A decade of celebrating and advancing women entrepreneurs

During the past ten years The NatWest everywoman Awards have celebrated inspirational businesswomen who have achieved significant success - particularly those who have had to overcome adversities such as financial constraints, social disadvantages or skills gaps. The Awards play an invaluable role in both recognising success and inspiring other women to venture into the field of business.

Previous Award winners include both household names as Karren Brady, Hilary Devey, Dame Mary Perkins, Chrissie Rucker MBE, Cath Kidston MBE, Amanda Wakeley OBE and a multitude of extraordinary women whose businesses both large and small support Britain’s reputation as one of the best countries for enterprise.

Download our fantastic supplement, created by the Financial Mail on Sunday – celebrating a decade of inspirational winners.

We are delighted that NatWest, one of the UK's leading banks for business, have joined us as sponsors of this programme for the past decade.

2013 Nominations: Open tomorrow - Wednesday 3 April 2013

Who Can Enter?

The NatWest everywoman Awards are open to any female business owner whether they operate as a limited company, sole trader, or in partnership with others. The awards celebrate the woman behind the business, her personal successes and achievements and how she individually inspires others. As such, we cannot accept joint nominations.

Top Tips for Completing a Nomination

One sure-fire way of getting noticed for the NatWest everywoman Awards is a really good, well completed nomination form. Make sure you take your time over your nomination, so that you tell us absolutely everything that displays the nominee's brilliance, and doublecheck that all the contact details are correct.

• Word limits aren't a recommendation
• Nominations that include answers that are below the word limit are very unlikely to be considered
• Give us enough detail so we can fully grasp the nominee's achievement
• Stick to the point and avoid waffle

Nature of the business

• Be specific, but brief
• What service or product is provided?
• What industry is the business part of?
• Where is the product/service delivered – locally/nationally/globally? To different industries?

Business success

• How has the business evolved and grown - has it moved location, taken on employees, has the turnover increased, has the distribution/delivery branched out into new territories/industries?
• What’s the year-on-year increase within the business – staff, turnover, customers?
• What impact has the business had on its industry sector? Is it beating competitors, or providing strong competition to bigger names?
• What were the goals when the business started? Has it over-achieved? Has the business vision changed?

Overcoming barriers

• Did the nominee face any financial restrictions or funding/investment barriers?
• Were there any legal issues?
• Were there any personal issues that had to be overcome - e.g. family commitments, confidence?
• Did the nominee learn new skills for the business, take courses or gain qualifications?
• Were there any economic issues that acted as a barrier – unemployment or having to let staff go? Did the nominee have a previous business that didn't work out?
• Did the nominee have to break industry barriers in making the business a success – e.g. making a name for themselves in a male-dominated industry, or entering a new and untested industry?

Personal achievements

• What achievements has the nominee made in their business career – have they won any awards, qualifications or accreditations?
• What personal achievements has the nominee made that has inspired them to become successful in business – have they climbed a mountain, completed a marathon, invested in other successful businesses or lobbied the local council for change?

The nominee's characteristics

• This is your opportunity to really sell the nominee
• Why is the nominee successful in business?
• Why does the nominee deserve to win an award?
• How has the nominee inspired others through their work activity and attitude to business?

Support your nomination

Remember, you can submit supporting evidence to your nomination in the form of press releases, news articles, photographs, testimonials or other items which you think will help the judges make informed decisions about the nominee's business. Please submit any supporting documents together in one document, 4-sides maximum.

Terms and Conditions

• Entrants must be based or have their chief operations in the UK
• Entrants must be able to demonstrate that they are the key owner of the business and must have been in business for longer than 12 months as of the nomination deadline.
• Please ensure nominees are available on the scheduled Judging Day (in Central London) and the Awards Ceremony date in the potential outcome of being selected as a successful finalist.
• A nomination form will need to be completed for each entrant. The information provided will be disclosed only to the judges, the staff of everywoman and our key partner, NatWest.
• All age criteria for any relevant categories should be met as of judging day (e.g. a Artemis nominee should be 25 or under on judging day)
• Previous applicants to the NatWest everywoman Awards are invited to reapply, and will need to complete a new online nomination with up-to-date information about their business.
• There will be one winner per category and one recipient of the NatWest everywoman Award. The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into before or after the judging.
• All decisions regarding the judging process are made by our independent judging panel. The everywoman team do not influence this process.
• Details provided in the nomination form will potentially be used for press releases and web content if the nominee is placed as a finalist or winner, so please ensure it is factually correct - we will not be liable for inaccuracies published based on nomination content and changes may not be possible after publication

FAQs

Can I nominate myself?

Yes you can nominate yourself.

Can I attach supporting documents to my nomination?

Yes, you can submit supporting evidence to your nomination in the form of press releases, news articles, photographs, testimonials or other items which you think will help the judges make informed decisions about your business. Please submit any supporting documents together in one document, 4-sides maximum, clearly labelled with the nominee's details. Make sure that you're not sending us originals, as they cannot be returned. Please note, we are unable to accept testimonials directly from your clients. Please email these to events@everywoman.com, or alternatively post them to Events Administrator, Everywoman Ltd, 17 Wootton Street, London SE1 8TG before the closing date.

What if I've been nominated before?

You are eligible to enter the NatWest everywoman Awards even if you've been nominated before. You will be required to submit a new online nomination.

Can I enter if I’m based outside of the UK?

No, entrants must be based or have their chief operations in the UK