Best Businesswomen Awards 2026 Categories
CATEGORY AND ENTRY INFORMATION
Since 2015 these national business women awards have grown to be one of the most prestigious business award accolades.
Female entrepreneurs are well known for being tenacious, inventive and have an amazing ability to adapt. We know the past few years have been challenging for business owners. This is why celebrating success is so important.
Our judges would love to hear the stories of success, determination and originality from talented female business owners.
In your entry, share how you built your business.
Share the challenges you have overcome and what makes you and your business special.
Our awards recognise, endorse and celebrate women in business who have successfully launched and grown their businesses. You can enter if you are in a partnership ( in this case add both names) or sole trader, or Limited company,
You can enter up to 2 categories provided they are relevant to your business and you have not won a Gold Award for that category before.
Let 2026 be the year you are recognised as an outstanding woman in business.
READ MORE ABOUT THE AWARDS HERE AND THEN REGISTER TO ENTER
IMPORTANT POINTS TO NOTE:
Entries close on 10th June 2026 at 6pm, entries submitted after this date will not be considered.
Entries are judged by a panel of business experts who have backgrounds in a wide range of industries. All the information you supply remains strictly confidential. Entries which are incomplete will not be considered.
All selected finalists are invited to attend the Gala Final on 16th October at the Daventry Court Hotel, Daventry, Northamptonshire.
For each category a Gold Winner will be announced and then our finalists will be awarded a Silver Award which recognises their business achievements. Our awards are presented to the winners by our judges and sponsors.
This is a night to truly celebrate your success with guests and sponsors. Our event is one which you will remember forever, sharing a room with other remarkable female entrepreneurial talent and commemorate all the hard work and achievements.
If the final cannot proceed due to Covid19 restrictions we will hold a gala final online on the same date. Cost per ticket is £149.00 plus VAT and includes drinks reception, 3 course dinner and half a bottle of wine per person.
Tickets are available to finalists and their invited guests only.
Read the important notes below before starting your entry – entry fee is £39.00 plus VAT per category (free for charity champion)
What are the questions?
These are the questions for all categories except for Charity Champion, Best Networking Group, Lifetime Achievement, New Business, Best Female Leader, Best Green Business, Most Inspiring Businesswoman and Customer Service. Those categories have a slight variant. You will be able to see the questions before completing the entry when you click into the category.
About the Business (Up to 250 words)
Please share what the business does – the services or products it offers your customers.
How does your business differ from its competition? (250 words)
What is your USP?
Why are you passionate about your industry? (250 words)
Please include what drives you and any experience or qualifications you have in your industry.
What activities have been instrumental in the growth of your business? (250 words)
Share examples of what has helped to grow your business.
How do you deliver great customer service? (250 words)
Share what you do in your business to ensure your customers keep returning or referring!
How have you coped with challenges in your business over the past 12 months? (250 words)
Every business faces challenges how do you find your way through?
What does your business do to give back to others? (250 words)
For example – pro bono work, community projects, charity work or mentoring
Financials. It is essential to include details of the overall trend in your sales turnover and profit
Share your turnover, gross and net profit. A copy of your previous years trading would be suitable.
Share your business achievements over the past year. (250 words)
When you look back over the last 12 months what makes you swell with pride?
BUSINESS BIO – Summarise your business in 50 words.
If you are selected this Bio will be used in our programme and on social media.
EVIDENCE – You can upload 4 files in total per entry.
Each file can be 8MB in size and you can upload DOCX or PDF file.
