The Ayrshire Business Women (ABW) network brought together sparkle, spirit, and serious talent at their Annual Awards and Afternoon Tea on Wednesday 27th August 2025, hosted in the stunning Glasshouse Restaurant at Rowallan Castle, Kilmaurs.
With the venue buzzing in anticipation, the sold-out event welcomed ABW members and guests for an afternoon of celebration, connection, and community pride. The event showcased the very best of Ayrshire’s entrepreneurial energy—uplifting women and their businesses while strengthening the local economy.
A standout moment came from keynote speaker Fiona Campbell, founder of The Professional Growth Company and one of the few internationally recognised NLP trainers specialising in business and coaching. Fiona’s session, “How Your Thoughts Affect Your Body”, was both enlightening and empowering—offering guests practical insights into mindset, wellbeing, and the power of self-awareness in business.
The awards themselves were a true celebration of excellence. With a record number of nominations, the independent judging panel—led by Kirste Johnston—had the challenging task of selecting winners from an outstanding pool of entries. Their commitment to impartiality and professionalism ensured every submission was judged solely on merit, giving members confidence in a process designed to honour authenticity and achievement. The awards were presented by Councillor Claire Leitch, Provost of East Ayrshire, in a presentation ceremony filled with warmth and celebration of our fantastic winners. Provost Leitch said “I was absolutely delighted to join Ayrshire Business Women at their beautiful awards ceremony! Ayrshire is home to an incredible wealth of talent, and as a fellow woman in a leadership role, I'm always so inspired by the unwavering dedication, creativity, and resilience shown by our local business women. Their commitment, determination and ability to inspire our future generations of female leaders is truly admirable. My congratulations to all nominees and winners - you should be really proud of your achievements.”
🏆 Award Winners Announced on the Day:
🌟 Highly Commended, Most Enterprising Business:
The event also spotlighted ABW’s Charity Partner, Crosshouse Children’s Fund, with a heartfelt presentation from William McGowan. Thanks to the generosity of attendees, £610 was raised, supporting the charity’s vital work with children and families across Ayrshire.
ABW President Lisa Nairn shared her pride in the event’s success:
“This year’s Awards were more than a celebration—they were a statement. A statement that women in Ayrshire are building businesses with heart, purpose, and impact. We’re proud to uplift one another, and to be shaping a future where women’s contributions are seen, valued, and celebrated. This is our purpose at ABW. All of our award applicants, finalists and winners should be exceptionally proud of the work they are doing, and of what they have achieved.
I'd also like to give special thanks to our event sponsors Business Gateway Ayrshire (Trophy & Certificate sponsor) and Weir’s Home Fragrance (Gifts sponsor) for their contributions and support.”
With upcoming events including virtual networking, coffee meetups, and the Association of Scottish Businesswomen Annual Conference and Awards in November, ABW continues to grow as a dynamic force for good—supporting women in business and enriching the Ayrshire economy in the process.
*Photographs courtesy of Ann Cromack of iKAT Photography.*
