Rules of entry
The 11th Annual North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2010
Entries have now closed. Please do not attempt to fill in a form as this will not be submitted. Thank you.
North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2010
Rules of Entry
Who should enter?
Any woman who is operating a woman-owned/women-led business in the North East of England. Nominees should be heading up an independent organisation and must be the main driving force behind the business or social enterprise.
Rules of entry
- Nominees must be operating a woman-owned or women-led business or social enterprise and must be the company’s driving force.
- Nominations can only be accepted from those whose trading address falls within the North East region. This is defined by postcode and is as follows:
Durham & Wearside (all DH postcodes; all SR postcodes; DL12 to DL17; TS21; TS28; TS29)
Tees Valley (all TS postcodes; DL1 to DL5).
Tyneside & Northumberland (all NE postcodes, all TD postcodes, CA8 and CA6 (east side of the bridge)
- All categories require a minimum period of trading/operation, please check specific category criteria for details.
- There is no age limit for entrants with the exception of ‘Best Young Entrepreneur’ where entries are only accepted from nominees under 30 on 11th September 2010.
- Nominations will NOT be accepted from 2009 winners who wish to apply for the same category – nominations from 2009 runners up and shortlisted candidates are encouraged.
- Nominees can enter for one category only, in addition to the Susan Dobson Award (if desired).
- The judges’ reserve the right to put category winners forward for the Susan Dobson Award (if they have not already entered).
- All entries are treated in confidence. Any accounts submitted will be for the sight of the judges only and will not be published. Any other information submitted may be used for promotional and publicity purposes post awards.
- All shortlisted entries MUST include appropriate financial data (eg latest set of accounts, future projections or whatever best demonstates your organisation’s financial performance to date)
- Shortlisted nominees should expect a company visit and interview on their premises.
- The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
- The organisers reserve the right to withdraw an award from any applicant supplying false information in their entry and the judges reserve the right to audit any information supplied.
- By completing an entry to the Awards, you agree to all the rules of entry.
How to enter?
Go to www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk to register your interest.
Read the rules of entry and judging/category criteria BEFORE proceeding with your entry.
Complete the online nomination form - only entries submitted via the online process will be accepted.
All shortlisted candidates will be asked to include appropriate financial data (eg latest set of accounts, future projections or whatever best demonstates your organisation’s financial performance to date)
Closing date for entries is 5.00pm on Saturday 18th September 2010.
Judging Criteria
Standard criteria for ALL entries
- Nominations must be for a woman-owned or woman-led business or social enterprise
- Must show evidence of determination and drive
- Demonstrate a great business idea
- Possess a sustainable business model
- Show a thorough understanding of their marketplace (market research)
- Display evidence of great customer service
ALL nominees must display evidence of the above criteria, in addition to the specific criteria for each category entered.
Category criteria
The Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship
This Flagship Award is given in honour of a truly remarkable entrepreneur, Susan Dobson. The Award, sponsored by The Susan Dobson Memorial Fund, is to recognise a woman who, over the last 5 years or more, has achieved outstanding success in creating or growing a new or existing enterprise. The winner will have vision, enthusiasm, leadership and a stubborn refusal to be dissuaded from her chosen path!
What the judges are looking for:
- Businesses trading for at least 5 years on 11th September 2010
- Accounts for the last trading year
- Inspirational women
- Impact the nominees have had in the business and on the community
- Influence within their industry or community
- External focus
- Sustained profitability
- Longevity
- Number of jobs created
- Investment in people
- Potential for growth.
Best New Business
This Award will go to a woman who has launched a new venture with passion, enthusiasm and an unwavering desire to succeed. WIN is looking for a woman who started trading less than 2 years ago, with a great idea and who looks destined for long term success.
What the judges are looking for:
- Businesses trading for 6 months but less than 2 years on 11th September 2010
- Motivation to setting up and running the business & level of innovation in the idea
- Business potential & future growth.
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Vitality, ambition and determination are important in every business. This Award is for the Young Entrepreneur of the Year, under 30 who can add talent to the equation. WIN is committed to recognising the talents prevalent in the young people of today and are keen to showcase their successes and support growth in this sector in the future.
What the judges are looking for:
- Businesses trading for 18 months or more on 11th September 2010
- Aged under 30 on 11th September 2010
- Motivation to setting up and running the business & level of innovation in the idea
- Growth potential…profit and employment growth.
