Emily Williams, co-owner and director of Yateley-based marketing agency Virens, has been named Businesswoman of the Year at the 2026 Hampshire regional Business Awards.
The award forms part of the Women in Business Awards and recognises Emily’s work building Virens into a trusted marketing partner for small businesses across Hampshire, Surrey, Berkshire and beyond.
Emily runs Virens alongside her partner and fellow director, Tom Irving. The small team helps businesses improve their websites, local search visibility, Google Ads and wider marketing without the confusing language and agency theatre that often come with it.
Emily said:
“I’m genuinely thrilled to have won. Running a small business means juggling client work, decisions, finances and all the little jobs nobody sees, so it’s lovely to have that work recognised.
“Virens has always been about giving small business owners clear, honest marketing support that works for them. I’m very proud of what we’ve built and grateful to our clients for trusting us with their businesses.”
The award comes shortly after Virens was named Best Small Business Marketing Agency 2026 – Hampshire in the SME News Business Elite Awards.
Tom Irving, co-owner and director of Virens, said:
“Emily puts a huge amount into Virens and the businesses we work with, so this award feels very well deserved.
“We’ve picked up a couple of awards recently, which is brilliant, but we’re still the same small local team. We answer our own phones, work directly with our clients and care about whether the marketing actually brings in enquiries.”
