Entries have opened for this year’s LeicestershireLive Women in Business Awards.
The annual awards will mark the achievements of the outstanding female entrepreneurs and businesswomen who have helped make Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland such great places to do business.
As recognising the women who have established themselves at the heart of the local business community, the night will also be a chance to honour those who have persevered and thrived during and beyond a turbulent 18 months of lockdown.
This year’s awards, headline sponsored by Leicester-based employee engagement company Growth Partners Plc, will be held at the King Power Stadium on Thursday, September 9, and hosted as usual by television presenter Emma Jesson.
Categories include Entrepreneur of the Year, New Business of the Year and Inspirational Woman of the Year, with a special award going to the 2021 Businesswoman of the Year.
Entries are now open and run until Friday July 23, and applications can be made by clicking here or on the link below.
The judging panel will then pick three finalists for each category before the winners are announced on the night. This year’s drink's reception sponsor is Howes Percival.
Previous winners include Leicester Tigers chief executive Andrea Pinchen, Leicestershire fashion boss Fiona Lambert – who was recently appointed by Marks and Spencer to head up the Jaeger clothes brand – and Marion Plant OBE, principal and chief executive of North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College.
Leicester Mercury and LeicestershireLive editor Adam Moss said: “After such a tough 18 months for the business community we are all really looking forward to hosting this celebration of the best of Leicester and Leicestershire and Rutland.
“There are so many successful women out there and we want to hear from every one of them – from individuals running businesses from home to high-flying career professionals, innovators and rising stars. And we want these awards to create female role models to inspire future generations.
“We all understand it has been hard to run a business since the pandemic started, so what better time to congratulate those who have succeeded and prospered.
“And hopefully the autumn awards night will be another step on the long-road back to recovery for the city, the county and for our country.
“Over the seven or so years we have held these awards they have gone from strength to strength – and we hope that once again, we will see entries from the widest possible range of female businesswomen.”
For nominations and ticket information click here.
Based in Colton Square, Leicester, headline sponsor Growth Partners provides HR, admin, payroll and pensions support to growing businesses, giving them the same sorts of benefits and services that help much bigger businesses prosper.
Claire Antony, its HR business partner, said diversity in business was “essential”, and the team was proud to be recognising the achievements of businesswomen in the local area.
Ms Antony said: “We really wanted to do something locally to support diversity in business and the LeicestershireLive Women in Business Awards is a perfect fit.
“It is well documented that across the UK, females in business continue to face barriers and are underrepresented in leading roles and sectors.
“As this is an issue that could affect more than half the population at some stage in their lives and has such a wide-reaching impact on an individual and societal level; we are certainly keen to help tackle it.
“We’re looking forward to meeting all the finalists and hopefully being able to celebrate together in person at the King Power Stadium in September.”
