PETER Cooper Motor Group, associate sponsor of the new super-size Hampshire Venus Awards 2017 welcomed more than 120 people at their Hedge End showroom in Southampton for the announcement of the semi-finalists.

The successful semi-finalists will be invited to the finalists announcement on September 15.

In the first ever Hampshire Venus Awards that spans Southampton, Portsmouth, Winchester, the Isle of Wight and Basingstoke, nominations and applications have exceeded all expectations with more than 1,100 nominations and over 400 applications received.

The Venus Awards – dubbed by Channel 4 as “The Working Women’s Oscars” – celebrate the vital contribution that women in business make and are unique in that anyone can nominate a friend, client or family member.

In Hampshire nominees and applicants will be competing in up to 15 categories.

The Southern Daily Echo is sponsoring the ever-popular public vote category of Business Mother of the Year.

Charity sponsor for the inaugural Hampshire Venus Awards is Countess Mountbatten Hospice.

The Semi-Finalists are:

Business Mother of the year:

Claudia Beard - Mint Signs and Graphics Limited

Danielle Rolfe - Penton Park

Freya Rees - Freya Rose Ltd

Jennifer Hudson - Hudson Blake Training

Katie Harris - Ginger Catering Company Ltd

Lisa D’Arcy-Burt - SMT Precision Engineering Limited

Lisa Mann - Southampton Solent University

Samantha Cleal - Croma Locksmiths & Security Solutions Ltd

Verity Evans - Southampton pamper parties and the pink room

Customer Service:

Danielle Rolfe - Penton Park

Gillian Tully - Film Expo Space

Laura Kenward - Office Asset

Louise Pack - Bizpedia

Melissa Hewison - Elite School of Swimming

Natasha Maphosa - NTC HAIR Ltd

Nisha Haq - Nisha Haq Photographer

Samantha Cleal - Croma Locksmiths & Security Solutions Ltd

Employer of the Year:

Freya Rees - Freya Rose Ltd

Lisa D’Arcy-Burt - SMT Precision Engineering Limited

Lynzi Harrison - Old Mutual Wealth

Nick Bulfin - Rooster Marketing

Victoria Coles - Wight FIT

Influential Woman of the Year:

BunmiShonibare - Blushes and Brushes

Emma Hebdige - Support Buddies

Jennifer Hudson - Hudson Blake Training

Kate Underwood - Kate Underwood HR Services

Tanya Brookfield - Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust

Inspirational Woman of the Year:

Claire Cook - Hannahs Holiday Home Appeal

Debbie Packer - Cordelectra

Heidi Rehman - Breast Cancer Haven Wessex

Susan Hayward - Susan Hayward Mental Health First Aid Training

Victoria Coles - Wight FIT

Lifetime Achievement:

Brigitte O’Brien - Let’s Be Creative Limited

Dawn Atkins - Talking Heads

Janet Marmot - Waterside School of Dance (club)

Katie Harris - Ginger Catering Company Ltd

Shelley Jory-Leigh - Brides of Southampton

Musical Talent:

Debbie Packer - Cordelectra

Dielle Hannah - DiElle Music UK

Jan Moll - Rock Choir

Katie Rogers - Jazz & Cocktails

Ruth Morgan - Melody Tots

New Business:

Emily Walden - Happy Hounds Dog Care Ltd

Liz Raffles - The Mantique

Natalie Reeves - South Coast Creative

Rachael Rayner - Waves of Inspiration

Sue Leach - The Natural Health Hub

Small Business:

Danielle Rolfe - Penton Park

Emily Walden - Happy Hounds Dog Care Ltd

Laura Skilton - Baby Paddlers

Sarah Lowe - Sarah Lowe Credit Management