MSSL directors judge regional Business Woman of the Year award

Directors Emily Smith and Sean Smith judged the headline category of a regional awards event celebrating high-achievers in business.

Michael Smith Switchgear is sponsoring Business Woman of the Year in the East Midlands Chamber’s Enterprising Women Awards for 2023.

It was a return for Emily, who won the highly-competitive prize herself in 2022.

The Enterprising Women network has been championing female talent across the East Midlands business community for 26 years.

Its annual awards gala dinner is a key milestone in the Chamber’s events calendar, celebrating the achievements of women across all levels of business.

Enterprising Women 2023

The 2023 dinner will be hosted by ITV presenter Emma Jesson and Enterprising Women co-chairs Eileen Perry MBE DL and Jean Mountain. It takes place at Winstanley House in Leicester on 6 October.

The headline category for the event - Businesswoman of the Year - celebrates a business professional who demonstrates all-round excellence.

Last year’s winner was MSSL operations and finance director Emily Smith.

Emily, who is also MD at our sister company AVW Fabrications, was recognised for her work investing in new machinery, improving efficiency and streamlining processes, all with stakeholders and CSR policies at the forefront of her decision-making.

She said: “It was fantastic to return to Enterprising Women as a judge in the category in which I competed last year.

“We had such a strong field of business leaders, each doing great things in their own industries and each with a clear vision about where they want to take their organisations.”

The 2023 Businesswoman of the Year finalists are:

• Emma Allen (Acute Business Advisory, Derbyshire)
• Dawn Brown (Rose Cottage Doggy Daycare, Derbyshire)
• Jaz Kaur (Fraser Stretton Property Group, Leicestershire)
• Sandy Prime (S&D Roofing, Leicestershire) 
• Becky Valentine and Victoria Green (Spenbeck, Nottinghamshire)

MSSL MD Sean Smith joined Emily in the judging.

He said: “We have very strong links with the East Midlands Chamber and it was excellent to be able to support in recognising the business excellence that we have in our region.”