Wakefield business owner shortlisted for Yorkshire Women's Award
A business leader from Wakefield, operating a Batley firm, has been named a finalist in the prestigious Yorkshire Women’s Awards.
Laura Curtis, Director of Heaton Green Dust Control Ltd, has earned recognition as one of the top five finalists for the award from 173 nominations across the region.
The awards celebrate women who are making a significant impact in business, leadership and their communities, and this year’s shortlist highlights some of the most influential female leaders in Yorkshire.
Laura said the recognition was both ‘humbling and emotional’.
“To be selected as one of the top five finalists is something I genuinely never thought I’d be able to say,” she said.
"I feel incredibly grateful just to be recognised alongside such inspiring leaders”
Working in the manufacturing and engineering sector, she has built a reputation for strong leadership, driving growth, and challenging traditional perceptions of who belongs in industry.
Alongside Laura’s commercial leadership, she is also deeply conscious of social responsibility and the role businesses can play in strengthening local communities.
She sits on the Employer Advisory Board at a local prison, working with employers and prison services to help shape meaningful employment pathways for individuals leaving custody
Through this work, she supports initiatives aimed at unlocking an often untapped workforce, reducing reoffending, and helping people rebuild their lives through stable employment - benefiting both businesses and the wider community
And Laura was quick to credit those around her for the achievement
“This recognition isn’t about one person,” she said.
“It’s only possible because of the incredible team I work with - every single person has contributed to this in some way, big or small.
"I’m also hugely grateful to my family and to those who’ve supported and believed in me, especially during the moments I doubted myself”
Reflecting on the wider importance of the award, she added that it represents more than personal success
“This has really hit me emotionally because it’s proof that you don’t have to fit a certain mould to do something meaningful with your life.
"Recognition like this helps show that leadership in engineering and manufacturing comes in many forms and that matters for the future of the industry.”
The winners of the Yorkshire Women’s Awards will be announced on March 6 at a ceremony in Leeds.
For more information and the source, visit: 'Humbling and emotional': Wakefield business owner shortlisted for Yorkshire Women's Award