Finalists announced for Veuve Clicquot 2023 Bold Woman Award
Marking International Women’s Day, Louise Hill, co-founder of GoHenry, and Victoria Prew, CEO of HURR, are amongst the contenders for the Bold Woman Award and the Bold Future Award 2023
Veuve Clicquot has revealed the final shortlist for its Bold Woman Award and Bold Future Award to mark International Women’s Day on 8 March. Now in its 51st year, the awards showcase the impact of female leadership, innovation and entrepreneurship across the UK.
The Bold Woman Award celebrates exceptional achievements by inspirational women with a strong track record of organisational and personal success. This year, the focus is on female founders taking innovative new approaches to fashion, finance, investment and manufacturing.
Louise Hill, the co-founder of incredible success story GoHenry, is one of the three Bold Woman Award finalists. Hill first co-created the prepaid debit card and financial education app as a way to teach her children about managing cash in an increasingly cashless world. Since its launch in 2012, GoHenry – which helps kids and teens learn about money, with parental oversight – has attracted investment to the tune of $ 136 million and over two million members.
Tessa Clarke, co-founder and CEO of waste-busting app Olio, and Clare Hornby, founder of contemporary British clothing brand ME+EM join Hill on the shortlist.
The Bold Future Award recognises female entrepreneurship and up-and-coming leaders of the future. The three finalists selected by the judges in this category include Victoria Prew, founder and CEO of HURR. Since its launch in 2018, the revolutionary fashion rental service has raised over $4 million in funding and attracted partnerships with industry giants such as Selfridges and fashion brands including Mulberry.
Izzy Obeng, founder and CEO of Foundervine, a non-profit that aims to make entrepreneurship open to all, and Karen Scofield Seal, CEO and co-founder of Oceanium, a start-up producing environmentally friendly seaweed products, join Prew on the shortlist.
To accompany the shortlist, research conducted for the International Veuve Clicquot Barometer on Women in Entrepreneurship, found that the UK currently still has one of the largest entrepreneurship gender gaps with male-founded businesses significantly outnumbering female-founded businesses.
The awards take inspiration from Madame Clicquot, a trailblazer who took over the reins of the Champagne House after her husband’s death and secured its success against all the odds.
Commenting, Jean-Marc Gallot, President of Veuve Clicquot, said: ‘This year we have a phenomenal shortlist of women who truly embody the ideals and pioneering spirit of Madame Clicquot while focusing on innovation and finding ways to do things differently. All of these trailblazing women are leading their businesses to great success and have proven themselves to be outstanding role models for future generations of female business leaders.’
Kristina Blahnik, CEO of Manolo Blahnik, Pip Jamieson, founder of The Dots and Sian Westerman, co-chair at British Fashion Council Trust, are amongst the industry giants and networkers who make up this year’s judging panel.
The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony in London on 31 May 2023.