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Leading female entrepreneur honoured at National Natwest Everywoman Awards

Kerrie Keeling, founder of A Woman’s Touch, yesterday received the everywoman Demeter Award for outstanding entrepreneurial success by a woman aged between 26 and 35.  Founded in 2003 by everywoman, the leading organisation for women in business, and sponsored by NatWest one of the leading banks for business, the NatWest everywoman Awards recognise and celebrate Britain’s most inspiring female business owners.

Kerrie was honoured with the Demeter Award at a lavish ceremony hosted by BBC presenter, Fiona Bruce, and attended by Awards Patron Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild along with some 300 women of achievement including pioneering women from industry, female entrepreneurs and representatives from government. The awards ceremony was followed by a reception at the House of Commons.  Each everywoman Award is named after ancient Greek goddesses, feminine archetypes of courage, determination, perseverance, wisdom and strength – the very qualities needed to succeed as a woman business owner.

Working all hours as an investment banker, Kerrie was constantly frustrated by workmen not returning calls or turning up on time.  She realised that there was a gap in the market for a trustworthy, professional company who could undertake decorating and design jobs at minimum disruption for busy professional clients.  She founded A Woman’s Touch in 2003 and today employs 15 women and turns over £500,000.  Differentiating her company from tradesmen, Keeling invested heavily in IT.  All her team have mobiles, blackberries and smart cars with collapsible ladders, which allows them to carry out bigger projects than handymen.  Her first clients were bankers, many former colleagues, who eulogise about the services she now provides. Her biggest challenge is also her greatest reward, “Inevitably it is hard to find women who specialise in traditionally male areas such as plumbing and decorating, but I get enormous satisfaction out of seeing them flourish”. 

Patron of the awards, Lady Lynn Forester de Rothschild, commented: “As Patron, I am thrilled to see the growing, important contribution these awards are making in showcasing the success of women entrepreneurs. The value of role models can not be underestimated and each of our finalists is someone that other women will aspire to be like.  I know that some things are universal when it comes to achieving business success - it takes vision, determination, commitment, sacrifice and passion. This year’s winners and finalists are testament to that and I applaud their incredible achievements."

Sue McDougall, Commercial and Business Controls Executive at IBM, sponsor of the Demeter Award adds, “The finalists in this year’s awards are talented and determined women who have achieved outstanding personal success. They are innovators who are true inspirational role models. I know the choice was really difficult as they are all winners but I am delighted to be able to present the Demeter Award to Kerrie Keeling.  Join me in congratulating Kerrie and I look forward to seeing her business going from strength to strength".

The runner up in the Demeter category was Hasfa Abubacker of Pitchwell Group.