West Country Women Awards 2023 open for nominations

The West Country Women Awards 2023 are open for nominations for the second year to boost celebrating and recognising the work of women across the region.

Alexis Bowater OBE and Tess Stuber are once again running the West Country Women Awards and this year there are some extras to enjoy.

The first podcast series: WEST COUNTRY WOMEN is due to be recorded later this month with Fresh Air Studios - where each of the winners of 2022 will join Alexis and Tess for conversation about what life is like as a West Country Women Awards winner.

The New Community Directory was launched via The Women Awards Website last month, a digital contacts book where West Country Women can list their businesses and keep in touch with and support each other. The first year is only £15 for the whole year and will be vital for some of the smaller businesses in the community to look each other up and support each other and their work.

And, in the spirit of women supporting each other: The Devon Women in Business Awards and the West Country Women Awards are again delighted to announce that they are continuing to join together for another year to strengthen the value of both schemes giving businesswoman in Devon and the wider south west greater opportunities to shine and be recognised.

Organisers of both awards will continue to collaborate and maximise the opportunities for the celebration of women, with the winners of the Devon awards going straight through to the West Country Women Awards on a ‘Golden Ticket'.

The collaboration will involve cross-promotion and a natural progression from a county-wide award to regional awards.

Alexis Bowater, OBE, of West Country Women Awards CIC, said: "We are delighted to be working together with Devon Women in Business again this year, this collaboration absolutely ties in with our purpose and philosophy of team work, co-operation and community: the Golden Ticket from county awards taking them straight through to regionals is brilliant for everyone.

"I have run women in business awards since 2014 but now it's not just about business: it's about everybody's business with more new categories recognising those working in the fields of food and drink, arts and culture, community and the third sector among so many others."

Louise Jenner, Chair of Devon Women in Business, said: "Instead of viewing each other as competitors, I'm proud to say that we looked for the positive in the situation and found lots!"

Tess, Stuber, Co-Director of Westcountry Women Awards, commented: "I'm really excited to work together again with Louise and DWIB to give more opportunity to recognise West Country Women - collaboration just makes so much sense. I know first hand how these awards impact women and I'm looking forward to seeing the profound positive outcomes for women in the region."

Both schemes have attracted strong support and are now open for entries.

Category information and entry forms for the West Country Women Awards can be found atwww.westcountrywomenawards.co.uk and for Devon Women in Business on www.devonwomeninbusiness.com

Nominations for the West Country Women Awards were opened at the launch event at Womble Bond Dickinson, West Hoe Road, Plymouth on May 4th 2023.

There will be 16 categories including:

• The Combatting Violence Against Women and Girls Award - Sponsored by Alison Hernandez the Police and Crime Commissioner for Devon, Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly.

• The Diversity and Equality Award.

• The Green Business Award - Sponsored by LHC Design.

• The Women in STEM Award - Sponsored by Msubs

• The Women in Tech Award - Sponsored by Real Ideas

• The Employee of the Year Award - Sponsored by Womble Bond Dickinson, Plymouth

• The Entrepreneur of the Year Award - Sponsored byContinuum

• The Inspirational Leader Award - Sponsored by The Franchise Consultant

• The Small Business Award - Sponsored by Somerset Council

• The Best Supporting Act Award - Sponsored by Genius PR

• The Women in Sport Award - Sponsorship available.

• Women in Construction and Property - Sponsored by: Ian Williams

• The Food and Drink Award - Sponsored by Inns of Cornwall and Devon