In the 22nd year of this prestigious programme, everywoman continues to shine the spotlight on Britain’s most inspirational female entrepreneurs, women of all ages, backgrounds and from all corners of the UK, and to celebrate their influential role and contribution to the British economy.

The everywoman Entrepreneur Awards were launched in 2003 to uncover and amplify the diverse array of female-led businesses, telling their stories of resilience, innovation, and success, knowing those stories would inspire and encourage more women to choose to start and grow their own business ventures. 

In the intervening years, everywoman has been at the forefront of the drive to increase the number of female entrepreneurs, working with government, industry bodies and the corporate sector to accelerate the rate of progress and dismantle barriers that remain for women, particularly when it comes to accessing funding, growing, and scaling their businesses.

Despite making up only 1.6% of UK businesses, high-growth businesses create £160 billion in turnover (4.5% of the UK total) and employ around 775,000 people. These businesses are economically critical, and yet for every £1 of equity investment in the UK, only 2p goes to fully female-founded businesses, a figure that has not moved for the past decade. The funding gap and lack of female role models have been recognised as a unique and key barrier for women starting, growing, and scaling their businesses. The UK government have an ambitious target to increase the number of female entrepreneurs by 50% by 2030, adding 600,000 businesses to the market and boosting the UK economy by a projected £250 billion.

Maxine Benson MBE, Co-Founder of everywoman comments: “Since launching everywoman 25 years ago, we have seen how impactful role models and storytelling can be. Sharing the stories of women’s journeys and how they have navigated the unique challenges they face, not least accessing finance, plays a crucial role in encouraging others to achieve success. There are far fewer female-founded high-growth businesses (18%) than male ones, and therefore fewer role models to inspire potential female high-growth entrepreneurs going forward. The work of everywoman in providing a platform to showcase these business founders recognising them as innovators, job, and wealth creators, will play a crucial role in this mission and the future of UK enterprise.

“This programme is supported by a strong group of female entrepreneurs and business leaders: past finalists, winners, judges, alumni who advocate and champion each other, and critically provide a business referral and support network to eliminate feelings of being marginalised and isolated. They will gather at the awards ceremony in London on 4th December where the winners will be revealed.”

The 2024 categories are:

• The Balance Award: Awarded to a woman who founded her business whilst raising a child/children aged 12 or under.
• Brand of the future – sponsored by The White Company: Awarded to the female founder that has recognised a real gap in the market and demonstrates great potential for growth. The winner will receive a mentoring session with founder Chrissie Rucker OBE, and the CEO and other Directors within the business.
• Entrepreneur for good award – sponsored by Specsavers: Awarded to a woman who has founded a business that contributes to the greater good in some way, whether this is through a social enterprise, diversity and inclusion, a focus on sustainability or any other area of impact. 
• International Expansion Award – sponsored by Rathbone Financial Planning: Awarded to a female founder who has successfully expanded her product/service to a new geographic market. 
• The Next Level Award – sponsored by SG Kleinwort Hambros: Awarded to a female founder who has a highly profitable business (above £1,000,000 EBITDA). 
• Scale Up Award – sponsored by BGF: Celebrates a woman who has founded a company in a period of high growth.
• Social Star Award: Awarded to a woman who has significantly grown or launched her business using predominantly the power of social media. 
• Solopreneur Award: Awarded to a woman running a business as an independent sole trader.
• Small Enterprise Award: This award celebrates an inspiring woman who has founded a profitable business with less than 25 employees. 
• Tech Innovator Award – sponsored by AddIn365: This award recognises a woman who is creating innovative tech which is creating change within industry.

Daina Spedding, Investor at BGF and everywoman Entrepreneur Awards judge, commented: “We’re delighted to be sponsoring the everywoman Entrepreneur Awards for the third year running. The awards programme is naturally aligned with BGF’s mission to significantly increase the flow of capital to women in business. The economy can only become more dynamic through an increasingly diverse entrepreneurial landscape, which is why BGF is doing everything it can to support ambitious, female founders, providing the strategic support, connections and growth capital they need to thrive.”

The judging panel is comprised of the UK’s most successful women in business as well as VCS and investors who are at the forefront of closing the funding gap with their diverse portfolios. The 2023 judges included Chrissie Rucker (Founder of The White Company), Mandy Nyarko MBE (Angel Investor at Ada Ventures), Connie Nam (Founder of Astrid and Miyu) and Yvonne Nagawa (Chief of Staff at Black Seed Ventures) amongst others.

To find out more about the awards or to nominate yourself or someone you know, visit https://www.everywoman.com/entrepreneur-awards/.