A1 Pharmaceuticals Managing Director, Carmen Lewis was a finalist in the Natwest Everywomen Awards 2003.

"Extremely Inspiring and Successful"Everywomen Ltd

Carmen was a finalist in The Athena Award (Athena is the Goddess of Wisdom) for the most inspirational woman running a business aged between 36-49

The Everywomen Awards seek to highlight the efforts of women who start and run successful businesses, recognising that often they do so under the most adverse and difficult circumstances. They not only honour business women who have achieved significant success but also women who have broken down barriers and overcome challenges, such as financial constraints, social disadvantage, skills and knowledge gaps, in order to achieve that success.

Carmen's nomination was first selected by Senior Natwest banking personnel and was then reviewed by a panel of judges which consisted of a team of successful entrepreneurs and business professionals.

The awards culminated with an Awards Ceremony and a gala lunch at One Whitehall Place, followed by a reception hosted at Downing Street by the Rt. Hon. Dawn Primarolo MP, Paymaster General to the Treasury.

Carmen, who is also a finalist in the National Sales awards 'Sales Professional of the Year --Pharmaceuticals, started A1 Pharmaceuticals in 1987, unable to secure any start-up finance, Carmen, her husband and a friend set up A1 Pharmaceuticals with meagre savings from her council flat in South-East London in 1988. Having visited hundreds of customers and suppliers on foot and by public transport for the first few years, her efforts have grown the business to become a major player in pharmaceutical distribution and number 1 in the distribution of surgical dressings. Employing more than 20 people and turning over in excess of £30 million, Carmen still commands respect for her street-wise intelligence, her inexhaustible appetite for hard work and her determination to balance life as both entrepreneur and mother.