AFTER thousands cast their votes, the three finalists for the Oxfordshire Business Mother of the Year Award have been chosen.

The trio was announced on Thursday from more than 2,500 votes.

The awards, sponsored by the Oxford Mail, is one of 15 categories in the Oxfordshire Venus Awards, which celebrates women in business.

They include Jody Fletcher, director of Banbury-based Chilli Promotional Products, which sells branded corporate items like mousemats and jumpers.

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The 36-year-old, mum to two-year-old Lottie, said: “This is really, really exciting.

“I’m quite active on social networking, so I put out quite a few posts asking people to vote for me,” she added.

The winner will be revealed at the final at the Oxford Belfry Hotel on November 14.

Mrs Fletcher said: “I’ve just been taking it one step at a time, I hadn’t thought about the final.

“It’s quite nerve-wracking, really.”

Finalists also include Julie Mutton, from Wootton, near Abingdon, who is mum to Ruben, nine, and Phoebe, four.

The 43-year-old, who runs beauty company Bare UK in St Aldate’s, Oxford, said: “It’s great news, I was a bit shocked. I got my brother and friends to share it and get people to vote for me.”

Lesley Southam, from Banbury, juggles her cake business with caring for stepdaughter Robyn, 16, and children Cameron, eight, and Millie, six.

She said: “I’m quite overwhelmed, it’s really nice to know people voted.

“I went a bit nuts on Facebook to get people to vote for me, because that’s where I’ve always driven my business.

“I never expected to get to the semi-finals, so to be in the top three is amazing.”

The Venus Awards were founded in 2009 by Tara Howard but this is the first year they have come to Oxfordshire.

Ms Howard said: “Being a mother is an amazing thing that no woman should miss out on.

“What a great time we have got where we can have it all. Congratulations to anyone who manages a business and children, but especially our three finalists.”

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