Best Small Business
Durham County Council are proud to sponsor this new Award which welcomes entries from all businesses with less than 50 employees. The entrants will demonstrate strong brand values and clear evidence that the business is moving forward as well as excellent customer service. On-line small businesses are eligible for this category but may be better suited to the ‘Best use of Technology’ category.
What the judges are looking for:
- Businesses trading for 2 years or more on 11th September 2010
- Businesses with less than 50 employees
- Unique selling point – what are you doing over and above your competitors? How do you differentiate yourself?
Best Social Enterprise
North East Social Enterprise Partnership (NESEP) are pleased to sponsor an Award which recognises women who combine strong entrepreneurial skills with a positive social mission. These are women who combine entrepreneurial spirit, with the ability to shape and spot opportunities and who know how to make a difference.
The ideal candidate will play a leading role in a successful social enterprise with social objectives, whose surpluses are reinvested for that purpose, rather than being driven by the need to maximise profit for shareholders and owners.
The judges would expect to see evidence of a strong social responsibility which could address social, economic, educational, or environmental issues.
What the judges are looking for:
- The enterprise must have been in existence for 2 years or more on 11th September 2010.
- Evidence that profits are re-invested in the business or re-distributed for social purposes.
- Evidence of social impact.
- Financially self-sufficient – generates trading income rather than being grant dependent
- This award is NOT about charitable giving and community involvement.
Best Creative Business
Spacecraft have chosen to sponsor Best Creative Business due to the number of new and developing creative businesses’ in the North East that is expanding rapidly. Whether it be photography, literature, drama or jewellery design, pottery, dance or visual art, a growing number of women entrepreneurs are building thriving businesses through their creativity.
The path to a successful creative business, however, is a challenging one. Through this Award, Spacecaraft, is hoping to recognise and celebrate the achievement of a woman entrepreneur who has demonstrated innovation, good business practice and determination to succeed through their creative business.
What the judges are looking for:
- Businesses trading for 2 years or more on 11th September 2010
- A business model which is underpinned by creativity and innovation.
Best Home-based Business
Women Into the Network Ltd is delighted to be associated with this Award introduced in 2009 to recognise and celebrate the ever-increasing number of women turning towards home-based entrepreneurship. These women often have to overcome additional barriers such as isolation, separating work from personal life and being stereotyped as ‘hobbyists’. The winner will have shown great self-discipline, determination and passion to create or develop a successful home-based business, overcoming these barriers, and demonstrating a successful work/life balance.
What the judges are looking for:
- Businesses trading for 2 years or more on 11th September 2010
- Demonstration of good work/life balance.
- Evidence that the Home-base is beneficial in the success of the business
Best use of Technology
Technological innovation is the hallmark of many successful businesses – and there are few companies for whom technology isn’t essential to strong business performance. The Best use of Technology Award will go to the woman who has demonstrated exceptional success in using business technology to create a significant competitive advantage in any business area.
What the judges are looking for:
- Businesses trading for 2 years or more on 11th September 2010
- Demonstration of the extent to which technology has been fully embraced in the business
- An explanation of the business issue addressed by the technology or innovation
- The impact of the technology or the innovation on business performance
- How technology been applied in a commercial environment? Demonstrate the commercial exploitation of the technology or innovation (please note: this is not merely about having a good website).
Best Rural Business
Helped by access to new technologies many rural-based women are now exploiting new business opportunities. Faced with physical and social isolation, a lack of rural business support and accessible (face-to-face) networks, they must also fight off stiff competition, whilst developing a thriving rural enterprise. The winner of this Award will have shown great determination and strength in creating or developing a successful rural enterprise, overcoming significant barriers, and creating sustained local employment – a key player in rural regeneration in the North East.
What the judges are looking for:
- Businesses trading for 2 years or more on 11th September 2010
- Evidence of longevity and sustainability
Best Retail Business
This Award welcomes entries from all retailers or franchisees trading for 2 years or more. The entrants will show a strong financial performance, store innovation and most importantly, excellent customer service. Strong brand values and clear evidence that the business is moving forward will also form part of the judges’ criteria. This Award recognises the entrepreneurial spirit, achievements and long-term ambitions of those in this fast-moving and highly competitive sector.
Online retailers are eligible for this category, but again may be best suited to the ‘Best use of Technology’ category.
What the judges are looking for:
- Businesses trading for 2 years or more on 11th September 2010
- Innovative/creative merchandising. Have you sourced or stocked an innovative product?
- Evidence of excellent customer service
- Examples of how you have added value
- Unique selling point – what are you doing over and above your competitors? How do you differentiate yourself?
- Demonstration of longevity/sustainability, and how will you achieve this in the future?