News: Be bold for International Women’s Day

Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber's Women In Business group is on the hunt for bosses and employers across the Sheffield city region who deserve recognition for the positive role they play in enabling women to become future leaders.

Celebrating International Women's Day on Wednesday March 8, the group and the Sheffield City Region LEP, is organising an event that will feature the ATHENA International Awards, which recognise value driven leadership and those individuals and organisations who encourage women to achieve their own leadership potential.

The Tankersley Manor event will feature speakers including Dame Julia Cleverdon, vice president of Business in the Community and special adviser to The Prince's Charities, and an ardent campaigner to increase women's successes at work.

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Rotherham's Julie Kenny CBE, chair of The Wentworth Woodhouse Preservation Trust, will also be speaking. Julie is a board member of the LEP, a Commissioner for Rotherham Council and a founder of Pyronix Ltd.

Suzy Brain England OBE and Lisa Pogson, the first female president of Barnsley & Rotherham Chamber of Commerce will also speak.

Local businesswoman and mentor Jill White, recipient of the Athena International Award last year, will see her successor take to the stage during the evening. A third accolade, the Young Person's Leadership Award, will also be presented.

The Athena Awards run in over 500 communities worldwide. Women in Business are the only licence-holder in the whole of the UK and its chair Jacqui Freeborn, said: "We urge everyone who feels their company, their boss, man or a woman or young person they know deserves recognition to enter the awards and everyone who believes in the huge contribution women make to our region’s economy and community to come and join us on March 8.

"The theme of our event is Be Bold. We are encouraging women to take up positions of influence and leadership, whether it's becoming a governor at a school, mentoring a young person or joining a strategic board. You'll make a difference and you'll grow in confidence."

Nominations must be in by January 30.

Women in Business website

Images: BR Chamber

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News: Rotherham retailers up for leadership award

Three women who have been instrumental in the retail revival in Rotherham town centre have been shortlisted for an award that recognises their leadership roles in business, the community and public services.

Thirteen inspirational Rotherham women have been put forward for the Athena Award 2012.

Rotherham is the only place in the UK to be affiliated to the Athena International Programme, the main aim of which is to secure a balance in leadership worldwide by "acknowledging and honouring those quiet leaders, mostly women, whose efforts are adding immensely to the fabric of their communities, while they remain unacknowledged and not visible as leaders."

Kara Chapman of the The Whistlestop Sweetshop and Laura Bullock of the Bittersweet Boutique have both been nominated for the awards.

Joining them is Bernadette Rushton, retail investment manager at Rotherham Borough Council, who has supported Kara and Laura, and many others, in establishing new independent shops in the town centre.

Coun. Roger Stone, Leader of Rotherham Borough Council, said: "Athena is not about saying women leaders are more important than men, or that women should be given an unfair advantage, but it is about creating balance.

"Strong leadership can take many forms, and as well as recognising women who have already achieved in their own right, Athena is a great way of inspiring others who perhaps are lacking in confidence or perceive the opportunities do not currently exist for them.

"The list of honourees demonstrates very clearly that those opportunities do exist in Rotherham, and we must support and encourage our women leaders to make the most of them."

The recipient will be announced this Friday, March 23 and the ceremony will be hosted by the 2011 Athena Recipient, Jackie Freeborn, chief executive of Business and Education South Yorkshire in Templeborough.

Sponsorship for the awards has been provided by the Rotherham Local Strategic Partnership and partner organisations including the Council, NHS Rotherham and the Barnsley and Rotherham Chamber of Commerce.

Commercial sponsors include Willmott Dixon, one of Rotherham Borough Council's housing maintenance partners, and local publishing company, Garnett Dickinson.

Whistlestop Sweetshop Facebook page
Bittersweet Boutique website
Rotherham town centre website

Images:

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News: Rotherham honours businesswoman Sue

Rotherham businesswoman Sue Pearce has been rewarded for her outstanding contribution to the local area by being crowned this year's ATHENA recipient. In her role as Area Premier Manager with HSBC Bank, Sue has helped colleagues reach their full leadership potential, drawing on the experiences of her own career, which has seen her excel in a number of managerial roles during 30 years with HSBC. Rotherham is the only place in the UK to host their own ATHENA awards programme, which celebrates diversity and recognises the talents of all who run businesses in the town, in addition to valuing inspiring women who have achieved their full potential for the good of Rotherham.

Rotherham Chamber article

The Star article

Rotherham

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