EVAS Westminster Reception at the House of Lords, Westminster
On Thursday 21 May, over 120 women entrepreneurs, leaders, partners, allies and changemakers gathered at the House of Lords for the EVAS Westminster Reception.
Set against the backdrop of the Thames from the stunning Cholmondeley Room and Terrace, the afternoon brought together powerful conversations around business, leadership, resilience, visibility, growth and opportunity.
This was not simply a networking event.
It was a room full of women sharing experiences honestly. Supporting each other openly. Making introductions. Opening doors. Talking about the realities behind building businesses, scaling companies and creating impact.
We were also delighted to welcome Sir Lindsay Hoyle, Speaker of the House of Commons and long-time EVAS Male Ally, who popped in to show his continued support for female entrepreneurship and the women driving business growth across the UK.
Honest Conversations. Real Stories.
Theo Paphitis joined us as keynote speaker for a fireside chat with EVAS founder Coral Horn, where he spoke openly about business, resilience, mistakes, risk and why small businesses continue to matter so much to the UK economy.
Honest, funny and refreshingly real. Exactly what people needed to hear.
Guest speaker Harriet Hastings, founder of Biscuiteers, shared the reality behind scaling a successful brand. The highs, the challenges, the pressure, the creativity and the resilience it takes to keep building.
And yes… the bespoke EVAS Westminster biscuit became one of the most talked-about guests in the room.
Growing Pains
One of the standout moments of the afternoon was our panel discussion, Growing Pains, featuring:
- Alex Beardsley of Debeo
- Ann Elisabeth Seach of Liberty360
- Christine Nichols of Atlantic Pacific Global Logistics
- Kate Morement of Restore Compliance
- Ruby Raut of WUKA
Together, they tackled real conversations around scaling businesses, recruitment, exporting, confidence, burnout, visibility, leadership and navigating growth.
At the EVAS, we are not afraid of difficult conversations. Because business is not built through polished highlight reels alone.
Supporting Women Beyond Business
The afternoon also included an incredibly important contribution from Karen Morris of our EVAS Charity Partner, Community Foundation for Lancashire and Merseyside.
Karen shared how The Women’s Fund supports charities and grassroots organisations helping women facing domestic abuse, period poverty, isolation, lack of confidence and limited opportunities, while also creating safe spaces, raising aspirations and supporting new beginnings.
Ahead of the upcoming World Cup, Karen also shared shocking figures from the National Centre for Domestic Abuse:
- Domestic abuse incidents increase by 26% when a national team plays
- This rises to 38% if the team loses
- Incidents still increase by 11% the following day regardless of the result
The EVAS community will once again be raising funds for the Women’s Fund at the EVAS Awards Ceremony in October.
More Than An Event
The conversations continued long after the speakers left the stage.
Women supporting women.
New introductions.
Shared experiences.
Big ideas.
And those small moments of connection that often become something much bigger.
Here’s what some of our guests had to say afterwards:
“The room was packed with ambition, honesty and the kind of conversations that happen when people stop pretending business is easy.”
“Women sharing challenges, opening doors, making introductions and helping each other think bigger.”
“It was one of those days that leaves you feeling really inspired.”
“No filters, no pretence, just real people sharing real experiences.”
“It was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when we come together with purpose.”
“I walked in worried I’d feel like a little fish in a big pond. I walked out feeling inspired, connected and seen.”
“Not surface-level networking. Real discussions about growth, barriers, opportunities and how we create stronger support systems for women in business.”
“The atmosphere throughout the afternoon was built on encouragement, honesty and genuine support for one another.”
“The conversations, the opportunities and the women who opened doors made it incredibly special.”
“Women don’t lack ambition. They often lack access.”
The EVAS Community
One thing became very clear throughout the afternoon.
The EVAS is no longer simply an awards programme. It is a community.
A network of women supporting each other, sharing opportunities, opening doors and helping each other step into bigger rooms with greater confidence. From first-time nominees to previous winners, sponsors, judges, partners and allies, the Westminster Reception reflected exactly what the EVAS stands for:
Connection. Visibility. Recognition. Access.
And the belief that women belong in every room where decisions, opportunities and futures are being shaped.
View The Photos
Photos from the EVAS Westminster Reception are now available on the EVAS Facebook page.
Looking Ahead
The conversations started in Westminster will continue at:
SheChain Live
Thursday 1 October 2026 Winter Gardens Blackpool
And at the:
Enterprise Vision Awards 2026
Friday 2 October 2026 Empress Ballroom, Winter Gardens Blackpool
This is about more than one afternoon. It is about building a future where women are visible, connected, supported and given greater access to opportunities at every stage of business.