Digital entrepeneurs were among the winners of the 2021 Leicestershire Live Women in Business Awards.
The awards honour the most successful businesswomen from across Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland, with strong competition across a number of categories.
Marking the first physical awards ceremony for Leicestershire Live since lockdown, the room was in a jubilant mood ahead of the awards being presented at King Power Stadium.
Digital entrepreneurs were successful in a number of categories including Sophie Hainsworth, Co-Founder of the LoyalFree app, taking home Entrepreneur of the Year and also the Innovation in Business Award, for the company’s work with high street businesses throughout the pandemic.
New Business of the Year went to Kate Walker of Loughborough-based Exphand Prosthetics, in Loughborough. Exphand designs low-cost 3D printed prosthetics for children in the developing world.

The Digital Ambassador Award was presented to Gabrielle Miller, who runs Cool As Leicester, for the online magazine’s continued support of local business and showcasing all that Leicester has to offer.
Adam Moss, the Leicester, Coventry and Northants editor for LeicestershireLive parent company Reach plc, said it was good to be back out at physical events.
He said: “We are really proud to support events like this, and I think the enthusiasm of everyone involved shows how much we’ve missed them.
“I know our judges had a tough time picking the winners from such a strong long-list of nominations and I think that is reflected in the quality of all the winners.
“Congratulations to all of them.”