During lockdown, women around the country have been demonstrating flexibility and vision to create new products and services in this time of unprecedented opportunity for innovation and enterprise.These, the eighteenth annual NatWest everywoman Awards, will identify and celebrate the inspirational female founders whose creativity and resilience will help Britain weather the current economic storm. 

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Related related content from that latest issue of Relocate Global magazine

• Re-setting the agenda: Post-Covid recovery, restructuring and reskilling
• Women on the frontline
• Road to recovery: chinks of light in the UK economy

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Overcoming barriers to enterprise

Announcing £330 billion in state loan guarantees for businesses and £20 billion in tax relief and grants, alongside earlier efforts in last month’s budget to boost enterprise, Chancellor Rishi Sunak has recognised the invaluable contribution of entrepreneurs and small businesses, which provide three fifths of employment in the UK. However, studies show that funding directed at female-led businesses remains woefully lacking, leading to a major economic shortfall. It is estimated that female entrepreneurs could contribute £250 billion to the economy if they had opportunities to start and scale their businesses at the same rate as men. The disparity creates an economically short-sighted disadvantage for women, particularly at a time of uncertainty when talent and enterprise are needed the most.This is why awards like the NatWest everywoman Awards are important. They build communities of female business owners and exemplary role models to share knowledge and ideas, connecting them with advisors, peers and potential investors, building and sharing tacit knowledge in the process.

Building Britain's post-Covid-19 recovery

Karen Gill MBE, co-founder of network organisations everywoman, comments: “Since we launched these awards in 2003 we have seen thousands of entrepreneurs share the highs and the lows of their business journeys.  The country, indeed the world, now faces its biggest economic challenge in generations.  It will be the entrepreneurs who will be sufficiently adroit to identify and act on the opportunities. All eyes will be on the business community in the months ahead and our focus will be on the extraordinary women whose vision, energy and ambition will contribute to Britain’s recovery.”Yvonne Greeves, Director of Women in Business, at NatWest, says: “We are very proud to launch this year’s call for nominations to the NatWest everywoman Awards. Now, more than ever, we need to recognise the importance of female entrepreneurship to the economy and inspire women to take their first steps in business. NatWest has a network of over 600 everywoman accredited Women in Business specialists who understand our customers’ ambitions and provide business advice, mentoring and networking opportunities.”

Who can enter the 2020 Natest everywoman awards?

The 2020 Natwest everywoman award categories are as follows:

• FORTUNA– For a stand-out individual who invests in women-founded businesses
• GAIA – sponsored by Montezuma’s – For an inspirational female founder of a social enterprise who has combined strong community benefit with a sustainable business model
• APHRODITE – sponsored by Daily Mail – For 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 – For a female founder of a business that demonstrates great potential for growth
• ARTEMIS – For an inspirational woman running a business trading for 18 months to 3 years
• DEMETER – sponsored by Nutriment – For an inspirational woman running a business trading from 3 to 5 years
• ATHENA – For an inspirational woman running a business trading from 6 to 9 years
• HERA – For an inspirational woman running a business trading for 10 years or more

The NatWest everywoman Awards are free to enter and are judged by a panel of esteemed female entrepreneurs whose own journeys mirror those of the entrants: Rosaleen Blair CBE (Alexander Mann Solutions); Chrissie Rucker OBE (The White Company) and Melissa Odabash, amongst others. The awards are under the patronage of the UK’s most successful female entrepreneur, Dame Mary Perkins, co-founder of Specsavers.Entries close on 20 July and winners will be announced at a ceremony on 3 December 2020 at The J W Mariott Grosvenor House. For further information and to nominate, visit everywoman's website

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