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Two of the North East’s top female entrepreneurs have won national acclaim at the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards.

The event - held in London with a crowd of 1,200 business leaders, entrepreneurs and politicians - saw Sara Davies, from County Durham’s Crafter’s Companion winning an outstanding contribution prize, while Jordan McCabe, founder of fellow Durham firm Aztec Diamond Equestrian, won the new entrepreneur of the year award.

Ms Davies, who was awarded an MBE for services to business in 2016, founded Crafter’s Companion while still a student, with the company winning the small business prize at National Business Awards in 2010. This year she became the youngest ever judge on BBC business programme Dragons’ Den.

She said she was “feeling rather chuffed” to have won the award.

Sarah Austin, event director of the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards, said: “We know that these awards set a powerful benchmark for excellence and entrepreneurship across the country and it’s clear that Sara has used the momentum behind winning our SME award back in 2010 to rocket her journey of success.

“It is only right that nine years on she graces our stage once more in recognition of her continued drive, passion for excellence and inspirational leadership that has seen her boost trade and skills across the country. I could not think of anyone more deserving of this honour.”

Meanwhile, Jordan McCabe won the new entrepreneur of the year award for her work with equestrian fashion brand Aztec Diamond Equestrian.

 

Judges praised her for building a “globally respected, highly desirable brand of female equestrian clothing” and said she embodied “the heart and soul of a true entrepreneur”.