University of Bolton student midwives scoop top award for their new business at She Inspires ceremony

Three student midwives from the University of Bolton won a top award at an event aimed at inspiring women across the world.

Alisha Doherty, Maryam Ghorbani and Helen Rose scooped Student Start Up Business of the Year for their pioneering company, Integrated Maternity.

An audience of 600 and more than 1,000 online only across the globe watched the glitzy ceremony which was held at the Bolton Stadium Hotel.

Integrated Maternity was launched, with financial support and advice from the University’s Bolton Ignition Fund, to help remove communication barriers within maternity services.

Alisha, Maryam and Helen say that throughout their training they have witnessed “unfair disadvantages that women and families have experienced due to linguistic differences”.

Alisha said: “We are thrilled and honoured that Integrated Maternity has been awarded the She Inspires Awards - Student Business of the Year!

“To even be nominated was a huge achievement, but to win was something we never considered because the other businesses in our category were worthy of winning as well.

“We started Integrated Maternity with the vision of improving the experiences of families with communication barriers who need to access maternity services.

“We have not even scratched the surface yet and winning this award is going to further support our mission, so we are incredibly grateful.”

Alisha added: “We couldn't have done with this without the University of Bolton’s enterprise programme and the support from Jane Stuart-Puttnam, Neil Simpson, Jenny Matthews and everyone else who has helped and supported us from the beginning until now. Here's to the future of Integrated Maternity!”

The event was hosted for the third time by BBC North West Tonight presenter Anabel Tiffin.

Jane, the University of Bolton’s Enterprise and Knowledge Exchange Manager, also added to the University’s success on the night, winning the Girl Up Award.

Jane said: “I was elated! The award is dedicated to the memory of an incredible person, Gay Wharton and celebrates an exceptional woman who has been kind and supported other women to achieve their goals.”

“I was also delighted that Integrated Maternity won Student Start Up Business of the Year.”

Former University of Bolton student Stacey Withington won the Stepping Stone Cash Award and Chloe Ramsden, who is Business Development Manager at Alliance Learning, part of the University of Bolton Group, won the Power Her Award.

Gulnaz Brennan, founder of the awards, said: “People told me it was the best She Inspires Awards yet and it was certainly the biggest.

“The judges had a remarkably difficult job this year and it is a tribute to them that we had such inspirational winners.”

The University of Bolton is one of the She Inspires Awards sponsors.