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Our awards are only open to female business owners. You can also be a partner in the business, but you must have financial stake in the business and be integral to its success.
The only exception is the Best Female Leader Award.
If you have won a Gold Award you cannot re enter that category. You can enter other categories.
All selected finalists win either a Gold or Silver award presented at our Gala Final.
Please read the categories carefully and if you have any questions, please contact us for advice. You can enter up to 2 categories.
In addtion to our Gold & Silver Awards each year there are some addtional special recognition awards selected from all our finalists. So ensure when entering you share as much information as possible to showcase your acheivements.
There is no voting. The submissions are judged by a panel of business experts. This is a business competition and all finalists selected are recognised as a mark of distinction.
This category is open to any businesswoman in the Business Services field. Your business will be one which serves other companies and you’ll be able to demonstrate the outstanding contribution you’ve made to those businesses. Examples include Accountancy, HR, VA, IT, Cyber Security, Website design, Scientific research, App development, Law Firm (all types will be included here both family and commercial use this category) If you are a marketing agency, business coach or creative please enter your specific category- do not enter this category.
This category is open to any businesswoman who runs a business that supports children or families. Your business will be making a real difference to the lives of children or families. You must be able to demonstrates a measurable positive impact in your entry.
This category is open to any female owned business in the Animal Services field. E.g. dog walking, training, vets, pet care Share how you take care of your animal clients and their families and what you do that makes your business so special.
This category is open to any businesswoman who owns a business in marketing or PR services. Share the results of successful campaigns and how you have helped grow your clients customer base and revenue.
This is a new award for 2025.This award recognises an outstanding female leader who has demonstrated exceptional vision, influence, and impact within her field. She consistently inspires others, drives innovation, and achieves measurable success while fostering a culture of inclusivity, collaboration, and empowerment. This leader exemplifies resilience, integrity, and a commitment to excellence.
This category is open to business owners AND women who work in a business at a senior level.
This category is open to you if you have been trading for less than three years (business start date 1st January 2022 or later). Any type of female owned business can enter.
This category is open to any business type female owned business who can demonstrate evidence and results of consistently outstanding levels of customer or client service. This award is presented to a business going above and beyond for their clients showcasing the very best customer service.
You will ideally need online digital proof (e.g Google, Facebook, Trustpilot reviews). If you have any questions on the evidence please contact us.
This category is open to any businesswoman who is a successful business or life coach. You must be able to clearly evidence the impact you have made on the lives of your client. Also share your qualifications and experience and share how you get great results.
This category is open to a female founder of a charity or CIC. Share the results and impact of your charity or CIC on the users. If you win this category, we fundraise for your charity the following year.
This category is open to the female founder of a business which is aimed at Consumers. This can be any type of business and can be retail or ecommerce. Share in your entry how you started and grew your business and how you maintain good levels of customer care.
This category recognises business owners who are inspirational women. How do your business achievements inspire other women? Share why you are a trailblazer in your industry and the challenges you have overcome. Why does your story inspire other women. Share why your business is successful and your passion and contribution to your industry.
This award will be presented to the best female owned business. This is open to any sector. This is open to any business type operating for at least 5 years. To be selected for this category you must be able to demonstrate a great trading record, good levels of customer service, and how you have grown and developed a sustainable business.
This category is open to any female business owner in recruitment. You might be a partner in the business or wholly owned. You must be able to demonstrate care for both clients and candidates and how you support them. What makes your business stand out in the recruitment industry?
This category is open to any female business owner in the health or beauty industry. E.g. Hair or beauty salon, any type of wellness business or health business . Share in your entry your qualifications and experience and what makes your business stand out.
To enter this category, you must be a business committed to sustainability. A Green business has the primary focus of minimising the negative impact their company has on the environment. You must be able to demonstrate how your business is supporting the net zero carbon transition and the development of the green economy.
This category is open to any female entrepreneur who does not have any employees ( using freelancers is fine) and you don't have a business partner. You are flying solo and will be a trail blazer in your industry and someone who has created a successful business. This is open to any industry
This category is open to any female entrepreneur who owns a business in a creative industry. Examples include photography, videography, animation, graphic design, art, crafts, music and performing arts. ( Note if your business runs children's activities please enter Children & Families category)
This category is open to any female entrepreneur who has been trading successfully for over 10 years and can demonstrate their contribution to their industry. This award will be presented to someone who can demonstrate sustained excellence, innovation, and influence. It will recognise not just a single achievement but a body of work that has had a profound impact on their profession, society, or the world.
