Awards will recognise top women in business

Jun 2 2009 by Iain Laing, The Journal

THE region’s biggest business awards to be aimed exclusively at women will be even bigger this year.

There will be two extra prizes up for grabs at the 2009 North East Women Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, which launches this month.

The awards, now in its 10th year, will single out a promising company which has not yet been launched for its One to Watch title and also ask businesses to pick an inspirational role model in an online vote.

The prestigious awards will be officially launched at a series of events across the region in the coming weeks.

Judging chairwoman and a previous North East Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Fiona Cruickshank, of Northumberland drugs maker SCM Pharma, outlined the event’s significance.

“As we enter the 10th year of the awards, we continue to be astounded by the amount of talent here in the North East, and it’s our job to ensure this talent does not go unnoticed,” she said.

“The competition also highlights regional role models whom aspiring women entrepreneurs look to for encouragement and inspiration. We will be working closely with stakeholders and support organisations to ensure our women entrepreneurs are encouraged to enter and made aware of the benefits and recognition that entering and winning awards can bring to their business.”