An inspirational English teacher has been nominated for a national enterprise award.

Laura Crowther been put forward for an EVA (Enterprise Vision Award) by Chorley Borough Council.

The awards are for women in business and Laura has reached the final eight in the hospitality category through her work helping her husband run a bar.

Laura said: “I have had a 30-minute online interview with the judges. As of now until 9 August, there’s a public vote.

"Both are weighted 50:50 so the public vote is just as important as the interview to the overall result. I am really hoping people will vote for me!”

Laura, who has a 12-year-old daughter Lorien, spent 15 years working at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Chorley, teaching primarily seven and eight-year-olds.

A year ago, she stepped away from full-time teaching to help her husband Ian run The View Bar and Bistro at Oak Royal Golf Club, Withnell.

Both Laura and Ian are long-time supporters of Rosemere Cancer Foundation. 

Ian was diagnosed with testicular cancer in 2008. He underwent successful treatment at Rosemere Cancer Centre and since then, the couple has organised a number of fundraising events for the charity and supports others with their fundraisers.

In her new role, Laura is combining working as a supply teacher and tutor for Conexus Tuition at Buckshaw Village teaching GCSE English Language with looking after all the bar and bistro’s paperwork and marketing.

Laura is also doing the paperwork for Ian’s Busy Food Company, which is the outside catering branch of his business for which she received her nomination.

It supplies the match day teas for Brinscall and Cherry Tree Cricket Clubs. It also regularly partners with Chorley town centre’s Riley’s Wine Bar and Astley Park’s Barrica Wines to provide food for events.

Laura said: “I can cook but not like Ian. He’s a brilliant chef. Unfortunately, he’s not a paperwork person. He was running the Busy Food Company and then took over The View Bar and Bistro in 2022.

"As the businesses have grown, so has the paperwork, which is why I now help Ian with that side of things.”

To vote for Laura to win an EVA, visit enterprisevisionawards.co.uk/voting/