NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards Call for Entries

Francesca Russell

NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards call for entries

Applications are now open for the 2017 NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Now in its fifth year, the Awards celebrate the hard work and inspiring stories of British entrepreneurs, not simply their financial success. There are 11 categories to enter in each host city – Cardiff, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and London.

This year also sees the introduction of a new category for ‘Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year’, which will be awarded to those leading and excelling within a family business. Creator of the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards, Francesca Russell, said: “Family businesses are often considered incompatible with entrepreneurship because they are usually tradition-bound and multi- generational. However, for family firms to continually prosper, they need to ensure that they pass on the entrepreneurial mindset and capabilities to create new streams of wealth across future generations.”

Francesca added: “Succession planning is also a big issue in business and, if handled well, can make a massive difference to the future viability of a company. Passing on the business baton to the younger generation is a challenge and we want to celebrate those who have successfully managed that transition.”

This year, the Awards have attracted a number of high profile judges including James Caan CBE, Hayley Parsons, founder of Gocompare.com, Tony Mascolo, co-founder of TONI&GUY, and Jeff Lynn, co-founder of Seedrs.

As well as attracting some of the highest profile business leaders in the UK to its judging panel, the Awards has also expanded its reach across five cities, up from two in 2016, and has secured sponsorship from a number of leading brands. NatWest is the headline sponsor for the Awards and MINI has recently renewed its support for 2017 and is sponsoring the ‘Creative Entrepreneur of the Year’ award.

Francesca continued: “2017 is an exciting year for the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards. As well as increasing the number of regions that we can cover, we have attracted the best of the best in terms of a judging panel and sponsors. We are excited about the next phase and hearing the great entrepreneurial stories out there, waiting to be celebrated.”

In its five-year history, the NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards has celebrated some outstanding entrepreneurs who have gone on to become household names. Previous winners include David Buttress, former CEO of Just Eat, Julie Deane, founder of The Cambridge Satchel Company, James Watt, founder of BrewDog, and Alexander Solomou, founder and CEO of TheLADBible Group.

The NatWest Great British Entrepreneur Awards is open for applications, and you can enter here: www.greatbritishentrepreneurawards.com. The deadline for entries is August 18th, 2017.

 

 

Natwest Everywoman Awards Invites Entries For 2014

suitUK’s leading programme for female entrepreneurship seeks enterprising stars

 

Female entrepreneurs following in the footsteps of Jo Malone MBE, Hilary Devey CBE, Kelly Hoppen MBE and Cath Kidston MBE are being sought as the 2014 NatWest everywoman Awards open for entry. Britain’s most successful programme supporting female enterprise has attracted thousands of entries and recognised the achievements of dozens of women in its 12 year history. At its annual ceremony stories of extraordinary tenacity and determination are brought to the fore as the cream of the business and political worlds celebrate the achievements of the UK’s leading business owners.

 

There are now almost 1.5 million women self-employed in the UK, which represents an increase of around 300,000 since before the economic downturn*. Whilst on the increase, this figure is still disproportionately low compared with the number of male-owned businesses, and the NatWest everywoman Awards aims to address the imbalance, highlighting the achievements of exceptional women of all ages. By raising awareness and creating role models, the Awards’ purpose is to show others that anything is possible and give them the confidence and courage to follow their business dreams.

 

The NatWest everywoman Awards are free to enter and individuals can be nominated or can enter themselves at www.everywoman.com/ewawards. The core categories are:

Artemis – for a woman running a business who is aged 25 or under.

Demeter – for a woman running a business who is aged between 26 and 35.

Athena – for a woman running a business who is aged between 36 and 49.

Hera – for a woman running a business who is aged 50 or over.

 

Specialist category:

 

Iris – This Award is given to the most inspirational and successful female entrepreneur who runs a business that uses technology in an innovative and disruptive way. Sponsored by IBM.

Maxine Benson MBE, co-founder of everywoman comments: “With categories according to age we aim to show the development of businesses from the hungry start-ups fuelled by passion and determination through to mature, global organisations that make significant contributions to the economy and employment. We have identified that role models are crucial in their influence of women making decisions about their professional future and these awards are important in highlighting success stories and inspiring future generations of entrepreneurs. The profile attributed by the awards has helped many of our winners and finalists grow their businesses further, and provides valuable networking opportunities.”

