The owners of two Ottery businesses have been named among the semi-finalists in the West Country Women Awards 2023.
Nicci Simpson, owner of Devon Eco Boutique, is in the running for the Phoenix Award celebrating resilience. Beth Ashfield and Andrea Broadhurst, owners of Coldharbour Field Kitchen, are among the semi-finalists in the Women in Food and Drink category.
The awards were created last year to celebrate and highlight the achievements of women across Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset. As well as covering several types of business, they include women in charity, sport, arts and culture, and those involved in tackling violence against women and girls.
The award for which Nicci Simpson is short-listed recognises ‘a person who has risen from the ashes and been resilient, working hard to help change our lives, communities and the economy for the better’.
Her business started out as Eco Baby Box and was online only until she decided to branch out into a bricks-and-mortar outlet, which opened in September 2021. It expanded into Devon Eco Boutique, selling a wide range of ethical, eco-friendly products. The business has won, or been short-listed for, several awards .
On being named among the Westcountry Women Awards semi-finalists, Nicci said: “I’m always really shocked every time I’m nominated, and to make it to the final six semi-finalists amongst these incredible women!“I’m quite emotional about it to be honest. It’s been a tough journey to navigate for me personally but I’m so proud of how far my business has come and it’s amazing to be recognised.”
The finalists are being announced on October 30 at Powderham Castle, and the grand final ceremony with presentations to the winners will take place on December 1.
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