We are incredibly proud to highlight the results of the West Country Women Awards 2025, as featured in CornishStuff. The sold-out ceremony, held at the Crowne Plaza in Plymouth, celebrated the achievements of women across Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, and Dorset.
With a record-breaking 2,000+ nominations, the event showcased the massive impact women are making in business, STEM, health, and community work. We are also thrilled to share that the evening raised thousands of pounds for The Women’s Centre Cornwall, the awards’ charity of the year.
The 2025 Category Winners
While every finalist represented the very best of the West Country, here are the 21 winners who took home top honors:
| Category | Winner | Region |
| Apprentice of the Year | Honor Lovell (University of Exeter) | Devon |
| Best Supporting Act | Clare Farthing (Inspiring Success) | Somerset |
| Combating VAWG | Rebecca Hewitt (Teignbridge Council) | Devon |
| Community Award | Fiona Mahoney (Reminiscence Learning) | Somerset |
| Director of the Year | Fran Hughes (OPCC) | Devon |
| Diversity and Equality | Deborah O’Nyons (NHS Cornwall & IoS) | Cornwall |
| Employee of the Year | Anna Potgieter (CareyourWay) | Devon |
| Employer of the Year | Rachel Buckley (The Family Law Company) | Devon |
| Green Business | Laura Hudspith (Hiyield) | Cornwall |
| Phoenix Award | Charlie Flounders (Photography) | Devon |
| Small Business | Emma Drummond (EM-MAgination Craft) | Devon |
| Start-up Business | Lisa Haywood (Stutt Associates) | Cornwall |
| Women in Arts & Culture | Eloise Johnson (Mrs Murals) | Devon |
| Digital and Marketing | Lyssa-Fêe Crump (Hiyield) | Cornwall |
| Women in Education | Heather Rybaruk (Click2Connect CIC) | Somerset |
| Health & Wellbeing | Chloë Anne Hammond | Somerset |
| Women in Hospitality | Sophie Alway (Georgia’s Voice/Village Kitchen) | Cornwall |
| Property & Construction | Carrie Anne Martin | Devon |
| Women in Sport | Danielle Wyatt (Torquay United FC) | Devon |
| Women in STEM | Layla Stringer & Claire Strudwick (It Takes a Village) | Devon |
A Heartfelt Thank You
We want to extend a massive thank you to the founders, sponsors, and ambassadors who make this movement possible. To every woman nominated: your stories of courage and innovation are the heartbeat of our region. As founder Alexis Bowater OBE noted, you are all now part of a powerful network that stretches from the Isles of Scilly to North Somerset.
Congratulations to all the winners—your dedication is truly changing lives!
Read the full story on CornishStuff:
West Country Women Awards 2025 Announces This Year’s Winners
