A NETWORKING group for businesswomen in the Chester area has celebrated its second annual awards.

Members and guests of SisterHub met at Urbano32 in the city on Tuesday, November 26, for the glitzy event.

SisterHub describes itself as “an empowering networking community for self-employed women” that meets regularly to hear from speakers on business topics such as accounting, mindfulness, social media, photography and more.

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This year they also met in Storyhouse to hear from local MP Chris Matheson on the impact of Brexit on business.

The purpose of the group – whose members are known as Big Sisters - is to tackle social isolation and promote peer support amongst women.

Last year’s awards ceremony saw Foregate Garage co-owner Gemma Bennett-Bailey named Sister of the Year.

This year that honour was passed to Hayley Noden, owner of Narrowboat Holiday company, Marine Cruises (below).

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Presenting the award, sponsored by Urbano32, company founder Helen Rutherford-Gregory remarked on the supportive advice and friendship Hayley has provided to other Big Sisters which resulted in them nominating her for the accolade.

The event also saw the honouring of SisterHub’s Little Sister scholarship programme participant Lucy Bradburn.

The 16-year-old singer-songwriter has spent 2019 being supported by SisterHub and even had the chance to open a Chester music festival.

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New Little Sisters were announced such as Sarah Finlay of Milestone Mums, a local group for Post Natal Depression which is launching in Chester early 2020, and Rhiannon Bevan from Good for Nothing Chester, a group which focuses on bringing together skilled people to take on different projects for free.

The new Little Sisters will receive free help and support from the group and its network throughout 2020 to help to life their projects.

Other awards on the night included:

  • Best New Business for Hannah Vallee from The Green Rooms.
  • The Social Media Excellence Award for Sarah Caton from Diddi Drama.
  • Best Business Showcase for Sajel Chavda from Outhwaite and Chavda.
  • The Environmental Champion award went to Debbie Groom at Just Footprints.
  • The Community Champion award went to Holly Nelson also of Good for Nothing Chester.
  • The Best Customer Service award went to Leanne Smith of Leanne Victoria Hair Design.

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A special ‘Guardian Angel’ award was given to Domestic Violence expert Tina Royles who earlier this year chaired the Domestic Violence panel at the Storyhouse Women festival.

When presented with the award Tina was described as a “life saver and a hero to many women”.

SisterHub has an exciting line up of speakers already arranged for the new year and as the group grows membership has become on an application basis via their website www.sisterhub.co.uk

The group is open to business owners and non-business owners who are active in the community.