Celebrating Ashford Women in Business
Posted on 18 February 2026Ashford has so many amazing women leading successful businesses in Ashford. Embracing and promoting women in business is not just important - it is essential for creating a more equitable and prosperous future.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, we want to shine a spotlight on remarkable businesswomen who are inspiring the Ashford community.
Jo Adams
Jo Adams is an Ashford based Personal Trainer, Health & Wellness Coach, and Menopause Wellness Practitioner dedicated to transforming the lives of midlife women through fitness, nutrition, and hormone‑informed wellbeing. Her work centres on empowering women in their 40s and beyond to reclaim their vitality, confidence, and joy for life.
She is known for helping women not just improve their physical health, but rediscover a deeper sense of energy and self-belief.
Jo offers a wide range of programmes tailored specifically for midlife women. She also has a big impact in the Ashford community leading an active health and wellbeing community for women over 40, offering ongoing support, shared experiences, and a safe space for women to learn and grow together.
Lucy Clark
Since joining EKC Ashford College in 2021 as Head of English, Lucy is now Principal and continues to champion the power of education to transform lives. Lucy brings a wealth of experience, academic insight, and community‑focused leadership to her role. She is a perfect example of a remarkable businesswoman, inspiring and shaping the future of young people in Ashford.
Lucy began her teaching career in Manchester as a secondary school English teacher, before moving into Further Education when she returned to Kent.
What truly drives Lucy is her belief in the transformative role of education. She is committed to ensuring the college plays a meaningful role within the community, and she’s particularly focused on strengthening EKC Ashford College’s representation within the Ashford Education and Development Group (AEDG).
Under Lucy’s leadership, the college continues to grow as a place where ambition is nurtured, opportunity is expanded, and every learner is empowered to thrive.
Katie Hodson
Katie Hodson’s remarkable career journey began at the Azets Ashford office in 2005, where she entered as an apprentice. By 2009, she had achieved her ACCA qualification, laying the foundation for a distinguished career in finance and business. She is now Office Managing Partner in the Ashford office.
Katie’s day‑to‑day work encompasses a broad spectrum of taxation, accounting, and advisory services.
Her client base represents a diverse range of industries throughout the local community, demonstrating her adaptability and breadth of knowledge.
Katie also plays an active role in regional development, sitting on the Kent Economic Development Group. She has also contributed significant leadership as Chairman of the Kent Association of Young Entrepreneurs on the IoD executive board, championing innovation and entrepreneurship.
On International Women’s Day, Katie Hodson stands as a shining example of progression from apprentice to leader. Her journey is a testament to the power of ambition, expertise, and community engagement, serving as an inspiration to women in business everywhere.
Beth Peal
Ashford Volunteer Centre provides a range of services, training opportunities and a friendly volunteer service, helping those who wish to volunteer to find opportunities, and supporting local organisations who wish to find volunteers.
Beth is the CEO of Ashford Volunteer Centre and is a shining example of giving back to our community.
“Diversity is a key factor for organisations that value innovation. Women bring unique perspectives and experience to leadership roles - something which really helps make a better and more well-rounded decision-making process in a business environment. As a woman in business, I can have my voice heard and actively contribute to the change I aspire to see in the world. I want my daughter to have the same self-belief – knowing she can truly impact the world if she chooses to.
“Don’t get me wrong I work very hard, but there is a tremendous sense of satisfaction from my job and seeing the benefit of volunteers locally.”
Jasmin Vardimon
Ashford thrives as a creative hub thanks to the renowned Jasmin Vardimon Company. Jasmin, who set up her headquarters JV H.O.M.E in Ashford, is an inspirational woman who is helping to shape Ashford’s cultural scene and inspiring women and audiences worldwide.
Jasmin is not just a talented dancer and choreographer, but also a leader who has built a successful company and significantly impacted the dance scene in Ashford and beyond. To recognise her company’s significant contribution to the development of the borough, Ashford Borough Council presented Jasmin Vardimon with an Honorary Ambassador of Ashford Award in 2023.
“Happy International Women’s Day! It is so important to show young girls that women can become leaders of organisations and companies should they wish to do so. I am very proud to be celebrating 25 years of my Company within JV H.O.M.E. in Ashford – the first purpose-built building for a female choreographer in the UK.
“I hope that my journey can inspire other female artists to pursue their creativity and continue to grow the number of females in leadership positions.”
Melissa Dawkins
Many of you know her from Made in Ashford, in County Square and The Craftship, located in Coachworks. She is the founder of The Craftship Enterprise CIC a social enterprise dedicated to creativity in our community. She leads this town centre shop and craft hub which is made up of 95% female founded businesses, artists and creatives filling our town with colour and creations. She is passionate about free creativity for families and has been raising funds and reinvesting shop profits into these sessions which increase well-being and build connections in our community.
“Leading Made in Ashford made me realise the importance of making a community for creative business owners like myself, mainly comprising female entrepreneurs. I wanted to support them to gain flexible work & varied revenue streams, for others to build their networks of creatives in the local area and help our community find the happiness in making. At this point we became a CIC led by a fully female board.
“We were then able to create more paid opportunities for these business owners and in turn help support our community too. That is when we really started to hone-in on our values, and those values are the inspiration and drive that I hold every day, which push me to work hard, fight for the future of our organisation and support other women in business.”
