INSPIRING women were honoured for their business nous at this year’s Dorset Business Women Awards.

They scooped awards at the ceremony following a gala dinner at Bournemouth’s Langtry Manor Hotel.

The awards, now in their second year, are already becoming a permanent fixture on the Dorset social calendar and have caught the attention of well-respected businesswomen and celebrities throughout the UK.

Bringing home the NatWest bank New Business Award for Weymouth were Amy-Kate Crane and Kirsty van Deurs Goss of Heavenly Bump Maternitywear Ltd.

The duo, who set up their company on the Granby Industrial Estate less than a year ago, were also finalists in the Dot Com Business of the Year category.

Kay Russell, of Corscombe, near Beaminster, missed out on the Entrepreneur of the Year award and Ann Fookes, of Dorset Lettings, which has offices in Weymouth and Dorchester, missed out on the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Debbie Moore, founder and chairman of Pineapple, said: “The opportunity to be a nominee, or even winner of this prestigious award presents a wonderful platform to raise the profile of your business and the benefit of a great network for valuable information exchange with like-minded women.”

Yachtswoman Debra Searle said: "My experience of women in business is that they have to be superwoman as they often have commitments at home to co-ordinate simultaneously.

“They rarely do it for praise but it is so very well deserved. I hope many business women will gain the acknowledgement they so deserve at these awards.”

Business Mother of the Year was Angela Fletcher of Rock Recruitment Ltd, based in Christchurch. The 30-year-old set up her own business in December 2007, just months after she was left temporarily blind through diabetes.

"I am so proud to win this award not just for me but on behalf of all working mums," she said.

"Everything I do is inspired by my nine-year-old daughter. I want to show her that anything is possible if you are prepared to work for it."

This year there was an additional award – the judges' Exceptional Achievement Award, which was presented by awards creators Jackie Phillipson and Tara Howard to Joanna Bishop of Bournemouth Town for her outstanding contribution to local business, charity and the community.