The search is now on to discover and celebrate Britain’s female role models at the 2013 First Women Awards, held in association with Lloyds Banking Group. Created in 2005 by the CBI and Real Business, the First Women Awards aim to recognise women who are trailblazers, pushing the boundaries in business and enhancing our organisations. The University of Cambridge Judge Business School’s Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL) has just become the key academic partner for the project.
Dr Shima Barakat is CfEL’s Research and Teaching Fellow and will join as one of the panel judges for the awards.
“The awards provide a showcase for pioneering women in any industry sector, as well as establishing a supportive network which can inspire future groundbreakers. CfEL has been developing research and specific programmes aimed at female entrepreneurs so we understand how important these platforms for celebrating female leaders and their achievements are in enabling other women to see their own potential. We’re delighted to be supporting these awards.”
The First Women Awards have, over the past eight years, unearthed a new set of female role models; celebrated business leaders; and generated huge, positive media coverage for pioneering British women. Previous award winners include founder of Specsavers, Dame Mary Perkins; Angela Strank, the most senior woman within oil giant BP and Thea Green, founder and managing director of international beauty brand, Nails Inc.
Katja Hall, Chief Policy Director CBI, said: “It’s encouraging that the number of women in senior positions in UK companies has increased during the last year. The challenge now is to keep this momentum going. The CBI is proud to support the First Women Awards which showcase the achievements of female leaders and create positive role models for other aspiring women.”
Nominations can be made in a range of industry categories, as well as ‘First Women Business of the Year’ and ‘Lifetime Achievement’. Matthew Rock, co-founder, Real Business, said: “We’re very proud to have established these awards as a hub for pioneering, exciting women. Over eight years, we have established a platform and mutually supportive network for remarkable and fearless women. From engineering to media; from science to retail, we are proud to have created a programme with no boundaries.”
The closing date for entries is Friday April 5, 2013, with the awards ceremony taking place at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square on Wednesday June 12, 2013, hosted by broadcaster and sports presenter, Clare Balding.
For information on how to enter the awards, visit: http://fwa.realbusiness.co.uk/
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Contact: Katharine Price, Marketing & Communications Manager at the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL). Email: cfelmarketing@jbs.cam.ac.uk; Tel: +44 (0)1223 766900
Notes
First Women Awards supporters include: COINS, Accenture, IMechE (Institute of Mechanical Engineers), Centrica, ICAEW and the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL) at the University of Cambridge Judge Business School.
The awards are presented in the following categories:
- Engineering & Manufacturing
- Tourism & Leisure
- Finance
- Science & Technology
- Media
- Retail & Consumer
- The Built Environment
- Public Service
- Business Services
Nominations can also be made for:
- Lifetime Achievement
- First Women Business of the Year
About the Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL)
The Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (CfEL), based at Cambridge Judge Business School, aims to spread the spirit of enterprise to both the University of Cambridge community and to wider national and international audiences through the creation and delivery of a range of educational activities that inspire and build skills in the practise of Entrepreneurship. One of CfEL's key teaching values is that the best people to teach entrepreneurs are entrepreneurs. This philosophy has led to the Centre collaborating with a network of over 300 experienced entrepreneurs, innovators and other practitioners to provide relevant, credible and practical training.
The Centre has developed an enviable track record in the field of entrepreneurship education with a number of flagship programmes designed to provide skills for students, graduates, researchers and aspiring entrepreneurs from different backgrounds and at different stages of the entrepreneurial journey. These programmes are Enterprise Tuesday, ETECH Projects, Ignite, Enterprisers and the Postgraduate Diploma in Entrepreneurship.
Tel: 01223 766900; Email: cfel@jbs.cam.ac.uk ; Web: www.cfel.jbs.cam.ac.uk
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