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women in business


Getting to the heart of the issue


This year’s Women in Business initiative has had a complete makeover, but the look and feel goes way more than skin deep


With two new categories at the core of the Awards – ‘Champion of Change’ and ‘Board Level & Senior Executive of the Year’ – the campaign reflects a heart and mind infused with fresh inspiration to promote the inclusion of women in business


Champion of Change embodies a particularly exciting shift, being open to both women and men. The new campaign is expressly not about the exclusion of men – it’s about diversity and the inclusion of women. Champions of change is open to any individual, at any level in the business or organisation, who has been an author or orchestrator of cultural change in the working environment.


“This category is central to these awards in recognising those who’ve made a difference to the role of women in business in its entirety,” said Tamsin Napier-Munn of The Business Magazine. “Rather than a role model (be it a person or a company), as in those who often make it into the spotlight, this winner will more likely be behind the scenes, quietly orchestrating measurable change for women in their own workplace, and indirectly for women as a whole.”


Board Level & Senior Executive of the Year is another wholly-new category. With just 15% of FTSE 250 directors being women*, this category has been included to recognise those who’ve reached executive positions against the odds, as well as to inspire other women.


A recent survey run by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT, shows that a key barrier to women achieving senior and executive positions is unconscious bias. This bias rang true for 46% of respondents in total; for 32% of male respondents and 67% of women.


“This clearly demonstrates the need for women to be inspired and encouraged to succeed,” said Napier-Munn, “… which is why the mission behind this year’s Women in Business initiative is in fact ‘Celebrate • Encourage • Inspire’.


“The purpose of these awards is to reward successful and aspiring business women in the south, who, over the past 12 months – through leadership, entrepreneurialism, mentoring skills and/or ideas – stand out from their colleagues, as well as the men who have helped them to realise their success.”


www.businessmag.co.uk


Start-up business ‘tsar’ and leading entrepreneur Baroness Mone is the special guest speaker


The other categories are:


Rising Star – for women who have not only already made a mark as women in business to some extent, but who are also ‘women to watch’ in terms of future contribution.


Woman Business Owner of the Year – for entrepreneurial women who have founded and run their own company. These women will also have shown exceptional abilities in mentoring other women and/or in helping their business to achieve significant results.


Enlightened Employer award – With two sub-categories, ‘£5 million – £25m turnover’ and ‘over £25m turnover’, this is for companies that demonstrate exceptional commitment to gender equality in the workplace; be it through recruitment, employee recognition and development, flexible working, or any other channel.


* Business to business services marketplace, Approved Index 2014 – www.prowess.org.uk/ high-growth-start-ups-gender-diversity


Awards


The gala dinner – which in its fourth year is already recognised as the most prestigious awards event for women in the southern business calendar – will be celebrated on September 15 at Oakley Hall Hotel.


To enter Go to: www.womeninbusiness.biz Closing date for entries: June 17, 2016.


Tables


Tables of 10 are priced at £1,500 ex VAT and individual seats are £160 ex VAT.


For further information or to secure your place, contact Libby Sharp at libby@elcot.co.uk


THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH COAST – MAY 2016 w • Rising Star


• Woman Business Owner of the Year


• Enlightened Employer Award (£5m – £25m turnover)


• Enlightened Employer Award (over £25m turnover)


TM


IN BUSINESS 2016


omen


CATEGORIES


• Champion of Change • Board Level & Senior Executive of the Year


Women in Business 2016 September 15


Oakley Hall Hotel near Basingstoke


www.womeninbusiness.biz


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