Local businesswoman, Gail Hounslea, has been shortlisted for the Northwest Women in Business Awards 2010.

Gail, 51 from Bradshaw, Bolton, launched her online retail company Wardworth Ltd in 1999 in a spare bedroom of her family home, trading as Scalesexpress.com and later Ladderstore.com. Today the company has grown to a business with 11 employees and a turnover in excess of £2,000,000. The company’s main focus is as an access solutions provider working in partnership with suppliers and other relevant bodies such as the HSE, the Ladder Association and Federation of Master Builders to provide safe access for working at height.

On hearing of her nomination, Gail said: “Wardworth is a managed by a mainly female team in a very masculine industry and I am frequently the only woman Managing Director at meetings and events, so my success will hopefully inspire and encourage more female entrepreneurs to enter this marketplace.

“Running a business and continually developing to ensure the company keeps on growing is not always an easy task and I am thrilled to have my hard work recognised.”

The Northwest Women in Business Awards, organised by the Northwest Women’s Enterprise Forum (NWWEF) both celebrate the achievements of the women who are running some of the region’s most successful and innovative businesses and inspire more women to consider enterprise as a career.

There are five award categories open for 2010 including a specialist ‘Creative and Digital Sector' Award. Gail has been shortlisted for the Northwest Business of the Year and Growth Business of the Year awards.

The award ceremony will be held Friday 29th January 2010 at Ribby Hall Village, Wrea Green, Lancashire.