Staffs business coach Patricia Cresswell in bid for top women's award

We are keeping everything crossed for business coach and trainer, Patricia Cresswell, who is a finalist in the prestigious Women on their Way awards this week, recognising the impact of women in business.

Patricia, who has helped thousands of women in their careers and personal development, has been short-listed for the Outstanding Contribution to Women's Learning and Development award.

She has been running her own training and development company, Patricia Cresswell and Associates Ltd, for more than 15 years, working with business people from across the private and public sectors, and at all levels.

Patricia, from Wheaton Aston in Staffordshire, has worked with National Grid, Britannia (part of the Co-operative Financial Services), Staffordshire Police, University of Birmingham and the Environment Agency, and delivers a range of training and development programmes, including Springboard, which is specifically for women.

This award-winning programme is used around the world, and designed to help women reach their full potential in all aspects of their life. Patricia has delivered more than 100 such programmes, to more than 2,500 women.

She is one of just a handful of people in the UK licensed to train people as Springboard trainers, and has worked in Poland, helping to establish trainers there.

The Women on their Way Awards were set up by Apprentice candidate, Jo Cameron, and her co-director, Lisa Ibbotson, to help showcase the wealth of talented women across the UK.

There are 12 award categories, which are being judged, by amongst others, Gill Fielding and Caroline Marsh, from Channel Four’s Secret Millionaire.

“I work with men and women, from all manner of different organisations, functioning at all levels within those businesses, but my focus is always the same – people,” Patricia explained.

“I am passionate about helping women feel they are taking more control of their lives and increasing their personal effectiveness by believing in themselves, and what they are capable of.

“I am thrilled to be a finalist for this particular award - I work a great deal with the Springboard programme, aimed specifically at raising the potential of women, and feel honoured to be part of the Wow event, which is helping to highlight fantastic things women are achieving.”

Patricia will find out if she has won at the Women on Their Way Annual Awards lunch on Friday, March 19, at Aston Villa’s ground in Birmingham.

Jo Cameron, from Women on their Way, said the nominations for this year’s awards had been of an extremely high standard, and she has been blown away by the number of inspirational women she has come across as a result of the awards.

She said; “We are delighted that Patricia 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 wish Patricia the very best of luck, and hope the awards lunch is a great success.