Calling the UK’s most inspiring entrepreneurial womenQuest to find most successful female business owners for
2008 NatWest everywoman awards
The search is on for the UK’s most inspiring female entrepreneurs, as the annual NatWest everywoman awards are launched on 1May at the House of Commons. The awards, now in their sixth year, recognise and reward the most successful women, of all backgrounds and ages, who are leading the way in UK business, and acting as role models for others wanting to go it alone.
Women make up 51% of the UK adult population, but only constitute 27% of the self-employed*, and these awards are an opportunity to celebrate those that are bucking the trend and achieving success, to help address this inequality. The government recently acknowledged the important role that women play in the economy in its recent Enterprise Strategy, and also recognised the need for women to act as mentors to others, showing how inspirational role models are pivotal to boosting the number of female entrepreneurs.
The awards are open to women from any sector or discipline, with categories set by age, each inspired by the ancient Greek goddesses – Artemis, Demeter, Athena and Hera – representing courage, determination, perseverance, wisdom and strength. 2007 also saw the introduction of two new awards – the Iris Award for use of technical innovation in business, and the first everywoman Ambassador’s Award, presented to model and business woman, Elle Macpherson, who was rated as one of the leading celebrity role models for women in business by everywoman’s recent research. The Spirit of everywoman award is also presented to a woman who has changed the landscape for women in business, and was last year presented to Dame Stella Rimington, the first female Director General of MI5. The winner of the first Spirit of everywoman award in 2006 was Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of Specsavers Opticians, who is now Patron of the NatWest everywoman awards.
The awards are free to enter and applications are accepted at www.everywoman.com from 1 May until 29 August and will be judged by an independent panel, including entrepreneurs Perween Warsi, Chief Executive and Founder – S&A Foods and Sharon Hilditch, of Crystal Clear International. The winners will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held on 3 December at the prestigious Dorchester Hotel in London, bringing together hundreds of the country’s most successful women in business, politics and the media.
For further information and details on how to enter please go to www.everywoman.com
- About everywoman: Founded in September 1999, everywoman Ltd is the UK’s leading provider of training, resources and support services for women in business, thought leaders in women’s business development and promoters of women in business and gender diversity. Its mission is to Inspire Women to Excel. Everywoman works to increase the number, and raise the status, of women in the UK economy, using their experience and expertise to help women achieve their aspirations and realise their business ambitions. everywoman delivers conferences and events, awards programmes, training and leadership programmes. It developed the UK’s first, and largest, online resource for women business owners (www.everywoman.com), which now has 32,000 members www.everywoman.com
- NatWest is proud to lead the way as innovators. With a network of over 1600 branches and 1660 Business Managers, no one is better placed to help businesses succeed. NatWest recognises the contribution that female business owners make to the UK economy and is proud to work with organisations that promote women’s enterprise.
About Sarah Lamb
Sarah is the founder of the Girl Geek Dinners & GirlyGeekdom. She is a lover of gadgets, geeky things and sport! Find out more about her on her website.
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