Zodiac Founder Wins Prestigious Entrepreneur Award

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Lilian Mains, Company Chair of Zodiac Training, has been announced as the winner of the prestigious Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship at the annual Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

Organised by WIN (Women into the Network), the Women Entrepreneur of the Year Awards are now in their 11th Year and are amongst the most prominent awards in the region.
During a lavish ceremony at the NewcastleGateshead Hilton, a packed hall celebrated the achievements of inspirational women whose entrepreneurial and leadership skills have helped to boost the region’s economy.

The highlight of the evening was, as always, the Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship. This Flagship Award is sponsored by The Susan Dobson Memorial Fund and is given in honour of Susan Dobson, a truly remarkable entrepreneur. Lilian Mains has twice been runner up for the award and this time was absolutely delighted to go one better.

Lilian said, “It is a real thrill and a privilege. I’m extremely grateful to WIN and to Susan’s family for this honour. I’m also incredibly grateful to everyone who works with me at Zodiac Training – without their hard work, dedication and professionalism Zodiac wouldn’t be such a success and I would not have received this award.

“It’s both humbling and motivating to win an award given in memory of Susan Dobson, she was an inspirational woman. What she created in her lifetime and the legacy she left is a wonderful testimony to her as an entrepreneur and I hope that I can leave a legacy that in some small way matches hers.

“I started Zodiac in 1996 and the company was born out of  my realisation that the North-East was changing and that I could be a part of that change and influence it for good. I remember my grandfather had a blacksmiths on exactly the same street as the one on which I opened our second office. It really brought home to me how the North-East had changed and how important it is to give people the skills they need to succeed in a changing environment. I’m delighted my work has been recognised in this way.”

Asked about the secret of her success, Lilian said, “Determination, a good sense of humour and an honest relationship with those around me. It’s so important to share both the good and the bad, that way you become a team and as a team you are much better able to support each other through any difficulties and drive business forward together.”