Helena Beard, managing director of Brighton-based China Travel Outbound, has been chosen as a finalist in the 14th annual NatWest everywoman Awards.
She has been shortlisted for the Artemis Award, which goes to the most inspirational woman running a business trading for a minimum of 18 months up to three years.
After a long career in travel marketing, Beard jointly launched China Travel Outbound, but a split with her co-owners and supplier issues led to a downward spiral and very nearly saw the business fail with no clients.
But after taking advice from Entrepreneurial Spark, she abandoned a second business concept and returned to run China Travel Outbound herself, quickly growing a customer base whilst learning as much about the market as possible.
The marketing agency offers companies access to the Chinese tour operators, media and digital platforms, offering payment in sterling and contracts under English law.
Clients now include VisitBrighton, Royal Museums Greenwich and Hard Rock Cafe.
Beard has also launched an office in Beijing and, alongside running the busines, also lectures in marketing and is a regular columnist for TravelMole.com.
Speaking about the finalists, everywoman co-founder Maxine Benson MBE said: "The ambition, success and humility of our finalists make them all strong accessible role models for other women and girls considering starting their own business.
"Gender has never been a barrier to great ideas or initiatives and this year’s finalists bear that out. We live in one of the best countries for entrepreneurship and there is no better place for enterprise to flourish, as our finalists prove."
Winners will be announced on December 7 at a lunch reception at The Dorchester Hotel.
