Christine Griffiths is finalist in the businesswoman of the year award 2012
1 October 2012
Christine Griffiths, Director of Aeolus Power (Wind-Energy) Limited is one of six finalists for the Businesswoman of the Year Award 2012. The award winner will be announced at the 2012 Women of the Year Luncheon and Awards held at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole on Friday, 5th October 2012. In its 30th year, the event celebrates personal achievement and success outside London in the areas of female enterprise and personal achievement.
From a desk in her spare room in 2007 Christine Griffiths has developed Aeolus Power (Wind-Energy) Limited into a multi million pound business and forged one of the most successful companies in the competitive wind energy market. Afraid of heights, so with her feet firmly on the ground, she has lobbied the government on sustainability policies, addressed over 150 women as a ‘keynote speaker’, trekked 120 kilometres through the foot hills of the Himalayas and on a daily basis tackles canny FedEx traders about the dollar to sterling exchange rate. She runs her business in the way she runs her home and all other aspects of her life, with integrity, openness and a huge dose of enthusiasm. Christine says, “There are only a handful of women involved with wind energy and if I could provide inspiration for the millions of women who would like to start their own business, in whatever capacity, that would be wonderful.”
The six women shortlisted for this year's award are Christine Griffiths, director of Aeolus Power (Wind-Energy) Limited, Andrea Miles, director of Mirrors for Training, Emma Elston, co-founder of UK Container Maintenance, Sarah Cressall, managing director of The Creation Station, Vivienne Hudson-Findlay, managing director of Hotelshop UK, and Sheree Cook, director at Cube Environmental.
The judges are seeking a woman who has made a significant contribution to the financial success and performance of an organisation either as a senior executive or as an entrepreneur setting up her own business. The judging criteria will reflect the different skills, abilities and influence of these two types of businesswomen.
The Women of the Year Luncheon and Awards aims to recognise the outstanding contributions made by women to our economy by highlighting female role models in society and business. Judy Groves, awards chair, said: "Each year we have a different flavour to the type of entries we receive and this year's candidates have an extremely entrepreneurial flavour to them. As always, the quality of the entrants is extremely high. We have a great selection of women who played crucial roles in helping businesses across a wide range of industries perform extremely well despite the tough economic climate. To be named on the shortlist for this prestigious event is a fantastic achievement in its own right, so whoever is named Businesswoman of the year will be a worthy winner."
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-chairman at West Ham United, Sarah Tremellen, founder and chief executive of Bravissimo, and Perween Warsi, founder of S&A Foods.
This year's event will see renowned designer and entrepreneur Karen Millen tell the audience of influential businesswomen about her campaign to support young cancer victims.
The celebrated founder of one of Europe's leading fashion brands will be on stage to answer questions about her business vision and successes, as well as telling an audience of more than 500 businesswomen about why she is so passionate in her support for Teens Unite Fighting Cancer, an organisation dedicated to improving the lives of young people aged between 13-24 with life limiting illnesses.
She will be joined by 2011 Businesswoman of the Year Julie White, who will be on hand to tell the audience about the hectic 12 months that followed her success at last year's event.
The luncheon will also raise money for Vitalise, a national charity providing essential services for the disabled, visually impaired and their carers. The charity runs five centres nationwide, offering short breaks with 24-hour care and personal support in relaxed surroundings.
Ends
For further information please contact:
Aeolus Power (Wind-Energy) Limited
Christine Griffiths, 01454 633 323
contact@apwe.co.uk
www.apwe.co.uk
NOTES TO EDITORS ARE HERE:
1. Aeolus Power (Wind-Energy) Limited won the ‘Business of the Year Award 2012’ in the Gloucestershire Women in Business Awards in association with Coutts, she was a finalist for the ‘Outstanding Woman in Construction’ award for 2012.
2. Aeolus Power (Wind-Energy) Ltd is owned by husband and wife team Christine & Peter Griffiths: the business was started in 2006 as a result of the lack of support and information available to them when they installed a wind turbine at their farmhouse home.
3. The company supplies and installs wind turbines ranging in size from 50kW to 100kW to farmers, landowners, businesses and communities and they have installations across the UK from Scotland to Cornwall and from Wales to Lincolnshire.
4. Christine & Peters’ knowledge of harnessing wind power is second to none and both have spoken on the subject at a wide variety of venues around the South West and Wales, including Exeter University, the National Homebuilding and Renovating Show in Shepton Mallet and locations in Gloucestershire, Cornwall, Wiltshire and Dorset for the Country Landowners Association.
5. Aeolus Power (Wind-Energy) Limited was the first approved UK Distributor for Endurance Wind Power. On 9 April 2010 Kevin Heaney, VP Worldwide Sales & Marketing of Endurance Wind Power said, “After a close review of over forty applicants, we feel we have engaged the very best distributors.”
6. Aeolus Power (Wind-Energy) Limited has two “UK Approved Endurance Wind Power Installation Supervisors” and two installation teams.
7. The company installed the Endurance Wind Power 50kW wind turbine for the Gorran Community Project in Cornwall.
