Partner Article

Last Chance: Professionals & Business Leaders Urged to Enter 11th Annual First Women Awards

Senior level businesswomen and professionals from a wide variety of often male-dominated sectors are being urged to enter the 11th annual First Women Awards, created by Real Business and supported by the CBI. The nomination submission deadline is Friday 10th April.

The awards are central to the First Women Programme, created to identify and bring together inspirational women from a variety of sectors. There are 12 categories ranging from Public Service and Finance to Science & Technology, with two new categories for 2015 - First Woman in Entrepreneurship and Young Achiever of the Year. Nominations can also be made for the Lifetime Achievement Award, won by Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson in 2014, and First Women Business of the Year.

The shortlist will be announced week commencing 20th April, with winners chosen by a 20-strong judging panel. They will be revealed at an awards ceremony hosted by presenter, writer and BAFTA-winning broadcaster Clare Balding, at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square on Thursday 11th June, 2015.

Katja Hall, CBI Deputy Director-General, commented: “The latest figures show that Lord Davies’ voluntary approach to increasing diversity in businesses is working, with almost 25% of positions on FTSE 100 boards being held by women. The First Women Awards is a great way of celebrating successful women – good role models represent a critical piece in the puzzle that will help to make UK businesses more balanced. To maintain momentum businesses must continue to build the talent pipeline by supporting more women into management roles and helping mothers return to work.”

Amy Carroll, Group Editor at Caspian Media, added: “Each year, the First Women Awards discover the highly talented females who are leading the way and making a significant impact in their respective sectors. We look forward to reviewing the final nominations and celebrating their successes at the ceremony in June.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Martin .