Nottingham Evening Post Women in Business Awards

Yes another award, but I promise it is the last one

The Nottingham Evening Post hosted the Women in Business Awards Thursday  22 November at the Nottinghamshire Golf Course, Cotgrave. The Awards, sponsored by Nottingham Trent University were attended by women who have made their mark on the Nottinghamshire business scene. The nominees represented micro start ups right up to 10m turnover companies, they also came with sometimes tragic life stories. It was a truly moving and memorable night.

I was surprised to be nominated at all, I'm just a sole trader and most of my time is taken up with looking after the family and voluntary work with Notts Nosh, a Groundwork Greater Nottingham initiative. So not exactly a thrusting executive! I didn't know what category I had been entered for until the morning before the event. I was put up for the Community Champion Award. After a lovely dinner, the nominees were called - each one an inspiration. I then discovered I'd been given the award and stumbled up from the table - I'd had a glass of wine which is my limit - to collect it.

My lovely friend Shona Munro, who is the project coordinator for Notts Nosh - and chanteuse par excellence - was my plus one for the evening. She was as moved as I by the women at the event.

Thank you Evening Post for organising the awards. Mike Sassi, editor gave a warm and heartfelt speech about the power of women to bring about economic and social change. I applaud the Post and all the companies that sponsored individual awards.

GabiH2O on Nickelodeon UK - Be Smarter About Water

Nottingham Ecohome and permaculture garden scoops national SWIG award!

Our ecohome and garden scooped another top national award in London 20 November. We were amongst the UK's leaders in water sustainability at a breakfast meeting, Greencoat Place. The nominees for all awards are at the top of their game, leading the fight to get WATER - our most precious resource, the respect needed to protect it for future generations. Amongst special mentions, an achievement award for our old friend, Cath Hassall, who is the Queen of Water!

More news on awards front

Nottingham Ecohome scoops more awards

Tonight was a very special night for me and Gil. We went along as guests to the Notts Wildlife Trusts Green Guardians environmental awards. The ceremony was held in the Albert Hall, Nottingham and the guests were treated to a lovely 4 course meal and wine. Our table included trustees - including the chair, sponsors and ourselves. Our table really shared the excitement with us, it was a lovely evening.

This year, the Trust celebrated 50 years of protecting and enhancing biodiversity in the county and 13 years of awards. Since the awards began in 2000, £70,000 has been given in prizes to award winners. The head judge of the awards panel, is David Bellamy, President of the Wildlife Trust. A range of sponsors give generously every year to support the event.

We knew we were short-listed for an award, but were amazed to find we had been short-listed in 3 out of 7 categories! 

We were named as Environmental Business Green Guardians 2013 and received a stunning bronze statue of a hare, which we look after for a year. We also received a business support package worth £1,000. The category was sponsored by Nottingham University - particularly poignant as Gil went there.

We were runners up in two other categories Protecting the Environment Through Innovation and Coping with Climate Change. 

Next week.... we are up for a national award 20 November. The Sustainable Water Industry Group host the SWIG (!) Awards and we are short-listed for an award.

In the space of a year we have received 8 awards, just fantastic to know that our lunacy has at last been taken seriously. It is not exactly an over-night success story, the house and garden retrofit has taken 14 years so far  and we still have much more to do. We are still experimenting, still learning, it is after all a living laboratory and we are very lucky to live and play here. We have met thousands of interesting people as a result of opening our doors - we highly recommend it!