A YORK accountant is one of 11 businesswomen in Yorkshire and the North East to have won an award at this year's Forward Ladies regional competition.

Claire Turner, co-founder of Sheriff Hutton accountancy firm Turner List & Co, known as TLC, won the award for Best Start-Up at the Yorkshire & North East Forward Ladies regional final in Newcastle this week.

The event, at the city's new Crowne Plaza Hotel, saw more than 200 people gather to celebrate women in business through national networking and support group Forward Ladies.

Ms Turner had been nominated earlier in the summer, and then had to fill in a rigorous entry form covering all aspects of the business and her leadership, which was what the judges based their decision on.

Mr Turner said: "I was shocked and stunned when they read my name out. The award means so much as James and I are still working hard to build TLC into the business we want it to be.

"We’ve come so far in a little over a year and are ridiculously proud of the team we’re building and the work we do for our clients.

"This award might have been given to me, but it’s got all of our names on it as James and I couldn’t have done it on our own."

Ms Turner received her award from Charlene White of ITV News and Debra White of sponsors HSBC.

Three other York businesswomen were also finalists on the night.

Maria Florou, general manager of the Grand Hotel & Spa, York, was nominated in the Inspiring Leader category, Ashley Hyde, from Baba Ganoush Private Dining, was among the Young Entrepreneur contenders, and Christina Gabbitas, who set up Poems and Pictures in 2012, was nominated in the Digital and Online Business of the Year

Griselda Togobo, managing director at Forward Ladies said: "This year we received a number of outstanding entries from right across Yorkshire and the North East and the awards really did showcase some of the best talent and businesses from across the region.

"The awards have attracted women from all ages, all professions and all walks of life and we are delighted to welcome the winners from today’s event to the eagerly anticipated finals in Leeds in November."

Following the regional finals then meet the judges live on November 4 and the national winners are announced on November 20 at the Queens Hotel in Leeds.

This week will also see the TLC team attend the BiY Inspired Awards as finalists in the Rockstar Customer Service category.