Rowallan Castle, Kilmaurs | Thursday 10th September 2026
Ayrshire Business Women (ABW) proudly celebrated the achievements of female-led businesses from across the region at its Annual Awards Ceremony and Afternoon Tea, held at the stunning Rowallan Castle in Kilmaurs on Thursday 10th September.
Bringing together members, guests, sponsors, judges and supporters, the event was a celebration of empowerment, advocacy, entrepreneurship and community spirit. Set against the backdrop of one of Ayrshire’s most beautiful venues, the afternoon recognised women who are making a significant contribution to the local economy while supporting and inspiring those around them.
Founded in 1994, Ayrshire Business Women exists to support women in business through connection, advocacy, collaboration and encouragement. More than 30 years later, that mission remains unchanged, and the organisation now has over 100 members from across Ayrshire.
Following a tour of the spectacular castle, guests were welcomed by ABW President Lisa Nairn. The afternoon got underway with a key update from charity partner Honeypot Children’s Charity Scotland, followed by guest speaker Susan Perry, speaker coach and storytelling specialist, before enjoying a beautiful afternoon tea. The day rounded off with the presentation of this year’s awards.
A Key Update from our Charity Partner
ABW is proud to support Honeypot Children’s Charity Scotland as our Charity Partner of the Year. Honeypot provides respite breaks, learning opportunities and ongoing support for young carers across Scotland, from its Scottish centre in Dalleagles, New Cumnock.
Through ticket sales, donations and member fundraising, the annual awards event raised an outstanding £1,176.50 for the charity.
Presenting Without Performance
Susan Perry’s thought-provoking keynote encouraged attendees to communicate with greater authenticity, purpose and impact, focusing on intent rather than content, and making sure guests leave with something powerful to remember.
Annual Awards Presentation
The awards presentation was led by independent guest judges, ensuring a fair and objective process that recognised excellence across four competitive categories.
The winners and highly commended recipients were:
Customer Excellence Award
Judge: Julie Palmer
Winner: Ayr Holiday Apartments – Lisbeth Kirsop
Highly Commended: Julie Bennett Brilliant Travel – Julie Bennett
Most Enterprising Business Award
Judge: Joyce White OBE
Winner: Jewel Room – Denise MacDougall
Business for Good Award
Judge: Kirste Johnston
Winner: The Way Forward 2045 – Wendy White-Finnigan
Highly Commended: The Bettii Pod – Elaine Galston
Most Promising Start-Up Award
Judge: Claire Baird, CEO, Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce
Winner: Gem of Knowledge – Carly Diamond
Highly Commended: Arena HR Academy – Laura Rennie
In addition to our four judged categories this year, the Committee also selected a special recipient for:
Spirit of ABW Award
Recipient: Isabel McNicoll – The Business Timesaver
The Spirit of ABW Award is not presented every year and is reserved for an individual who consistently embodies the values of the organisation through service, encouragement, leadership and unwavering support of others. This year’s recipient, Isabel McNicoll, was recognised for her outstanding contribution to ABW and the wider community.
A Moment of Reflection
The event was attended by a number of distinguished guests, including Claire Leitch, Provost of East Ayrshire, representatives from local organisations, and Ailsa Stinson, President of the Association of Scottish Businesswomen, highlighting the strong connections between ABW, ASB and the wider Scottish business community.
Lisa Nairn, ABW’s President, said: “One of the most important parts of this awards programme is the reminder it gives our members of just how fantastic they are — even when they don’t always see it themselves. Many women who weren’t sure whether they had “an award‑worthy business” joined us on the day as finalists. That is the power of this community - lifting women up, encouraging them to step forward, and helping them recognise the brilliance they already hold.”
Claire Leitch, Provost of East Ayrshire said of the event “I had such a lovely afternoon celebrating some of the amazing women we have in business across Ayrshire at the Ayrshire Business Women Annual Awards. It's so important that we celebrate women doing well and following their ambitions. Every woman who, at times, goes against the odds, takes the chance to go for it, builds something of her own or succeeds in her chosen field is showing the next generation of girls and women what could be possible for them too.”
Acknowledgements
ABW extends its sincere thanks to everyone who contributed to making the event such a success, including:
Their collective support helped create an inspiring celebration of the talent, resilience and impact of women in business across Ayrshire.