Customer Service Category Questions
About the Business (250 words)
How does your business deliver exceptional customer service? (250 Words)
How do you handle problems when they occur? (250 Words)
How do you retain your customers or turn them into raving fans? (250 Words)
Please share any links to client reviews/testimonials (250 Words)
Business Bio (50 Words)
Charity Champion Category Questions
Please share what inspired you to start your charity or CIC (250 Words)
What does the charity /CIC do (250 Words)
Detail the most significant and impactful outcomes (250 Words)
What challenges have you faced and how have you overcome them? (250 Words)
Share the achievements over the past 12 months? (250 Words)
Charity Bio (50 Words)
New Business Category Questions
How does your business differ from its competition? (250 words)
What research did you do before you set up your business? (250 words)
Why are you passionate about your industry? (250 words)
What activities have been instrumental in the growth of your business? (250 words)
How do you deliver great customer service? (250 words)
What challenges have you faced starting your business? (250 words)
What are your growth plans over the next 3 years? (250 words)
Share your business achievements over the past year
Business Bio (50 words)
Most Inspiring Businesswoman Category Questions
Please detail your business experience and/or qualifications in your industry (250 words)
What does your business do? (250 words)
How have you coped with the challenges of running your business? (250 words)
Share what you have done to inspire others in your industry? (250 words)
What does your business do to give back to others? (250 words)
Share your business achievements over the past year (250 words)
Business Bio (50 words)
Customer Service Category Questions
About the Business (250 words)
How does your business deliver exceptional customer service? (250 words)
How do you handle problems when they occur? (250 words)
How do you retain your customers or turn them into raving fans? (250 words)
Business Bio (50 words)
Lifetime Achievement Questions
About the Business (250 words)
Describe specific instances where you have had a positive impact in your industry (250 words)
How has the business demonstrated innovation and adaptability over the years to stay relevant and successful? (250 words)
Share examples of long-standing customer relationships and how the business has fostered customer loyalty (500 words)
What have been the contributing factors to your success? (500 words)
Share anything else you feel is relevant. (500 words)
Best Green Business
About the Business (250 words)
How does your business differ from its competition? (250 words)
What steps have you taken to ensure your business is environmentally sustainable? (250 words)
How is your business supporting the net zero carbon transition and the development of the green economy? (250 words)
How do you engage staff and customers in your environmental policies? (250 words)
How do you measure your Carbon savings? (250 words)
How do you communicate to your customers your environmental policies? (250 words)
Business Bio (50 words)
Best Networking Group
About you
Explain your background, and why you started your networking organisation. 500 words max
About your Networking Organisation 500 words max
Share who it serves, how often it meets, the format and costs.
Why do people love your networking events? 500 words max
Share any future plan 500 words max
BUSINESS BIO – Summarise your business in 50 words.
If you are selected this Bio will be used in our programme and on social media.
The entry can be written in first or third person.
You will need to evidence your entry. Consider what you can add to help enhance your answers and to prove the points you have made. Ideas include case studies, accounts, testimonials, relevant photos, customer surveys, staff surveys, graphs, infographics and links to videos. Make your entry interesting and informative.
YOU CAN SAVE YOUR ENTRY BUT NOTE YOU NEED TO SAVE THE LINK OR ENTER YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS AND IT WILL BE SENT TO YOU. THIS IS VALID FOR 30 DAYS
Our advice is to work on your entry on a word document and then copy and paste into your entry here.
Cost to enter: £39.00 plus VAT per category ( There is no charge for Charity Champion)
For charities – enter Charity Champion only.
The finalists selected by our judging panel will be invited to join us for our
Gala Awards Night
10th October 2025 at Daventry Court Hotel in Daventry
Our judges and sponsors will present the well-deserved awards.
For each category a Gold Winner will be announced and then our finalists will be awarded a Silver Award which recognises their business achievements. This is a night to truly celebrate your success with guests and sponsors. Our event is one which you will remember forever, sharing a room with other remarkable female entrepreneurial talent and commemorating all the hard work and achievements.
The Gala Awards evening will take place at the Hilton Syon Park, near London.
Cost per ticket is £149.00 plus VAT and includes a welcome drink at the drinks reception, 3 course dinner and half a bottle of wine per person.
Tickets are available to finalists and their invited guests.
Awards Entry fee- £39.00 plus VAT per category ( except for Charity Champion)
Full entry rules will be shown on the entry page
Best Businesswoman in Business Services
Sponsored by Leanier
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.
Best Businesswoman
working with Children & Families
Sponsored by Banya
This award will be presented to the best businesswoman who runs a business supporting children and families. Your business will be making a real difference to the lives of those you work with.
