NEW York is the destination for a Basingstoke businesswoman who is off to collect an award week.

Lorraine Ashover, managing director of Minerva Procurement Consultancy Services, is a finalist for Female Entrepreneur of the Year, in the ninth annual Stevie Awards for Women in Business.

Lorraine, who set up the business as a procurement specialist for schools, is up for the award in the Business Services category.

Whatever happens, she will be a Gold, Silver or Bronze Award winner at the presentations in the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York on Friday, November 9.

Lorraine, who is based at Basepoint Business Centre, in Stroudley Road, said: “I’m absolutely overwhelmed to have been selected as a finalist. “Being an entrepreneur can be a lonely business so it’s always nice to get recognition, especially from such a prestigious awards programme. “What’s particularly pleasing for me is that the finalists were chosen in preliminary judging by more than 130 business professionals so I must have impressed quite a few people.|I am one of only four UK representatives, one of whom is Emer Timmons, president of BT Global Services UK.”

Lorraine has already scooped the Best New Business in the Business Support Category, in the Best Business Awards.

She has also just been presented with Entrepreneur of the Month for the third time, from Business Growth Advisor’s local Entrepreneur Circle.

Her business, which she set up two years ago, is also a finalist in the School Procurement Service category at the Education Investor Awards 2012.