Award Categories

You will find information about each category below. 

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​There are nine categories to choose from. Applications will be judged in the category they have entered. Exceptional applications may also be shortlisted for the Outstanding Business of the Year category at the judges’ discretion. The finalists in this category will be announced with all other finalists and the winner announced at the awards event.

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All applications will go through first round judging and finalists will be assessed by the judging panel to decide the winner of each category.​​

Winners will be announced at our awards event on 29 October 2026 at voco Grand Central, Glasgow.

See full Terms and Conditions

Read the Application Guide

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START-UP BUSINESS OF THE YEAR  

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

 

STRATEGIC GROWTH BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 

This award celebrates Scotland’s growing women-led businesses and recognises those that have taken significant steps towards strategic growth, achieved strategic growth, or financial performance. This could be through percentage turnover growth, profit growth, or having a strategic plan in place to achieve growth. This award is about demonstrating the relative growth in a business whatever the starting point. The rate or progress is more important than the highest value turnover. 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. 

 

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.  

 

INNOVATION BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

This award recognises the women-led businesses in Scotland that have successfully implemented new ideas, technologies, or approaches to drive growth, improve efficiency, or solve industry-specific problems. Entrants must demonstrate the positive impact of the innovation on the company's performance, customer experience, or industry as a whole. 

 

SERVICE EXCELLENCE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR  

This award is for a woman-led business in Scotland which has demonstrated outstanding service to customers. It recognises businesses that consistently deliver high-quality customer service, are committed to customer satisfaction and go above and beyond to meet customer needs. 

 

RURAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR  

This award celebrates a woman-led business in a rural location in Scotland. It celebrates businesses that have excelled in their respective industries while operating in a rural setting. This category recognises and celebrates businesses that have helped to boost the local economy and inspire other rural entrepreneurs. 

 

DIGITAL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR 

This award recognises the women-led businesses in Scotland that have embraced digital transformation in order to deliver growth, open up new markets or provide new ways of working. This could be through e-commerce, use of AI, or strategic use of technology. 

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BUSINESS TO WATCH OF THE YEAR 

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. 

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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.  

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How to Submit a Great Application

Chair of our Judging Panel, Jo Macsween, has some top tips when writing your application form to help make it the strongest it can be: 

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1. Show how you’ve been successful specifically in your chosen category:

Judges need to see how your success aligns with what the award is recognising.

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2. Show your impact: 

What difference have you made to customers, your team, your community, your industry?

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3. Remember who is reading it: 

Your application is being reviewed by a panel of judges who come from diverse sectors. Assume they don’t know your business or industry. 

 

You can read the rest of Jo's top tips, here.  

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