UPPER Clatford resident Emelie Olsson and her sister Louise have received the prestigious Pioneer 2008 Award at the Girls! Make Your Mark Awards for their business the Catapult Club.

The business provides training courses for women and was judged to be the cream of the country’s newest female-led enterprises by a panel of prominent businesswomen including Ann Summers boss Jacqueline Gold and voice coach Carrie Grant.

The Catapult Club is about empowering real women by teaching them skills that are useful and practical in everyday life.

The company was set up in 2007 after Emelie attended a course in Krav Maga, a military hand-to-hand combat system used by the Israeli armed forces.

The skills she gained transformed her confidence and the sisters decided such empowering knowledge should be taught to all women.

They began to study strong, successful women and established that presence, posture, body language, voice control and an air of assertiveness were among the qualities that underpinned these women’s confidence.

They then put together a team to teach these qualities initially using a country house venue in Devon although the programme is now available elsewhere including Winchester.

Emile Olsson said: “We are still in shock about winning.

“Girls! Make Your Mark is about empowerment and confidence, which is exactly what we’re about so it feels fantastic to have been selected by their judging panel.”

More information about the club and its courses can be found at thecatapultclub.com