HOLIDAY SEASON EXTENSION FOR ASPIRING WOMEN TO ENTER AWARDS

Female entrepreneurs from across the North-East have been given an extra week to enter the region’s top business awards for women.

The entry deadline for The North-East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards 2009 has been extended to Friday 18th September, after demand for more time after the schools returned for busy women to complete their entries.

The Awards, now in their 10th year and sponsored by Business Link, have been refocused by the board of the new WIN Ltd organisation to include two brand new categories that reward both pre-start up and inspirational entrepreneurs. There is also a new online application process for the awards this year at http://www.womenintothenetwork.co.uk/.

The eight categories are One NorthEast’s Best New Business Award, South Tyneside Council’s Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Durham University’s Best Small Business Award, Social Enterprise North East and SES’s Best Social Enterprise Award, Arts Council England’s Best Creative Business Award, WIN Ltd’s Best Home-Based Business Award, Teesside University’s Innovation Through Technology Award and the flagship Susan Dobson Award for Entrepreneurship.

In addition to the categories open for nomination, this year there will be two new recognition awards – the ‘One to Watch’, to recognise talented entrepreneurs who have not started trading yet, and a woman who others consider an ‘Inspirational Role Model’.

Chair of the judging panel, previous North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year and SCM Pharma director Fiona Cruickshank said: “We have extended the entry deadline due to high demand for a bit more time from women interested in taking part. With the summer holiday season just over, and schools just going back many business women that juggle work and family life at this time of year are just settling back into full work-mode this week.

“I myself have just returned from summer holidays to be delighted at the entries so far. There has been a good response to all categories, but we especially urge women with emerging or home based businesses to be brave and enter, or nominate someone they know – WIN Awards celebrate business success from the one man band to the multi-million enterprise. Go for it girls!”