A TAVISTOCK businesswoman is celebrating after scooping the regional title in a top national competition. Nicky Edmunds, 34, who owns Insideout in Tavistock?s West Street, was named Credit Suisse Entrepreneur of the Year for Wales and the West Country at the National Business Awards last week. Nicky fought off stiff competition from all types of business to win the title, which she received at a ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London. Dubbed the ?business equivalent of the Oscars? by Prime Minister Gordon Brown, the awards are considered a national benchmark for success. Nicky said she couldn?t quite believe she?d actually won the title. ?It?s a pretty big award ? I was competing against companies with £20-million turnovers ? we?re not quite in that league! ?But it was brilliant to win and these things tend to be quite male-dominated too, so it was good from that point of view,? said Nicky, who juggles work with the demands of two young children, aged five and two. As a finalist, she had to prepare a 15-minute presentation before a grilling by a panel of top judges, who were looking for ?the outstanding individual who can best demonstrate exceptional vision and leadership in the establishment and development of an owner-led business?. Nicky said: ?They were quite prestigious individuals who had a real knowledge of the market they were judging ? it was pretty daunting but good experience!? Nicky, who lives in Dousland, said it was wonderful to get recognition for the hard work she has put into Insideout ? she also has a branch in Dartmouth and will shortly be opening her third business in the new Princesshay development in Exeter. ?Now I get the privilege of getting into the national finals of the competition ? and doing it all over again!? said Nicky, who earlier this year was named independent retailer of the year for the South West in the Progressive Home and Gift Awards.
