A PAIR of self-styled ‘mumpreneurs’ are celebrating success after scooping a major business award for their fledgling Weymouth firm.

Amy-Kate Crane and Kirsty van Deurs Gross were thrilled to see their company Heavenly Bump maternity wear win the best New Business Award at the Dorset Women In Business awards.

They set up the company less than a year ago on the Granby Industrial Estate in Weymouth.

Both women were colleagues at New Look and decided to strike out on their own when their jobs were relocated to London.

Their decision paid off – and they were both presented with the award at the Langtry Manor Hotel in Bournemouth.

Amy-Kate, 39, business co-owner and co-director, said: “We’re ecstatic that we’ve had this type of recognition.

“I’m a single parent with two children and Kirsty also has two children.

“A lot of women juggle running a business with their family and don’t get recognition for what they do.

“Sometimes it’s like you have to be superwomen.

“We do so many things, like running a home and trying to keep everyone happy.

“This shows it can be done if you are determined enough and if you are passionate.”

The creative duo have already experienced success as finalists in the E-Business and News Business categories of the Open 4 Business awards.

They pride themselves on making affordable and stylish maternity wear for women.

Amy-Kate and Kirsty’s range took off after their printed maxi dress was featured on Lorraine Kelly’s LK Today TV show.

Demand for the dress caused the Heavenly Bump website to crash and the website now records around 1,000 hits a week.

The site – heavenlybump.co.uk – was runner-up in the Dot Com Business of the Year category of the Dorset Women in Business awards.

Kirsty, 37, said: “We just didn’t expect to win the New Business Award.

“We were working long hours before we set up the business and didn’t have a work life balance in our previous jobs.

“Now we can pick up our kids from school and still run our own business – it’s a great feeling.”

Both women live in the same road – are planning to expand Heavenly Bump and move to larger premises at Oxford Court.

Amy-Kate said: “When we expand it will be fantastic, we’ll have our own office space and a storeroom.”