Lara Morgan

Hosted by television presenter Rachel McTavish, ticket holders can tune in from their office or living room to live and pre-recorded speakers, including main speaker Lara Morgan, an entrepreneur who founded her first business, Pacific Direct, at the age of 23 and went on to sell her majority share in the specialist global supplier of luxury high end brands for five-star hotels 17 years later for £20million.

Tickets are on sale now for the virtual awards ceremony on 6 November.

Ms Morgan said: “It is heart-warming to see so many talented women, across the board, succeeding in business - especially in these challenging times. I congratulate each and every one of the finalists on their hard-earned, well deserved success. 

“Many thanks too to Business Women Scotland, which plays a valuable role in bringing these women together and offering them a support umbrella under which they can network and learn from each other.”   

Everyone who buys a ticket for the virtual awards ceremony will receive in advance a gift bag containing a mini bottle of fizz and goodies from top Scottish brands Nudie Snacks, Beauty Kitchen and Edinburgh Gin, as well as an event programme.

Lynne Kennedy MBE, founder of Business Women Scotland, commented: “We were overwhelmed by the amount of entries – and the incredibly high standard. This has been an extremely tough year for everyone in business but this proves that women in business in Scotland want to celebrate their achievements.”

Categories in this year’s awards range from Start-up Business of the Year and Established Business of the Year to Rising Star of the Year and Inspirational Woman of the Year. 

New categories in the 2020 awards to mark the unparalleled economic climate include Business Growth of the Year, Resilient Woman of the Year and Social Impact of the Year.

STV are sponsors of the Business Woman of the Year award and will gift the award winner £20,000 airtime and a launch commercial to help grow their business.