Three Women Trailblazers from North East Win National Award and £75,000 Grant
Three innovative women from North East receive national recognition and funding for their groundbreaking projects aimed at social impact.
North East, Hexham, Newcastle, Sunderland, UK
Newcastle: Three amazing women from the North East just won big! They received the Innovate UK Women in Innovation Award. Each of them also got a £75,000 grant for their innovative ideas.
Sri Hollema from Hexham, Tallie Bush from Newcastle, and Victoria Smith from Sunderland are the winners. They’ll also get personalized business coaching and access to valuable networking opportunities.
Sri founded Mat Zero, which offers sustainable heating solutions. She created a solar-heated mat to help vulnerable communities stay warm safely. Her mission is to fight energy poverty and save lives.
Tallie started Circadacare, which is changing elderly care. Her device, Heleos, uses special lighting to improve sleep. It also helps caregivers with AI-driven insights, promoting independent living.
Victoria launched Ghostwriter to support independent live event venues. Her platform streamlines processes and boosts efficiency, helping grassroots venues thrive as community hubs.
The Innovate UK Women in Innovation Awards aim to tackle challenges female entrepreneurs face. They help women scale their businesses and make a positive impact on society.
Since 2016, these awards have invested over £11 million in women innovators. They’ve built a strong community of over 10,500 women leaders, promoting diversity and inclusion.
Sri, Tallie, and Victoria were among 50 winners nationwide. Sri expressed her excitement, saying warmth is a basic human right. She feels honored to be recognized alongside other talented women.
The awards received a record 1,452 applications this year, showing the growing demand for support. The government is awarding £3.75 million in funding, with each winner receiving more than in previous years.
Emily Nott from Innovate UK praised the winners for their leadership and creativity. She believes their success will inspire more women to innovate.
Dr. Stella Peace added that the program is a catalyst for change. It aims to create role models and inspire the next generation of women innovators.