NatWest EveryWoman Every Woman Awards Business Women ceremony winners Dorchester London Nat West Award womens
Posted on | November 26, 2009 | Comments Off
I am so pleased to be the winner of the Iris Award from the NatWest EveryWoman Awards. One of the best business awards in the UK is the NatWest EveryWoman Award ceremony.

The Every Woman Awards are given in December every year and feature the best businesses in the UK run by women. The Nat West Everywoman awards celebrate inspirational business women who have achieved significant success. The every woman awards sponsored by Nat West feature women who have overcome adversity, perhaps skills gaps, social disadvantages or financial constraints. The range of everywoman award categories celebrate womens’ success at all stages of the career ladder and in every walk of business life.
CLICK HERE TO SEE NATWEST EVERYWOMAN PAGE ON LINGsCARS
Ling Valentine (36) from Gateshead supports the EveryWoman Awards and is a shining example of how using the internet and new technologies in an innovative way to excel in business. Her company, LINGsCARS.com operates exclusively online, leasing and selling thousands of new cars every year at affordable rates across the UK. Operating in a notoriously turbulent sector competing against massive dealer groups and manufacturers who try to restrict her access to new cars, her company has grown year on year since Ling founded it in 2001, with more than 100,000 unique monthly users to the website, and an average of £3.5 million worth of cars and vans leased monthly.
In order to add value and compete in a traditionally male dominated sector, Chinese immigrant Ling uses a number of creative marketing campaigns and efficient and original methods to communicate with existing and future customers. Her company answers online enquiries in under 10 minutes, and has been chosen as one of the top 7 car websites in the UK by Car Magazine. Ling has also been personally recognised by US internet marketing guru, Seth Godin as a website using internet marketing best practice. Famously turning down a funding offer on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den programme, Ling also has the accolade of being made into a character in the British comic magazine, Viz.
She has built up an enviable reputation in the new car industry due to always delivering on price, product and exceptional customer service and security, plus her ability to keep costs low due to the simple business model of operating exclusively online. Ling is seen as a pioneer in the field, taking an innovative approach by responding to her customers’ demands, rather than following the traditional sales model in the car industry. She says she still faces “massive road blocks” from many funders, finance houses, car industry organisations and car suppliers, who seem slow to accept that a female immigrant can run a successful new car business.
In addition to running LINGsCARS.com, Ling offers a mentoring scheme to A-level students to help develop their computer programming skills and is passionate about campaigning for environmental change in the automotive industry.
The Everywoman Awards include:
The Artemis Award
Artemis is Goddess of the Hunt and Protector of Youth. This award is given to the most inspirational woman running a business who is aged 25 or under.
The Demeter Award
Demeter is Goddess of the Harvest. The Demeter Award will go to the most inspirational woman running a business who is aged between 26 and 35.
The Athena Award
Athena is the Goddess of Wisdom. This award is given to the most inspirational woman running a business who is aged between 36 and 49.
The Hera Award
Hera is the Queen of Goddesses and her wisdom and ability to inspire provide the basis for this award. This award is given to the most inspirational woman running a business who is aged 50 or over.

The NatWest everywoman Award
The NatWest everywoman Award recognises the most passionate and dedicated woman business owner who the judges feel has overcome significant challenges to achieve outstanding business success. The award winner will be selected from the finalists of the four categories listed above.
The everywoman Iris Award sponsored by BT Business.
Iris is messenger of the gods and the personal messenger of Hera, Queen of the Gods. This award will go to the woman whose business growth and success has been greatly improved, through successful implementation and use of IT & communications. The award winner will be selected from the nominees of the four categories.
The Spirit of everywoman Award
Honouring one woman who has changed the landscape for women in business, The ‘Spirit of everywoman’ Award recognises the significant contribution of a woman whose determination, commitment and dedication has changed the landscape for women in business in the UK.
The everywoman Ambassador Award
The everywoman Ambassador Award is awarded to a successful woman whose achievements and high profile are inspiring more young women to excel. Our research shows that 90% of young women agree that high profile women are playing a positive role in encouraging more women to achieve success.
The 2009 Natwest everywoman Awards will culminate in an Awards ceremony and luncheon. Date: Wednesday, 2 December 2009, Location: The Dorchester, Park Lane, London, Dress Code: Business Attire.
NatWest
NatWest has been a proud sponsor of the everywoman Awards since their inception seven years ago. These Awards play an invaluable role in recognising the remarkable achievements of women throughout the UK, who prove that with passion, drive and determination, it is possible to juggle demanding personal lives and highly successful business careers.
Government Equalities Office
GEO is a small policy Department employing just over 100 staff (excluding our legal advisers based in HM Treasury Solicitor’s Department), led by Harriet Harman QC MP (Lord Privy Seal and Minister for Women and Equality). Harriet Harman is supported by Maria Eagle MP (Minister of State at the GEO and Ministry of Justice) and Michael Foster MP (Parliamentary Secretary for Equality at the GEO). Vera Baird QC MP (Solicitor-General) leads on the Equality Bill. Baroness Royall is the Lead Minister for the Equality Bill in the House of Lords.
GEO has responsibility within Government for equality strategy and legislation and take the lead on issues relating to women, sexual orientation and transgender equality matters.
Business Link
Business Link, the government-funded business advice and support service, is delighted to be a Supporting Partner of the 2009 NatWest everywoman Awards.
Business Link actively targets groups which are underrepresented in the business community. A recent study of Business Link customers found that 25% are businesses majority managed by women. However by partnering with everywoman we are able to reach far more women and hope to help build on the fantastic work that everywoman are doing.





















