A FORMER St Gregory’s Catholic High School pupil has been crowned a rising star at this year’s national WeAreTheCity Awards.

Helen Davies, 40, was recognised in the Entrepreneurs and Start-Ups category at a presentation held at NewsUK, London last month.

The aim of the awards was to celebrate 100 female role models and individual contributors across 20 different industries who represent the inspirational future leaders of tomorrow.

“I was gobsmacked when I found out I’d won!” said Helen, from Westbrook, who invented the EasyMat MiniTM – the world’s first compact and foldable suction plate.

“There were so many inspiring women in the running that I feel incredibly humbled to have been chosen by the judges. Following this award win, I now have special responsibilities to promote female entrepreneurship and support innovation for the next 12 months – something I am proud and pleased to do having founded my company, EasyTots, in 2016.”

Helen’s customer base, friends and family were among the 35,000 people to publicly cast their votes for the 200 shortlisted nominees, which were selected by a panel of 54 independent judges.

TV presenter June Sarpong, who hosted the awards, said: “2018 has been dubbed the ‘Year of the Women’ and has very much thrown gender and diversity into the public consciousness – the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, gender pay gap reporting, and marking 100 years of women’s suffrage.

“Awards such as these are incredibly important – and needed – to continue to raise women’s platforms and showcase how talented the female population is.”

Helen’s award success is the latest milestone in her journey, which has seen the Priestley College graduate appear on Channel 4’s ‘Buy It Now’ and present at the 2018 International Business Festival in recent months.

“I count my lucky stars every day” said mum-of-two Helen, who has seen her company go global with sales and distribution agreements secured across Europe, Hong Kong, South Korea and Australia.