Cornish Gems founder Nadia Macer-Wright among green award finalists

Only three women across the South West made it onto this shortlist. One of them runs a holiday home business in Cornwall, and she believes tourism here has to work for the people who live here too.

Nadia Macer-Wright, founder of independent, B Corp-certified luxury holiday home specialist Cornish Gems, has been named a finalist in the Green Business of the Year category at the 2026 West Country Women Awards.

What the awards recognise

Established in 2022, the awards celebrate the achievements of women across the South West. They recognise leadership, entrepreneurship and contributions to the region’s economy and communities.

The Green Business of the Year category honours women leading businesses that put sustainability at the heart of their operations, showing that commercial success and environmental responsibility can go hand in hand.

“Cornwall is not just where we do business”

Nadia said: “Cornwall is not just where we do business. It’s our home too. Protecting what makes it so special has always been incredibly important to me. Tourism is vital to the county’s economy, and we have a responsibility to ensure it benefits the people who live and work here.

“Being named a finalist is recognition of our team’s hard work, and I’m very grateful for their commitment. I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and want us to keep raising the standard for responsible tourism in Cornwall, through the homes we offer, the businesses we support and the choices we make.”

Inside Cornish Gems

Cornish Gems was founded in 2007 and offers a handpicked collection of self-catering holiday homes across Cornwall. They range from countryside boltholes for two to coastal and riverside properties that sleep up to 20 guests.

Through local partners it also offers curated experiences and concierge-style services, including private dining and wellbeing treatments. Venue hire for weddings, celebrations and corporate retreats is on the list too.

The company achieved B Corp certification in January 2024, recognising its social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. Its environmental work includes an Eco-Conscious collection of holiday homes, with features designed to reduce energy use and waste and support biodiversity.

Charity, the Living Wage and the visitor economy

Cornish Gems champions Cornish suppliers and has raised nearly £27,000 for local charities since 2017. Its current charity partner is the Thousand Year Trust, which works to restore Cornwall’s temperate rainforests.

It is an accredited Living Wage employer and supported the campaign that helped Cornwall achieve Living Wage Place status in 2025. It is also a founding member of the Cornwall Self-Catering Collective, which supports local communities and the long-term wellbeing of Cornwall’s visitor economy.

That approach has already been noticed nationally. At Country & Town House’s 2026 Future Icons Awards, Cornish Gems won the Responsible Travel Experience (within the UK) category.

When the winner will be known

Nadia’s place among the three Green Business of the Year finalists was announced at Powderham Castle in Devon last Wednesday (21 October).

The winners will be revealed at the West Country Women Awards ceremony at the Crowne Plaza, Plymouth, on Friday 27 November.

📷Nadia Macer-Wright, founder of Cornish Gems