As a business owner, nominating yourself and your business for an award can be a great opportunity to promote growth and establish your position as a front-runner in your sectors’ community.
As a female businessowner, this is even more crucial. However, in a report led by FSB alongside WES, evidence was found to show that lack of self-confidence compared to that of men, was a significant issue for women and has restricted them in areas of their business.
We are here to say believe in yourself and your business! Women entrepreneurs make a huge contribution to the UK economy by both creating jobs and driving economic growth, so it is important that women-led businesses are celebrated and acknowledged to inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs.
Let your business have the opportunity to become an example of the countless award-winning female-led business in Scotland, by applying for awards you can enter as a Scottish SME:
- Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards: Women’s Enterprise Scotland | Awards 2024 (wescotland.co.uk)
- Scottish SME Business Awards: Awards – SME News (sme-news.co.uk)
- Scottish Edge Awards: Scottish EDGE | Scotland’s biggest business funding competition – for startups, social enterprises and charities.
- Social Enterprise Awards: UK Social Enterprise Awards by Social Enterprise UK
- Scottish Environment Business Awards: Home | VIBES | Scottish Environment Business Awards
- WeDo Business Awards: WeDO Business Awards 2024 – WeDO Scotland
- The Kings Awards for Enterprise (UK Wide): The King’s Awards for Enterprise: About the awards – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- Everywoman Awards (UK Wide): everywoman Awards – ADVANCING WOMEN IN BUSINESS (everywomanforum.com)
- Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards: The Excellence Awards | Scotland Food & Drink (foodanddrink.scot)
- Scottish Thistle Awards: Scottish Thistle Awards (eventsair.com)
- Business Women Scotland:BWS Awards — Business Women Scotland (bwsltd.co.uk)
- Glasgow Business Awards: Home | Glasgow Business Awards 2024
- SURF Awards: SURF Awards – SURF
For a list of industry specific awards, Boost has an extensive list of awards taking place in Scotland over the next year and into 2025:
Different types of awards
It is important to be aware, that there are some awards that use a different approach to their nominations and events. You may be informed by an organisation that you have been nominated or are a finalist when you didn’t apply or are aware of being nominated by anyone. In some cases, you are asked to take part and there may be a fee to be included as a finalist. There may not be clarity on the application criteria or the independence of the judging. These are the things that give awards their credibility and prestige.
Please be aware of models like this and make sure to always read the terms and conditions before getting involved or sharing your nomination announcement. Some organisations run awards in order to charge fees from nominated individuals, and to sell tickets at events for a profit.
It’s a good idea to do some due diligence and check out organisations running awards to decide if you want to be involved.
Entering for an award is a big step not only for your business but for you personally as a business owner. Of course, winning is the desired outcome, however there is as much to take from coming away with a nomination or even just the act of entering itself. To not win does not equate to failure, it only helps you to learn from your experience and better you and your business, to get one step closer to eventually becoming award-winning. You really do have nothing to lose, so apply now.
