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Countdown begins for eagerly awaited business awards

Time is running out to submit applications for a major awards ceremony which celebrates the region’s most inspirational and successful women in business.

There is now just a matter of weeks to send in entries from female entrepreneurs for the prestigious North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, before the application process closes at 5.00pm on Thursday15th September.

The theme of this year’s award ceremony is the Power of One as it will be held on 11/11/11 at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead Hotel with the overall winner to be named at the 11th hour on the evening.

The Awards are open to businesses of any sector, size or turnover with categories which are suitable for both emerging start-ups and established firms.

WIN Chair Nickie Gott said: “It doesn’t matter if you’ve just started or you’ve been trading for years, there’s a category for everyone and entering couldn’t be easier

“A WIN Award is a major accolade that could really open doors for your business and we urge people to submit an entry or nominate someone they think deserves such an accolade.

“As well as recognising the best women in business, we also hope the event will empower more women to take the leap into becoming entrepreneurs themselves.”

Last year’s prestigious Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship was picked up by Lilian Mains, Chair of North East training business Zodiac Training, which has fast become a national provider of specialist courses and consultancy for employers. Lilian who believes the WIN Awards are the premier awards for women in the North East, said:

“Women in business make a fantastic contribution to the region and that needs to be recognised and applauded - the WIN Awards do that.

“Through my involvement with the WIN Awards I hoped to be able to inspire others to achieve. I’m a firm believer in the power of positive thinking and having good role models who are prepared to share their story - warts and all. I entered the WIN Awards because they gave me the opportunity to share my story, including my mistakes, with a wider audience.

“In addition, the WIN Awards are like an annual recharge of my batteries - at the awards event you meet so many fantastic, dynamic women, you hear inspirational stories and you leave with a head full of new ideas and a renewed sense of motivation.”

This year will see two new categories added to the awards, with categories for Best Women’s Network and Best Woman in International Business.

The sponsors at the event include The Susan Dobson Memorial Fund, Durham County Council, Gateshead Council, Spacecraft Events, Barbour, UKTI North East, WIN Ltd and Jaguar Cars, along with support from Bdaily and The Journal.

One of the latest supporters to come on board is Bdaily. Siobhan Bales, managing director said: “Due to the nature of Bdaily, we are at the heart of the region’s business community, connecting and informing our region’s businesses with the latest news, advice and opportunities.

“WIN has been a big part of our journey over the years, offering a superb networking forum for women in business as well as contributing to the agenda of business in this region and across the UK and beyond. As a strong business network, WIN is a perfect organisation for Bdaily to align with and allow us to support the fantastic stories and work the organisation is doing.”

Tickets to attend the WIN Awards evening are £75 + VAT (£65 + VAT for WIN members) and include drinks reception, a 3-course meal and live entertainment.

For more information on how to enter or book tickets for the event itself, please email awards@womenintothenetwork.co.uk or call 0191 385 6619, or visit: http://www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk/awards.

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