IN honour of International Women's Day on Tuesday, 8 March, a Thurrock-based businesswoman has been named as one of 15 winners of NatWest's 'BeThe Role Model' competition, a nationwide campaign to tackle stereotypes of female business founders.

Janine Davies-Tutt owns and runs Ashwells Reclaimed Timber which is based at Wicks Place on the A128 close to Bulphan.

NatWest received more than 3,000 nominations from small and medium size enterprises across the UK but were bowled away by the success Janine has achieved over the past 30 years – through her business which reclaims tropical hardwoods and preventing further deforestation.

Judges also applauded Ashwells' sustained action to educate and empower the landscape design and construction sector to increase the use of reclaimed building materials within garden and external design projects.

Janine said: "I'm incredibly excited to have been chosen as one of 15 winners in NatWest's female entrepreneur competition. Reclamation and construction remain heavily dominated male industries.

"I hope that by sharing my story of Ashwells Timber we'll help demonstrate the diversity of female-led businesses in the UK and encourage more women to smash stereotypes and believe that they can make it as business owners.

"Role models are the key to encouraging more women to start up in business, and my advice to women considering running their own business would be to find your voice!"

International Women's Day is global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, and is dedicated to promoting equality. This year, the theme is #BreakTheBias.