The Wigan Business Awards community has even more reason to celebrate, as several familiar faces connected through the awards have been named as finalists in this year’s Enterprise Vision Awards.
The Enterprise Vision Awards, also known as the EVAs, celebrate women in business from across the UK. They recognise achievement, resilience, leadership and impact across a wide range of sectors.
To see women from the Wigan Business Awards community recognised on a national stage is a proud moment.
Not only for those shortlisted, but for the wider business community that continues to support, champion and celebrate one another.
Familiar Faces Recognised Nationally
Among this year’s finalists is Janine Rees from Vanliners, who has been shortlisted for Business Woman of the Year.
Vanliners is the Platinum Sponsor of the Wigan Business Awards and has become a huge part of the awards community, having won both the Family Business and Engineering & Manufacturing categories in 2025.
Sue Johnson from Intersect Cyber and IT has also been shortlisted in the Best Business category.
Sue has become a valued part of the Launch NW and Wigan Business Awards community since being named a WBA finalist in 2025.
Since then, she has sponsored the Winners Networking event, spoken at Wigan Expo 2026 and recently sponsored the Welcome Drinks for this year’s awards.
Launch NW, organisers of the Wigan Business Awards, has also been named as a finalist in the Family Business category.
A Proud Moment for the Wigan Business Awards Community
Jo Leigh, Creative Director of Launch North West and organiser of the Wigan Business Awards, said:
“To see people connected through the Wigan Business Awards recognised at the EVAs is honestly brilliant.
“Janine and Sue are both strong, driven women who are building brilliant businesses and contributing so much to the wider business community.
“This is exactly why the Wigan Business Awards matter. They are not just about one night. They are about relationships, visibility, confidence and creating opportunities for good people to keep stepping forward.”
The Ripple Effect of the Awards
Since returning in 2024, the Wigan Business Awards has continued to grow as a year-round campaign that celebrates businesses across the borough.
The awards bring together finalists, winners, sponsors, judges and supporters from a wide range of sectors, creating opportunities for businesses to connect, collaborate and raise their profile.
For Nichola and Jo, seeing members of that community go on to receive recognition beyond Wigan is something worth celebrating.
Nichola added:
“When people enter, sponsor or support the Wigan Business Awards, they become part of something bigger than the event itself.
“We have always wanted the awards to create a ripple effect. We want people to build relationships, grow in confidence, access new opportunities and feel proud to put themselves forward.
“To now see women from the awards community being recognised nationally is something we are incredibly proud of.”
Celebrating Women in Business
The recognition also highlights the strength of women in business across Wigan and the wider North West.
Janine, Sue, Nic, and Nic & Jo work in very different sectors, with different stories behind them, but all continue to show what can happen when women back themselves, build strong businesses and take their place in bigger conversations.
Nichola said:
“It is important because people notice these things. Our daughters notice. Our teams notice. Other women in business notice.
“When women put themselves forward and get recognised for the work they are doing, it shows other people that they can do the same.”
Everyone at Wigan Business Awards would like to congratulate Janine, Sue, Launch North West and all the other EVA finalists.
We will be cheering you on all the way.
See you in the Empress Ballroom!
