Launched in April, the awards have been designed to address gender imbalances that handicap some companies by highlighting the excellence of women working in the UK IT channel.

ArtSystems’ managing director Steve Hawker said: “Lorna’s hard work has made her a role model for everyone here at ArtSystems, so we’re all hoping her great example will be recognised and acknowledged a little further afield.

“These awards recognise the vital role women play in our industry, and Lorna is a fine example. She guides her team to deliver excellence under pressure and keeps our customers printing.

“She is one of the few women leading service delivery teams in a largely male-dominated service sector.”

The CRN award winners will be announced on 18 October during a ceremony at London’s Hilton Bankside.

Brindley, who has worked at ArtSystems since 2010, previously as service delivery manager, added: “I was shocked to be nominated by my superiors, and never expected to get through to the finals. This is a great honour and I’m really looking forward to the event in October.”

Established in 1986 and now part of Westcoast Holdings group, Nottingham-based specialist systems distributor and service provider ArtSystems, turns over more than £30m and employs over 60 staff.

The company serves the design, graphics, signage and display markets with imaging and printing hardware as well as consumables from manufacturers including Canon, Colortrac, HP, Keencut, Makerbot, Onyx, Stratasys, Sihl, Summa and Neschen. It has recently introduced a new wallpaper, Vista, to its Xativa range of wide-format media.