International Director of the Year accolade

She was among thirteen of the North West's leading business figures to be honoured at the prestigious awards ceremony in Manchester on 25 February 2016.

Emma develops and leads Vernacare's marketing growth strategy, a major contributing factor toward the company's 20% increase in international sales over the past two years. Recent achievements include breaking into the Asian market, with multi-million pound deals in China, and Singapore, where the company secured its biggest ever contract. She has also been deeply involved in the company's market entry into the Middle East, India, Malaysia and France, as well as reinvigorating existing markets.

Earlier this year, Emma accompanied a high profile Northern Powerhouse visit to South East Asia, led by the Prime Minister, and then a further regional trade mission to China, led by the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Here, she signed a memorandum of understanding with a leading Chinese healthcare provider.

As a UKTI trade ambassador, a group board member of the UK India Business Council (UKIBC), and a board member of Greater Manchester Regional Growth Fund, Emma encourages other innovative businesses to achieve their exporting ambitions overseas.  

Emma Sheldon said: "I feel honoured to have won this prestigious award and am so proud to be part of Vernacare's many export achievements. Building on the success of our UK market, we are taking our hygienic system of patient toileting and washing to all corners of the globe. Vernacare currently works in 48 countries globally and strives towards creating single-use toileting solutions through cutting edge products that are designed around the patient. It is a business at the forefront of the international drive for cleaner, safer healthcare, championing quality and innovation worldwide."

Emma will go through to the National UK finals of the Institute of Directors' Awards in October 2016.