A woman who went from selling pizza in a bikini to running a multi-million pound drilling company has landed a prestigious award.

Julie White, managing director of diamond drilling firm D-Drill, has been named the Vitalise Business Woman of the Year 2011 at a ceremony at the Hilton Birmingham Metropole, which celebrates women’s achievements across the Midlands.

After leaving college, Ms White did a range of jobs including being a yacht’s skipper and being a pizza seller on a beach during her travels.

But after 12 years away she returned to the region and bought the family business – D-Drill – from her father in 2008 and has set about modernising the company which has its headquarters in Coventry and offices around the UK.

She has increased turnover and, as well as being managing director, has just signed up for the company apprenticeship scheme to see what the firm’s other drilling apprentices go through.

She said: “I am absolutely delighted and honoured to have won such a major award.

“The competition was so tough and I am just thrilled that the judges chose me and I will use this as an opportunity to further champion the cause of women in business.

“It’s not a case of competing against men – it’s all about giving other women the confidence to see what they can achieve. The industry that I am in is traditionally dominated by men and if I can do what I have done – other women can too.”