Businesswomen across the area have plenty to be proud of – that’s the message after winners were crowned at an inaugural national awards evening.

The Comet: Lynn Vallance from JTM Heating with Best Business Women Awards founder Debbie Gilbert andTara Brady. Picture: Joanna Cross PhotographyLynn Vallance from JTM Heating with Best Business Women Awards founder Debbie Gilbert andTara Brady. Picture: Joanna Cross Photography (Image: © Joanna Cross Photography)

Sarah Kinsella’s Ask Physio and Nosheen Lone of TekOne Technologies from Stevenage both took home top honours at the first Best Business Women Awards, which aims to recognise great women in the community.

Stevenage Old Town-based Ask Physio won the ‘health and wellness’ category and was a finalist for ‘best customer service’, while Tek One Technologies at the Business and Technology Centre in Bessemer Drive was victorious in the ‘best technology or science’ field.

And there was similar success for Stotfold-based JTM Heating, as the family-run firm won the ‘best customer service’ category, while director Lynn Vallance herself was declared the ‘best tradeswoman’.

Afterwards, Ask Physio’s Sarah, who qualified as a physiotherapist in 1996 and spent much of her 17 years in the NHS based at the town’s Lister Hospital, said: “It’s good for businesses to have these awards as it definitely helps you get more work as a result.

The Comet: Nosheen Lone, managing director of Stevenage-based TekOne Technologies.Nosheen Lone, managing director of Stevenage-based TekOne Technologies. (Image: Supplied)

“Winning the best new business award at last year’s Comet-backed Hertfordshire Business Awards was amazing. It’s always nice to be recognised and have something right up-to-date to show for your efforts, although I was absolutely blown away as I didn’t expect to win.

“I liked the idea of these awards as being a family woman with a business, it is difficult. I belong to the Women in Business networking group, which has a really nice community feel and everyone is very supportive.

“There’s some really strong businesswomen in Stevenage who have businesses to be proud of.”

TekOne managing director Nosheen said: “We had been consistently getting five-star ratings from our clients and now this recognition is the icing on the cake. For me it has acted as a great feedback to show that we are on the right path.

The Comet: Gaynor DawsonGaynor Dawson (Image: Archant)

“For us, the journey has just started and I do look forward to setting new standards of customer service in a challenging area of business.”

And JTM Heating had extra cause for celebration, winning the ‘enterprising business’ accolade at the East of England Awards on Tuesday, having been crowned the ‘overall winner’ as the judges’ choice at the FSB Beds Business Awards.

Director Lynn said: “This year we have been thrilled to have won so many awards amid such an impressive array of businesses and individuals.

“The whole team has worked extremely hard to build this business and to be rewarded with so many awards, and for customer service in particular, it is simply testament to the dedication and service levels of our engineers.”

Other winners included Gaynor Dawson, who won the ‘best coach’ category for her Enhance and Inspire business in Hitchin, while Lauren Lovett, who launched the Hitchin branch of the Ladies Who Latte networking group in March, was a finalist in the ‘best networker’ category.