Award Categories

You will find information about each category below.

The closing date for all entries was Friday 18th August 2023.

Jusging is now complete and the finalists have been announced.

Winners were announced at our awards event on 26 October 2023 at voco Grand Central, Glasgow.

See full Terms and Conditions

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First round judges: Kirsten Nicolson; Business Gateway Tayside, Emma Kilani; Business Gateway Tayside, Caroline Brown; North Lanarkshire Council, Julie Ashworth; IOD, Jock Miliken; Link Scotland and Liz McCutcheon; Inspirent. 

 

Second round of judges: Jo Macsween; Vistage, Alyson Pearson; Business Gateway National Unit, Pheona Matovu; Radiant and Brighter Community Interest Company, Gordon Merrylees; N4 Partners and Louise Morris; Natwest. 

 

START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR  (Up to 3 years old)  sponsored by Business Gateway

This award celebrates the entrepreneurial aptitude, vision, ambition, drive and commercial acumen to build a woman-led successful enterprise in Scotland from start-up.  

Apply/Nominate

 

GROWTH BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Royal Bank of Scotland 

This award celebrates Scotland’s growing women-led businesses and recognises those that have achieved growth and financial performance. This may not necessarily be the largest turnover and may be the percentage of turnover and profit growth achieved. It recognises the businesses who have demonstrated a solid understanding of their competitors, customers, and markets they operate in; and have the foundations in place for continued commercial success.

Apply/Nominate

 

OUTSTANDING BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by HFL Holistic Financial Leadership

(Over 3 years, up to 250 employees, up to £12 million turnover)  

This award recognises the development and growing success of an established woman led business in Scotland, looking at clear values and purpose, business growth, strong financial performance, profitability, and brand awareness achieved in relation to the number of employees and budget.  

Apply/Nominate

 

INSPIRING LEADER OF THE YEAR  

This award recognises a female business leader in Scotland who has contributed to enhancing the landscape for women led businesses. Entrants should demonstrate support and involvement with the women led business community and play an instrumental role in enabling women to start up in business and thrive.  

Apply/Nominate

 

FUNDED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by N4 Partners

This award recognises the women-led businesses in Scotland attracting funding or investment to support development and growth. Entrants may have secured funding from a variety of sources, including banks, equity finance, angel investment, commercial finance or grants.   

Apply/Nominate

 

RESILIENT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR  

This award is for a woman-led business which has survived in the face of significant challenges, and can demonstrate resilience and business continuity against the background of the Covid-19 pandemic and cost-of-living crisis.

Apply/Nominate

 

EMBRACING TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS  

This award recognises the women-led businesses in Scotland that have embraced technology as part of their digital transformation in order to deliver growth, open up new markets or provide new ways of working.  

Apply/Nominate

 

NET ZERO BUSINESS OF THE YEAR sponsored by Scottish Enterprise 

This award celebrates the women-led businesses that have made significant progress in reducing their carbon emissions as part of the transition to becoming net-zero. Entrants should demonstrate the actions they have taken to understand their carbon footprint and to reduce it. 

Apply/Nominate

 

BUSINESS TO WATCH OF THE YEAR sponsored by HFL Holistic Financial Leadership

This award celebrates a woman-led business progressing an exciting vision, for example applying novel, step-change innovation, utilising disruptive technology, driving societal change or evidencing all-round entrepreneurial flair. 

Apply/Nominate

 

PURPOSE-LED BUSINESS OF THE YEAR  

This award is for a women-led business which can demonstrate that it stands for something it believes in, going beyond profit and positively impacting society. The winner will be able to demonstrate that the business model has real purpose, by standing for and taking action on something bigger than its products and services.  

Apply/Nominate

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