Carlisle clinic VL Aesthetics’ Vanessa Brown is a finalist in the biggest business awards for women in the North West.

The managing director of the city’s leading aesthetics clinic is in the running to be named Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the Enterprise Vision Awards.

And she hopes her nomination will inspire other young women to also become entrepreneurs.

The EVAs celebrate the outstanding successes and achievements of the North West’s most talented female entrepreneurs.

They are now the largest business awards dedicated solely to women outside London.

The awards recognise those women who are leading the way in their industries or building businesses that are not only judged on turnover, but creativity, ethics, passion and commitment.

The EVAS are open to all women in business in the North West including business owners, employees, CEOs and homeworkers, young entrepreneurs and ‘silverpreneurs’.

Vanessa said: “I am over the moon to be a finalist in the Young Entrepreneur of the Year category at this year’s EVAS awards. 

“I took over our family business at the age of 21 after graduating with a masters in International Business Management with Enterprise and have grown it to be the largest award-winning medical aesthetic clinic in Cumbria. 

“Over the last five years, we have invested more than £750,000 in industry-leading equipment. 

“This award nomination highlights how important it is to have a vision as an entrepreneur and see that vision through from start to finish. 

“I have always been involved in business from a very young age, starting my first venture as an eBay-based business at the age of 12.

“So I am hoping that being nominated for such a prestigious award at just 26 will inspire more younger people to take that step and become an entrepreneur.”

Vanessa will be up against six other finalists in her category, including a Liverpool make-up specialist, a vegan baker from Preston, a female fashion brand in Accrington, a home fragrance company from Blackburn, North West laser hair removal clinics, and an independent houseplant and gift shop in Lytham St Annes.

The winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at the Empress Ballroom in The Winter Gardens, Blackpool, on September 23.