By Elina Kobzar
Copyright dailyrecord
The Ayrshire Business Women (ABW) network celebrated success at their annual awards and afternoon tea event. The sold-out event welcomed Ayrshire Business Women members and guests on Wednesday, August 27, at Glasshouse Restaurant at Rowallan Castle, Kilmaurs. The event showcased the very best of Ayrshire’s entrepreneurial energy, uplifting women and their businesses while strengthening the local economy. A standout moment came from keynote speaker Fiona Campbell, founder of The Professional Growth Company and one of the few internationally recognised NLP trainers specialising in business and coaching. Fiona’s session, ‘How Your Thoughts Affect Your Body’, was both “enlightening and empowering”, offering guests practical insights into mindset, wellbeing, and the power of self-awareness in business. With a record number of nominations, the independent judging panel, led by Kirste Johnston, had the challenging task of selecting winners from an outstanding pool of entries. Their commitment to impartiality and professionalism ensured every submission was judged solely on merit, giving members confidence in a process designed to honour authenticity and achievement. The awards were presented by Councillor Claire Leitch, Provost of East Ayrshire, at the presentation ceremony. On the day, Best Customer Service Initiative award and Business Project award were scooped by Carly Diamond, founder and director of Gem of Knowledge, a tutoring and creative education business launched in Ayrshire in January 2025. Scottish Keepsakes owner Carol Smith is honoured to have been awarded ASB’s Best Collaboration Project award, while Morna Ronnie, owner of The People Portfolio, won Most Enterprising Business award. Highly Commended, Most Enterprising Business was awarded to Karen Simpson, founder of Karen Simpson Photography and Wendy White-Finnigan, The Way Forward 2045 owner. The event also spotlighted ABW’s Charity Partner, Crosshouse Children’s Fund, with a heartfelt presentation from William McGowan. Thanks to the generosity of attendees, £610 was raised, supporting the charity’s vital work with children and families across Ayrshire. ABW President Lisa Nairn shared her pride in the event’s success: “This year’s Awards were more than a celebration – they were a statement. A statement that women in Ayrshire are building businesses with heart, purpose, and impact. “We’re proud to uplift one another, and to be shaping a future where women’s contributions are seen, valued, and celebrated. This is our purpose at ABW. All of our award applicants, finalists and winners should be exceptionally proud of the work they are doing, and of what they have achieved. “I’d also like to give special thanks to our event sponsors Business Gateway Ayrshire (Trophy & Certificate sponsor) and Weir’s Home Fragrance (Gifts sponsor) for their contributions and support.” With upcoming events including virtual networking, coffee meetups, and the Association of Scottish Businesswomen Annual Conference and Awards in November, ABW continues to grow as a dynamic force for good, supporting women in business and enriching the Ayrshire economy in the process. Don’t miss the latest Ayrshire headlines – sign up to our free daily newsletter
