Women in Business Chief Executive Roseann Kelly with small business winner of the Award for Best Customer Service, Laura Killough, Larchfield Estate and sponsor Karen Simpson, RSA Group

 Northern Ireland's top businesswomen were celebrated for their outstanding achievements at the 2019 Women in Business Awards which took place last night at the Crowne Plaza, Belfast.

Lisburn business woman, Laura Killough, Larchfield Estate was presented with the small business Award for Best Customer Service sponsored by RSA Group.

This year’s Awards, now in their ninth year, brought together female entrepreneurs and businesswomen from a diverse range of disciplines to acknowledge and congratulate them on their hard work, dedication and success.

Sponsored by Virgin Media Business for the second consecutive year, the Awards received a remarkable 185 submissions and honoured sixteen inspiring women and one outstanding business organisation.

The highly acclaimed Business Woman of the Year 2019 award, also sponsored by Virgin Media Business, was presented to entrepreneur Edel Doherty. With over 30 years in the travel industry, Edel has an impressive career portfolio and is the founder and managing director of Beyond Business Travel, a bespoke travel management company. Edel started her company in 2010 and the business has gone from strength to strength with over 25 employees, an impressive turnover of £16million , plans to grow to £50million in 4 years  and a new Dublin office.

After the success of The 148th Open at Royal Portrush this year, Women in Business was delighted to present Wilma Erskine, secretary-manager of Royal Portrush who is widely regarded as being the driving force behind securing the competition, with the Special Lifetime Achievement Award.