AN IPSTONES woman has been nominated for a prestigious national women’s business award.
Carry Somers, founder of Pachacuti, an ethical clothing company, has been shortlisted for the National Women on Their Way Awards 2010, in the Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Learning and Development category.
Carry has spent the past 18 years working to improve women’s skills, training and personal development in the Andean Region of South America, paying for courses ranging from pattern cutting and IT skills through to self-esteem and leadership.
Over the years she has taken numerous staff, designers and intern students from the UK out to South America to improve quality control, business organisation and technical ability.
Carry’s commitment to training and education in the UK is evidenced by her current roles as an Enterprise UK Ambassador, University of Essex Alumna of the Year 2009, East Midlands Ambassador and Business Language Champion.
She works with educational institutions from local secondary schools through to national fashion colleges, giving presentations ranging from sustainability and ethical fashion through to business skills and the importance of learning languages.
In addition, over the past year she has given presentations on Pachacuti’s Fair Trade, Sustainable certification as far afield as Nepal, Madrid and Ecuador.
The Women on Their Way Awards is the brainchild of former TV’s Apprentice candidate Jo Cameron and her co-director Lisa Ibbotson.
Ms Cameron said: “We are delighted that Carry has been shortlisted.
There are so many amazing women in the UK who don’t always recognise the impact they have made and it is my absolute privilege to be inspired by so many incredible women. We are very much looking forward to announcing the winners in a few weeks’ time.”
Carry will find out if she has been successful on Friday, March 19 at the Women on Their Way Annual Awards Lunch taking place at Aston Villa Football Club.