A clinician has entered the finals of one of the biggest business awards for women in the Northwest.

Vanessa Brown, the managing director of the Carlisle clinic VL Aesthetics, is in the running to be named young entrepreneur of the year in the Enterprise Vision Awards (EVAs).

She hopes her nomination will inspire other young women to also become entrepreneurs.

The EVAs celebrate the outstanding successes and achievements of the Northwest’s most talented female entrepreneurs.

They are now one of the largest business awards dedicated solely to women outside London.

The awards recognise women leading the way in their industries or building businesses that are not only judged on turnover but creativity, ethics, passion and commitment.

The EVAS are open to all women in business in the Northwest including business owners, employees, CEOs and homeworkers and young entrepreneurs.

Vanessa said: “I am over the moon to be a finalist in the young entrepreneur of the year category at this year's EVAs.

“I took over our family business at the age of 21 after graduating with a master’s in international business management with Enterprise and have grown it to be the largest award-winning medical aesthetic clinic in Cumbria.

“Over the last five years, we have invested more than £750,000 in industry-leading equipment.

“This award nomination highlights how important it is to have a vision as an entrepreneur and see that vision through from start to finish.

“I have always been involved in business from a very young age, starting my first venture as an eBay-based business at the age of 12.

“So, I am hoping that being nominated for such a prestigious award at just 26 will inspire more younger people to take that step and become an entrepreneur.”

Vanessa will be up against six other finalists in her category, including a Liverpool make-up specialist, a vegan baker from Preston, a female fashion brand in Accrington, a home fragrance company from Blackburn, Northwest laser hair removal clinics, and an independent houseplant and gift shop in Lytham St Annes.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Empress Ballroom in The Winter Gardens, Blackpool, on September 23.


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