Since launching in 2008, the Specsavers everywoman in Retail Awards seek to identify the dynamic female talent working at the top of the retail industry and showcase the broad range of career opportunities that retail can offer women, beyond the shop floor. These awards are vital in presenting the industry as one that welcomes, values and rewards talented women, and present it as an industry sector where women can fulfil their career aspirations.

Evidence suggests that despite the retail industry employing 60% women, a very low proportion of those women are working in senior management. However, it seems that the tide is now turning for women at the highest levels; research released in January 2012 by the Professional Boards Forum found that the number of women directors in British boardrooms has reached its highest ever level (14.9%). The Specsavers everywoman in Retail Awards celebrate the success of the sector’s female leaders and seek to encourage a pipeline of future talent into the industry.

Tweet about the awards using hashtag #ewretail

Key Dates

• 1 February 2012: Nominations launch
• 16 May 2012 (5pm): Nominations close
• w/c 23 July 2012: Finalists announced
• 13 September 2012: Awards Ceremony & Dinner

Find out what happened at 2011 Specsavers everywoman in Retail Awards >>

Why Enter the Awards?

Entry Guidelines

Top Tips for Completing a Nomination

Why Enter the Awards?

By highlighting the industry's inspirational women and celebrating their successes and achievements, the Specsavers everywoman in Retail Awards aim to highlight the contributions that women are making to their field and to encourage more women to pursue a career in the sector.

Being selected as a finalist, or in fact winning an award, will attract attention and support from the business world, government, industry and the press. It will recognise the nominee as an inspirational ‘role model’ who will inspire more women to consider a career in the retail industry.

Entry Guidelines

• Nominations are now open
• Entrants should be employed in UK retailing, either chain or independent. This is defined as the sale of goods to the general public via store or online, and excludes the sale of services e.g. restaurants, hotels, travel, hair and beauty, and other leisure and hospitality
• Entrants must be based or have their chief operations in the UK
• Entrants must ensure that they are available for the awards ceremony in London, before entering the awards
• Entrants can nominate themselves or can be nominated by a colleague or associate
• Entrants can be nominated for a maximum of two categories
• All age criteria for any relevant categories should be met as of judging day
• Entrants in the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ category 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
• There will be one winner per category and one recipient of the Woman of the Year Award. The judges' decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into before or after the judging
• Entrants must provide the name and contact details of a valid internal reference i.e. Line Manager/Director
• Entrants must provide the name and contact details of a second referee i.e. Colleague/Manager/Director/Associate
• Entrants in the ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ category must provide the name and contact details of a financial referee (bank manager/accountant)
• It is not necessary to inform references at the time of making your nomination. You do not need to get their sign off or endorsement before you submit your nomination form. We will only contact references if the nominee is shortlisted
• The information provided will be disclosed only to the judges, the staff of everywoman and key partners on a strictly confidential basis
• Submitting supporting evidence: Any supporting evidence must be provided in one document only, no longer than four A4 sides, clearly labelled and emailed to awards@everywoman.com before the deadline.
• 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.

Top Tips for Completing a Nomination

One sure-fire way of getting noticed for the Specsavers everywoman in Retail 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.

• Keep within the limits! 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 achievements.
• Stick to the point and avoid waffle.
• This is your opportunity to really sell the nominee - why does the nominee deserve to win an award? How has the nominee inspired others through their work activity?

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. Any supporting evidence must be submitted in one document, no longer than four A4 sides and must be clearly labelled and emailed to awards@everywoman.com before the deadline.