THE chief executive officer of a Basingstoke-based business has been named the first finalist for a prestigious business award.

Nicola Hartland, CEO of Chineham Business Park based Xcel Sales, has been shortlisted as a finalist for the Woman Business Owner of the Year in the prestigious Business Magazine 2017 – Women in Business Awards.

Now in its fourth year, the Women in Business Awards has become a campaign that celebrates and spotlights organisations and individuals across all sectors of business who have excelled in their specific area.

Over the past four years, Xcel Sales have generated more than £100m of sales opportunities for its clients.

Meanwhile the woman behind a company striving to keep children safe online has been nominated for an award.

Stella James created Goosebury Planet, based in Rotherwick, to develop ways of keeping children safe from cyber bullying, explicit content and exploitation and to help parents teach their children about staying safe online.

Now, she has been nominated for the Rising Star Award in this year’s Women in Business Awards which celebrates inspiring business women in Hampshire and across the Thames Valley.

The Rising Star Award celebrates women who have not only made a mark in business, but are also ‘women to watch’ in the future.

The winners will be announced on September 21 at Oakley Hall, Basingstoke.