Michael Smith Switchgear returns as Enterprising Women headline sponsor

Michael Smith Switchgear is headline sponsor for the East Midlands Chamber's Enterprising Women Awards continuing the support for the annual event for the fourth consecutive year.

The LV switchgear manufacturer will sponsor the Business Woman of the Year category at the ceremony on 25 September 2026 at Center Parcs Sherwood Forest.

Enterprising Women was founded in 1997 and has grown into one of the East Midlands' most established networks for women in business, with hundreds of members across the region. 

MSSL's continued backing reflects its long-standing commitment to supporting female leadership in the East Midlands - and the belief that strong businesses are built on strong communities.

Finance and Operations Director Emily Bliss said: "We've been part of Enterprising Women for a number of years now and it's a network we genuinely value. 

“Seeing the quality of women being recognised each year, and knowing we play a role in that, is something we're really proud of."

The Business Woman of the Year category holds meaning for MSSL as Emily won in 2022 - recognised for investing in new machinery, boosting efficiency and streamlining processes with stakeholders and CSR at the forefront of her decision-making. 

This category celebrates a business professional who demonstrates all-round excellence.

She added: "Winning feels like quite a long time ago now, but it gave me a real sense of what these awards mean to the people in the room."

This comes as Emily returns as a mentor on the Santander Women Business Leaders' Breakthrough programme - a national initiative supporting ambitious female founders and business owners to grow their businesses.

Through the programme, Emily shares her own experience to help the next generation of female leaders access the tools, resources and connections they need to succeed.