The Natwest everywoman Artemis Awards Finalists x Mastercard Strive UK

Wednesday, 27 October 2021

This week at everywoman released some exciting news. Our Natwest everywoman Award Finalists!

 

We are thrilled to be hosting this year’s Natwest Awards live and in person after the events of the last 18 months. The pandemic has hit businesses of all sizes hard, and now feels like a better time than ever to be championing women in business, for their ingenuity, their resilience and their expertise.

 

Whilst we are announcing the finalists of all categories, we would like to highlight the Artemis Award, this year supported by Mastercard. On the 23rd of September 2021, Mastercard announced their new Strive UK initiative. An initiative that will empower 650,000 British micro and small enterprises (MSEs) to thrive in the digital economy over the next three years and beyond.

 

Strive UK is an initiative of the Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth, which advances equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world. The programme aims to empower micro and small businesses around the country to succeed in the digital economy through free guidance, helpful tools, and personalised, one-to-one mentoring. For example, this will include a data science powered ‘One Stop Shop’ for entrepreneurs with curated recommendations on support, resources and tools available to help them grow their business, as well as 1:1 support for businesses to identify and adopt the right digital tools for them.

 

Small businesses play a critical role in the UK economy, accounting for around 36% of turnover in the UK private sector and making up 48% of the labour force. Despite this, they have been hit hard by the pandemic, with nearly two thirds of small businesses seeing revenue decrease.[1]

 

Strive UK has been introduced at a pivotal moment in business not just within the UK, but globally, it is an excellent example of businesses supporting one another, lifting each other up, and understanding that in order for one of us to thrive, we all must.

 

The Natwest everywoman Artemis Award is awarded to the most inspirational woman running a business trading for 18 months to 3 years, so it is fitting that Mastercard are sponsoring this category. Welcome Mastercard! Without further ado our Artemis Award finalists are … drum roll please….

 

 

Julie Bishop – IT Naturally

She is the joint CEO of IT Naturally, IT Naturally is a human-centric company that places people, caring and inclusivity at the heart of our world. They are passionate and take accountability for everything they do, and approach work in a playful and good-humoured way. As a result, they nurture, protect, and empower their customers and employees. The company focus on people is borne out by IT Naturally's Investors in People award. The structured approach and dedication to quality and security is supported by their ISO9001, 27001 and Cyber Essentials accreditations.  Previously on the IT leadership teams at British Airways, Etihad Airways and Cathay Pacific Airways. 

 

 

Emma Parkinson – International Energy Products

Emma Beresford nee Parkinson is the Owner & Director of International Energy Products, a specialist stockholder and processor of alloys. She was born and raised around the Rotherham & Barnsley area and is an only child to a single parent mother Alison Millbourn. 

 

She currently lives in Chesterfield with her husband Richard and has two step children, Brooke and Charlie as well as a dog Milo. Emma is very driven and ambitious and enjoys her work. She values honesty and loyalty strongly. In her personal life, Emma enjoys the outdoors, hiking & cycling and also spent a number of years playing Rugby Union.  Emma is striving to set an example to other women considering entering the manufacturing industry and hopes to lead by her own example. 

 

     

 

Anshu Ahuja & Renee Williams – DabbaDrop

DabbaDrop is the brainchild of Anshu Ahuja and Renee Williams, two Hackney neighbourhood friends who bonded over their love of cooking and a desire to make a small difference to the planet and for their children. 

 

Anshu is a Mumbai-born, Hackney-living passionate home cook who in 2014, following a successful career in TV production, was selected as one of the finalists on the food incubator scheme, Kitchenette. The scheme allowed Anshu to launch her pop-up Indian tapas concept, Pao Wow, to critical acclaim at Stevie Parle’s Dock Kitchen.

 

New Zealand native Renee has 12 years’ experience with a background in restaurant operations and design, as well as events production at Soho House, Caprice Holdings and Caravan restaurants. 

  

Anshu and Renee brought together their complementary skills to develop DabbaDrop; a food delivery concept, launching the takeaway curry service in Hackney in November 2018.  In Summer 2021 Marie Claire magazine awarded DabbaDrop winner of the ‘Best Sustainable Food Delivery Initiative’. 

 

Congratulations to our Artemis Awards Finalists!

 

For more information on all Natwest everywoman Awards 2021 Finalists, click here.

 

 

[1] Mastercard, Strive UK Press Release, [published: 23/09/2021], [accessed; 26/10/2021], https://www.mastercard.com/news/europe/en-uk/newsroom/press-releases/en-gb/2021/september/mastercard-launches-strive-uk-to-support-the-nation-s-micro-and-small-businesses/