A YORKSHIRE entrepreneur who set up a successful food business on the basis of her own recipes, has won a prestigious national accolade.

Belinda Williams, from Yorkshire Provender, has been named winner of a NatWest Everywoman Award.

The York-based businesswoman started out in catering, but when business was slow during winter months, she turned her hand to creating a range of soups from her own kitchen. She would then drive down to London offering sample stock to Selfridges, Harrods and other premium food stores.

Her soups, sauces and meal pots are now stocked in Waitrose, Ocado, Co-op stores, Tesco, Booths and numerous independent food halls and farm shops. Last year she also published her first book, Delicious Soups.

The NatWest awards were set up to celebrate women’s achievements in business and she was awarded the Hera Award, for women aged 50 and over.

The event was attended by some of Britain’s best known business owners including Awards Patron Dame Mary Perkins from Specsavers, Chrissie Rucker MBE, of The White Company and Amanda Wakeley OBE.

The combined annual turnover of the businesses owned by women at the NatWest everywoman Awards was estimated to exceed £3 billion.