LoveLove Films are delighted to reveal that our Managing Director Georgina Hurcombe has been named a finalist for the national 2017 NatWest everywoman Awards in the Athena Award category, sponsored by Dell – this Award will go to the most inspirational woman running a business which has been trading from 6 to 9 years.

Twenty-one extraordinary women are revealed today as this year’s finalists in the 15th annual NatWest everywoman Awards, the UK’s most prestigious initiative recognising the achievements of female entrepreneurs.

The NatWest everywoman Awards will once again celebrate the success of Britain’s top female entrepreneurs at all stages of their journey – from young businesses to those who have established multi-million pound organisations.

Selected by a judging panel of 18 of the country’s most successful businesswomen including Chrissie Rucker MBE, Cath Kidston MBE, Rosaleen Blair CBE and Poonam Gupta OBE, this year’s finalists were chosen for the drive, ambition and tenacity they demonstrate in the face of adversity.

The announcement comes as research by NatWest Business shows female entrepreneurs have contributed 77,000 new jobs and over £3.5 billion to the UK economy, via 100,000 new businesses over a 12 month period.

This nomination comes off the back of a great year for LoveLove Films and Georgina. In 2017, Georgina has also won ‘Business Owner of the Year’ at the Women in Business Awards and ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ at the Venus Awards; she was also named one of Insider’s 42 Under 42 of the South West’s finest entrepreneurs under the age of 42, and she was also featured in The Guardian as part of their ‘Letter to my younger self’ series. LoveLove Films have also been named finalists for the ‘Young Chamber’ award at the Dorset Business Awards for our work with young people, as well as being shortlisted for three Rock Star Awards. Other awards we have won this year include a Davey Award for our animated musical film Coastwise, and an Ekotopfilm/Envirofilm award for animated film We Save Land.

LoveLove Films are also currently in development of their own animated children’s series named Bottle Island, which is a fun and fast paced edutainment series that subtly teaches young children to care for their planet by reinforcing themes such as conservation, preservation and the issues surrounding plastic pollution. The series follows a group of quirky friends as they work together to try and save the island from the rubbish that washes up on the shore. Through their eco-adventures, the characters discover the wonders and perils of the world around them.

On being nominated for the award, Georgina Hurcombe said: “I’m honoured to be a finalist in the everywoman awards, encouraging more women into entrepreneurship. It’s great to be recognised for doing something that I am so passionate about!”

#15Years of #FemaleEntrepreneurs redefining #British business – meet the 2017 @NatWestBusiness #ewAwards finalists https://t.co/1sbsxGbol3 pic.twitter.com/iUj5f0WNGD

— everywoman (@everywomanUK) November 6, 2017

Speaking about the finalists, Maxine Benson MBE, Co-founder at everywoman comments: “When we created these awards 15 years ago to champion women in enterprise, little did we know the stories we would uncover and the phenomenal women we would meet. Over the years we have been delighted to learn of the impact these awards have had on previous winners. We believe women from all backgrounds should have a platform to share their success stories and highlight what can be achieved even when faced with life’s biggest challenges. This year’s finalists are a true testament to the breadth of female talent in this country and we wish them all continued success.”

Julie Baker, Head of Enterprise at NatWest, said: “We are very proud to recognise these women, who are not just successful in their own businesses, but are also great role models. The importance of women in business cannot be underestimated, so we hope these role models will inspire other women to take their first steps in business. To help these entrepreneurs and would-be business owners, NatWest has a network of over 450 externally accredited Women in Business specialists who understand our customers’ ambitions and provide business advice, mentoring and networking opportunities.”

Ingrid Devin, Director at Dell Women’s Entrepreneur Network, adds: “Technology is key to success when starting and building a business. Start-ups that use technology effectively create twice as many jobs, are more productive and are more profitable. Technology helps remove social and physical barriers for women starting businesses and helps connect them to the resources they need through every phase of growth. At Dell, we are focused on identifying these barriers and supporting women entrepreneurs through access to capital, technology, networks and knowledge – areas where we feel we can make the biggest difference.”

Winners will be announced at a ceremony held on 6 December 2017 at The Dorchester, London, attended by Government, media and hundreds of leading business figures. In recognition of the awards’ anniversary year, 15 ambassadors will share their inspirational stories of the impact that the awards have had on their business success. These include Julie Deane OBE, founder, The Cambridge Satchel Company, Pip Murray, founder, Pip & Nut, and Ayesha Vardag, President, VARDAGS London.

To find out more about the everywoman awards, visit: www.everywoman.com