssa-Fêe Crump, Hiyield (Cornwall)
• Women in Education, sponsored by South Devon College: Heather Rybaruk, Click2Connect CIC (Somerset)
• Women in Health, Social Care and Wellbeing Award: Chloë Anne Hammond (Somerset)
• Women in Hospitality Award: Sophie Alway, Georgia’s Voice CIC – The Village Kitchen (Cornwall)
• Women in Property and Construction, sponsored by Ian Williams: Carrie Anne Martin (Devon)
• Women in Sport Award: Danielle Wyatt, Torquay United FC (Devon)
• Women in STEM, sponsored by Babcock International: Layla Stringer and Claire Strudwick, It Takes a Village CIC (Devon)

Sponsors and Supporters

This year’s awards were supported by headline sponsor Michael Spiers, headline production sponsor PL1 Events, and platinum sponsor Plymouth Citybus.

Thanks were also extended to all category sponsors, event series sponsors, awards night sponsors, supplier sponsors, venue sponsors and Ambassadors. Ambassadors included Trish Caller, Claire Barnes Northcott, Clare Palmer, Ewelina Romanowska, Jo Lines, Rebecca Loto, Sarah Sabater, Sophie Alway, Selaine Saxby, Cherilyn Mackrory, Dr Joanitha Ntangeki and Anita Brightley Hodges.

For a full list of winners please click here: https://westcountrywomen.co.uk/awards/year4/winners-2025/