This category is open to any female led business networking group. The group can be 'Not for Profit', industry specific, franchise or membership. This category seeks to recognise groups which support it's attendees and excels in fostering meaningful connections, providing value to its members, and contributing positively to its industry or community.
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The Book Midwife® is a book coaching company founded in 2002 by multi-award-winning entrepreneur Mindy Gibbins-Klein. Since its inception, the company has helped over one thousand experts plan, write and publish great books fast!
The philosophy of the company is that “Every book deserves to be written and published”. Having spent ten years trying to write and publish her first book, Mindy created a process to help aspiring authors get their books done better and faster, and with more clarity and confidence.
The Book Midwife® is specifically reaching out to people from traditionally under-represented groups to create more diversity, equality and inclusion on our bookshelves.
Visit the website – https://www.thebookmidwife.com
Banya Family Placement Agency is an independent foster agency.
Our fully supported foster carers look after children and young people placed by local authorities.
Banya supports foster carer households all over the UK. Hundreds of children and young people have benefited from placements with our foster carers since Banya was founded in 1997.
We provide a high standard of foster care for a range of children and young people. Banya has developed specialisms in placing sibling groups, unaccompanied children and young people from overseas, children with special needs, and troubled teenagers.
We’re a diverse and welcoming fostering agency, so we open our foster carer applications to everyone. Your race, culture, sexual orientation or income don’t affect your chances. In fact we need foster carers from a wide range of backgrounds, races and religion. This is because all children have their own unique and individual background and heritage. You do not need to be married, own a house or have children of your own.
We believe the diversity of the foster parents we work with is a positive thing when finding the best possible family for a foster child.
Find out more about becoming a Foster Parent here
Visit the website – Who Can Foster?
Plain Talking HR, based in Luton, offers comprehensive human resources services to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and beyond. Our mission is to provide quick, decisive, and cost-effective HR support tailored to each business’s unique needs.
The service offerings include:
Led by Bina Briggs, who holds a Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development qualification and has extensive experience across various industries, Plain Talking HR is committed to delivering practical and pragmatic HR solutions. Their approach ensures that businesses remain compliant with employment laws while fostering positive employee relations and a productive work environment.
Visit the website – https://www.plaintalkinghr.com
Mary Gregory Ltd offers comprehensive leadership coaching services designed to empower senior leaders and organizations to maximize their impact and performance. Recognising the challenges posed by today’s relentless pace of change, Mary provides tailored solutions to help leaders navigate complex dynamics and drive meaningful results.
Services include:
By engaging with Mary Gregory Ltd’s services, leaders can strength their confidence, enhance communication, boost resilience, and gain clarity in their vision and purpose, both personally and organizationally. Mary’s approach is centred on enabling leaders to access their strengths, values, and purpose, leading from a place of power, love, and humility.
Link to website https://www.marygregory.com/
The Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) is a business platform designed to guide women business owners in growing and scaling their businesses with confidence. AWE provides access to business opportunities, the right network, and a disciplined strategy to drive success.
Founded by Ceylan, AWE delivers real impact—its active members experience an average income growth of 88% within 12 months (Impact Survey 2022) and achieve both their business and life goals through strategic planning and business education.
At the heart of AWE’s offering is THE PLANNING. The word itself may not be exciting, and the process might not be thrilling, but the results? Absolutely phenomenal! Strategic planning is the key to making business growth intentional, predictable, and stress-free.
AWE’s flagship “Create Your Game Plan” event series empowers women entrepreneurs to take control of their future by setting clear goals, overcoming roadblocks, and building actionable strategies that drive real results. These sessions also provide access to AWE’s signature growth programs, tailored to different business levels.
Beyond tools and events, AWE fosters a supportive community of ambitious women who want to scale their businesses with confidence and ease.
OUR PHILOSOPHY: NO FOUNDER LEFT BEHIND!
Because when women entrepreneurs plan for success, they win big—and so do their communities and the world around them.
Visit the website – https://academyforwomenentrepreneurs.com/
