02/01/07 - Women get the New Year off to an enterprising start
New research has shown that more women than ever are starting businesses in the East of England. UK lead women’s enterprise organisation Prowess is working with Enterprising Women, the regional partnership of women’s enterprise support providers, to say a big thank you to those who have made it happen.
The 2007 Prowess Awards are aimed at those giving a hand up to women in business, through mentoring, business support, advocacy or by acting as a role model and inspiring others. There are also Awards for the thinkers behind compelling press and research reports.
“We are working with Prowess to increase nominations from local women and supporters; to make sure that key individuals and organisations get the recognition they deserve” says Bev Hurley of Enterprising Women. “Nominations close on 12th January and we need more from our region”.
Who are the judges?
Leading women entrepreneurs have also stepped up to support the Awards. Judges include Café Republic founder Sahar Hashemi, Flowcrete CEO Dawn Gibbins, Sally Preston of Babylicious and Penny Newman of Café Direct, who says “Those Awards celebrate and bring together the passion, ideas and leadership we need to help many more women to start and grow businesses in the UK.”
Categories and sponsors are:
The categories reflect the range of support and inspiration that is driving women’s enterprise development in the UK. Each category is supported by a key sponsor who champions women’s enterprise in this area.
- Inspirational Business Mum – sponsored by Yellow Pages.
- Inspirational Woman – sponsored by HSBC.
- Female Business Mentor of the Year – sponsored by Intuit/ Quickbooks.
- Business Support Professional of the Year
- Making an Impact (with data and statistics) – sponsored by SEEDA.
- Press Award – sponsored by BHP Information Solutions.
- Innovator (in women’s business support) – sponsored by Lloyds TSB.
- Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Enterprise Development – sponsored by ACCA.
Entering is easy
The entry process is really simple and asks nominees to submit a statement following a few set criteria. The closing date for nominations is Friday 12 January 2007 and the Awards will be presented at a glittering Gala Awards Dinner on 7 February. For further details and a nomination form call Prowess on 01603 762355 or download from www.prowess.org.uk/conference/Awards.htm
ENDS
Media enquiries:
Julia O’Rourke, Prowess: j.orourke@prowess.org.uk 01603 762355 Cobi Smith, Enterprising Women: cobi.smith@enterprising-women.org 01223 421468
Editor’s notes
1. Local case studies of women business owners who’re giving a hand-up to others are available on request.
2. Award judges’ are available for interview and photos are available on request. Further quotes from judges as below:
Dawn Gibbins, CEO Flowcrete “The Prowess Awards are all about giving a hand-up to women in business – something I am passionate about and delighted to support”.
Sahar Hashemi, author and founder of Café Republic “This really is a new era for women where you can mix who you are with what you do. Entrepreneurship can provide the means to balance your personal life with work aspirations. Inspiration and role models are important to help women to see for themselves, what I passionately believe – that anyone can do it”.
Sally Preston, CEO Babylicious “I love the control running my own business has given me and my family. It’s not easy, but I would like to see many more women have the chance to consider it. They need the inspiration and support which the Prowess Awards celebrate”.
3. ‘New Research’ refers to ‘Stairways to Growth: supporting the ascent of Women’s Enterprise in the UK’ published by Prowess, and including a 4 year regional gender analysis of the UK Global Entrepreneurship Monitor.
4. Prowess is the UK network of organisations which support women to start and grow businesses. Prowess has 250 members who support 100,000 women in business each year and 10,000 new business start-ups.
5. You can find women-friendly business support and events locally on the Enterprising Women website, www.enterprising-women.org, and nationally on the Prowess website www.prowess.org.uk.