Examples include nursery school, clinic or business specialising in children’s welfare, health or wellbeing, children’s activities, speech therapy, family therapy, tuition school.
Best Businesswoman in
Animal Services
This award will be presented to the best female owned business in the Animal Services field.
Examples include Animal Boarding, Grooming, Dog Walking, Dog Training, Animal Activities, Animal Welfare, Animal products
Best Businesswoman in a
Creative Business
Sponsored by Funny Women
This award will be presented to the best female owned business in a Creative Industry. Examples include Photographer, Graphic Designer, Artist, Craft Creator, Performing Arts, Music.
If you are a performing arts school or music classes for children please enter Children & Families.
Best Businesswoman in
Marketing & PR Services
This award is for you if you feel you have successfully driven your clients’ businesses in the best direction and you can demonstrate quantifiable results.
Examples include Marketing Agency, Digital Agency, Marketing Consultant, PR Agency, PR Consultant.
If you are unsure if you business fits this category please contact us for advice.
Best Green Business
Sponsored by Verde Business Solutions
This award will be presented to the best female owned business who can demonstrate the steps they have taken to ensure the business is environmentally sustainable.
A green business has the primary focus of minimising the negative impact their company has on the environment. To enter this category, you must demonstrate your commitment to this cause.
You will need to share how your business is supporting the net zero carbon transition and the development of the green economy and how you measure carbon savings.
Open to any business industry.
Best Customer Service
Sponsored by Cleveland Scott York
This award will be presented to the business who can demonstrate excellent results, providing strong evidence of consistently outstanding levels of customer or client service.
Best Coach
Sponsored by Academy of Women Entrepreneurs Ltd
This award will be presented to the best businesswoman who clearly demonstrates her success as a business or life coach.
Best Consumer Business
This award will be presented to the founder of a business which is aimed at consumers. This can be any type of business whether retail or ecommerce.
Examples include Financial Advisors, Mortgage Brokers, Will Writers, Legal Services, Insurance. Any business service aimed at consumers including online, food outlets, hotels, leisure activities are eligible.
This award will be presented to the Most Inspiring Businesswoman. How do your achievements inspire other women? Share why you are a trailblazer in your industry and the challenges you have overcome. What contributions are you making to your industry and local community?
Best Business Award
Sponsored by Crane and Staples Solicitors
This award will be presented to the best business owned by a female entrepreneur. It is open to any sector and any business type operating for at least 5 years.
Lifetime Achievement
Sponsored by She Can Prosper
This category is open to any female entrepreneur who has been trading successfully for over 15 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.
Best Businesswoman in Health, Wellness & Beauty
Sponsored by One of a Style
This award will be presented to a female business owner in the health and beauty industry.
Examples include hair and beauty salons, yoga, Pilates, hypnotherapy, nutrition, medical and health Spas, aesthetic Clinics, acupuncture, physiotherapy, osteopathy, chiropractic care, naturopathy, herbal medicine, gyms and fitness classes.
Best New Business
This category is available for sponsorship
This award will be presented to the best new business and is open to you if you have been trading for less than three years
(Business start date 1st January 2022 or later)
Best Solopreneur
Sponsored by Scott Media
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.
Charity Champion
Sponsored by Cariad Marketing Ltd
This award will be presented to the founder of a charity or CIC. Share the results and impact of your charity or CIC on your recipients.
Please note there is no entry fee for this category.
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Best Female Leader
Sponsored by Mary Gregory
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.
Best Networking Group
Sponsored by Stefan Thomas
The ‘Best Networking Group’ award recognises outstanding groups that excel in fostering professional connections and growth. This award celebrates their innovation in networking, commitment to member development, and significant impact on the business community.
Notes About Entry
PLEASE NOTE
Entries close on 10th June 2026 at 6pm, entries submitted after this date will not be considered.
Sponsoring The Best Businesswomen Awards
If your company would like to sponsor our awards please contact us debbie@bestbusinesswomenawards.com to find out more.
For more information on any of the Best Businesswomen business award categories above, please call during office hours Monday -Friday 9am-5pm or email Debbie Gilbert on 07795 683598 or debbie@bestbusinesswomenawards.com.