Anne McPherson, Managing Director, Enterprise at NatWest says, “We are delighted to support the NatWest everywoman awards for the 12th year in a row. These awards have showcased many excellent role models over the years, and have offered great encouragement to female entrepreneurs at all stages of their business journey. At NatWest, we have seen a tangible increase in the number of women starting up in business, and we continue to be committed to encouraging more women to do so. To this end, we have a network of over 200 externally accredited Women in Business Specialists across the country who share and understand our customers’ ambitions, and provide business advice, networking and mentoring opportunities to help them build successful businesses and fulfil their potential”.

 

Nominations are made online at www.everywoman.com/ewawards until 7 July.

 

The winners will be announced at a ceremony held on 3 December 2014 at The Dorchester Hotel, London and will be attended by hundreds of the UK’s leading businesswomen, politicians, media and VIPS. For further information and for table bookings, please contact everywoman directly on 020 7981 2574.

 

 

Enter The Natwest Everywomen Awards.

ONE MONTH TO GO TO ENTER NATWEST EVERYWOMAN AWARDS.

2012 MARKS A DECADE OF CELEBRATING THE UK’S LEADING FEMALE ENTREPRENEURS

If you are a female entrepreneur then enter into the Natwest Everyomwn Awards. During the ten years since inception the NatWest everywoman Awards have attracted thousands of entries and celebrated Britain’s leading female entrepreneurs. This inspiring programme has commended both household names such as Karren Brady, Hilary Devey, Dame Mary Perkins, Chrissie Rucker and Cath Kidston, along with a multitude of extraordinary women whose businesses both large and small support Britain’s reputation as one of the best countries for enterprise.

In this, their 10th year the NatWest everywoman Awards are reaching out to women in enterprise across the country to put themselves forward. Supported by government and big business alike, the awards acknowledge the drive and tenacity required for successful enterprise, symbolising UK’s best business success and inspiring and motivating the next generation of female entrepreneurs.

The NatWest everywoman Awards are free to enter and nominations can be made by business owners or those connected to them by 20 July 2012. The core award categories are:

Artemis is Goddess of the Hunt and Protector of Youth. This award is given to the most inspirational woman running a business who is aged 25 or under.

Demeter is Goddess of the Harvest. The Demeter Award will go to the most inspirational woman running a business who is aged between 26 and 35.

Athena is Goddess of Wisdom. This award is given to the most inspirational woman running a business who is aged between 36 and 49.

Hera is Queen of Goddesses and her wisdom and ability to inspire provide the basis for this award. This award is given to the most inspirational woman running a business who is aged 50 or over.

Other award categories include:

Iris is Messenger of the Gods, and is awarded to the most inspirational and successful female entrepreneur who runs a technology business that makes a difference, provides real solutions in the world today and, ultimately, is instrumental in building a smarter planet.

Hestia represents the hearth and home and is presented to a female entrepreneur who runs a rural business contributing to the local economy.

Gaia represents the earth and is presented to a female entrepreneur whose business has a clearly defined social and/or ethical purpose.

Karen Gill MBE, Co-founder and Director of everywoman says, “SMEs make up over 99% of the total number of businesses in the UK* so in terms of our economic health it is vital that we support and acknowledge their contribution to Britain plc. If we do not take steps to champion female enterprise so that future generations see it as a viable career choice, we will risk irreparable damage to our already fragile economy.

“Over ten years the NatWest everywoman Awards have done just that, recognising scores of women who have achieved business success through hard work, determination and passion and who are role models for future generations of female entrepreneurs.”

*Federation of Small Business, November 2011

Anne Mcpherson, Managing Director, Diversity in Business, NatWest says, “We are delighted to support the NatWest everywoman awards for the 10th year running. Over the years the awards have been a great encouragement to women entrepreneurs. At NatWest we have certainly seen an upturn in women owned businesses in the past few years and we are committed to encouraging more female entrepreneurship. Our 200 Women in Business ambassadors across the country share and understand our customers’ ambitions and provide the coaching and mentoring that helps them fulfill their potential and build successful businesses”.

Nominations are made online at www.everywoman.com/ewawards until 20 July and will be judged by a panel of accomplished businesswomen and entrepreneurs.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony held on 5 December 2012 at The Dorchester in London attended by celebrities, VIPs and major figures from the worlds of business and politics. ­