categories and rules of entry

The Categories

1. The Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship
2. Best Newcomer
3. Young Woman Entrepreneur
4. Woman in Retail
5. Woman Social Entrepreneur
6. Best Cultural and Creative Business
7. Rural Woman Entrepreneur
8. Woman in Technology or Innovation
9. Woman in the Service Sector

Download the category information & judging criteria

Download the Nomination Form

Who Should Enter?

If you are a woman who has set up or taken over an independently owned business or you know a woman who has, take a closer look at the award categories. Success in any one of them could have major benefits to yourself, your company and to those who will recognise your success and seek to emulate your achievements. WIN wishes to support all women in business but we have a clear focus on supporting women who are entrepreneurs and not women who are managers. Women have to be heading up an independently owned business and must be the main driving force behind the business.

Rules of Entry

1. Nominees must be women business owners with a shareholding who are the company’s driving force.
2. Nominations will be accepted from women who are co-owners with husband/partner as long as the woman has an equal or majority shareholding. 
3. 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)

4. Nominees must have been trading for a minimum of 2 years on 1st August 2008 (with the exception of  ‘Best Newcomer’ who should have been trading for at least 6 months & less than 2 years).  It is unlikely that businesses trading for less than 5 years would have reached the scale and strength required to enter The Susan Dobson for Entrepreneurship Award.
5. Nominations should be for women aged 18 or over for all categories with the exception of ‘Young Woman Entrepreneur’ where entries will be accepted from nominees 30 or under on 1^st August 2008.
6. Nominations will NOT be accepted from 2007 winners who wish to apply for the same category – nominations from 2007 runners up are encouraged.
7. Nominees are allowed to enter only 2 categories, in addition to the Susan Dobson Award (if desired).
8. 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.
9. The judging panel may request a telephone interview with shortlisted candidates.
10. The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
11. 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.
12. By completing an entry to the Awards, you agree to all the rules of entry.

How To Enter?

1. Download the nomination form and complete in full, ensuring you have read all the rules of entry and the judging criteria.
2. All entries should be submitted on a completed nomination form and MUST include an electronic photograph of the nominee.  This should be a good quality image (min 300 dpi and 1 MB in size).
3. Entry is by email only. Email your nomination form and photograph to info@networkingwomen.co.uk
4. All entries should be mailed by 5.00pm on Friday 19th September 2008.
5. Proof of emailing is not proof of receipt by the organisers.  An email acknowledgement will be sent to the nominator's email address on receipt of nomination.
6. All nominees will be contacted with the outcome of their nomination by letter after shortlisting takes place in early October 2008.
7. The winners of each category will be announced at the Awards dinner in November 2008.

GOOD LUCK!