JULIE White, managing director of D-Drill, has been named the 2011 Vitalise Business Woman of the Year at a glamorous ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, which celebrates women’s achievements across the Midlands.
Holding off extremely strong competition from a range of other leading, high-profile businesswomen from the region, Julie White has successfully collected the prestigious Businesswoman of the Year Award.
Having set off round the world post college, she did a range of jobs during her travels including a yacht’s skipper and pizza seller on a beach.
After 12 years away, however, she returned to the region and bought the family business – D-Drill – from her father in 2008 and set about modernising the company.
As managing director, she significantly increased the company turnover and has just signed up to the company apprenticeship scheme, instilling first-hand experience of what D-Drill’s drilling apprentices go through.
Julie has also completed a walk to Everest Base Camp to help raise the profile of a local explorer and is a champion for women, especially those in business.
“I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have won such a major award. The competition was so tough and I am just thrilled that the judges chose me and I will use this as an opportunity to further champion the cause of women in business. It’s not a case of competing against men, it’s all about giving other women the confidence to see what they can achieve. The industry that I am in is traditionally dominated by men and if I can do what I have done other women can too,” said White.
Judy Groves, chair of the awards which is sponsored by Vitalise, said Julie was a worthy winner.
“We had some fantastic entries from across the region but we were just bowled over by Julie’s story and her commitment to everything she does. She is an inspiration to others and will be a fantastic ambassador for women right across the region.”
Runners-up included Sarah Balfour, founder/director of Music by Arrangement, Sara Fowler, senior partner of Ernst and Young LLP, Sue and Rachel Hawkins, proprietors/directors of Ace High Ents Ltd, Professor
Julia King, vice-chancellor at Aston University , Suzanne Linton, MD of Freestyle Interactive Ltd and 2010/2011 Finalist Alison Wetton, CEO and founder of All About Weight.
Previous winners include Suzie Norton, former chief executive of Screen WM, Karren Brady, one of Sir Alan Sugar’s trusted aides on The Apprentice and vice-chair at West Ham United, Sarah Tremellen, founder and chief executive of Bravissimo, and Perween Warsi, founder of S&A Foods.
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