Partner Article

Awards search for top women entrepreneurs

Women across the region are being encouraged to enter the latest round of a highly rated business awards competition.

The 2009 North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards will be officially launched at a series of launch events during June and July. Women and men from across the region are invited to attend, hear from last year’s winners and find out which categories are open for nomination.

Now in their tenth year, the Awards are hosted by Women Into the Network (WIN Ltd), and sponsored by Business Link.

There are seven award categories on offer, including ‘The Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship’, sponsored by the Susan Dobson Memorial Fund, Best New Business, sponsored by One North East and Best Creative Business, sponsored by Arts Council England, North East.

Chair of the judging panel (and previous North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year), Fiona Cruickshank of SCM Pharma said: “The launch events are the perfect platform for us to raise awareness of these important awards. It is a great opportunity for people to find out more about the process, be inspired by past winners and network with those across the business spectrum.

“As we enter the tenth year of the Awards, we continue to be astounded by the amount of talent here in the North East - and it’s our job to ensure this talent does not go unnoticed.”

Alastair MacColl, CEO of Business and Enterprise North East, which delivers the Business Link service, said: “Our sponsorship of this event underlines the emphasis Business Link is placing on supporting women entrepreneurs.

“This event is a unique opportunity to recognise some of the fabulous woman entrepreneurs in our region and celebrate their achievements. I am sure it will help to inspire another generation of successful entrepreneurs and we will be waiting to help them make it happen.”

The launch events take place on 25 June (Durham); 26 June (Tees Valley); 9 July (Northumberland) and 10 July (Newcastle). Places can be booked via the events calendar on the WIN website www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk or by emailing Lisa Crombie at lisa@womenintothenetwork.co.uk.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .