Awards to shine spotlight on Scotland’s women business leaders – Scottish Business News

ENTRIES are now open for the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2024, providing a platform for showcasing the achievements of Scotland’s women-led businesses.

Now in its twelfth year, Women’s Enterprise Scotland works to close the gender gap in enterprise by campaigning for gender specific support across the enterprise ecosystem.

Carolyn Currie, Chief Executive at Women’s Enterprise Scotland, said: “Our Awards recognise the considerable contribution women-led businesses make to Scotland’s economy. It is our opportunity to come together and celebrate success. Despite the challenges that businesses continue to face, we can take inspiration from the achievements and the resilience of our women business leaders who continue to innovate and push forward.”

The Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2024 will celebrate Scotland’s women-led businesses with categories such as Family Business Champion of the Year, Inspiring Leader of the Year, Sustainable Business of the Year and Outstanding Business of the Year.

Women owned businesses contribute £8.8bn Gross Value Add into the Scottish economy and have created over 230,000 jobs.[1] As a sector, women-owned businesses contribute more GVA than Sustainable Tourism (£2.5bn), Food & Drink (£5.4bn) and Creative Industries (£4.6bn)​.[2] Doubling women-owned businesses to 40% of SME’s would add another £8.8bn to the Scottish economy every year.

Women’s Enterprise Scotland launched the digital Women’s Business Centre in 2020. The first platform of its kind, it provides expert, gendered support and guidance for women across Scotland, supported by Royal Bank of Scotland. It is free to access and offers dedicated, needs-based content for women starting and growing businesses.

Notable highlights from last year’s Awards include Aberdeen based Ann Johnson, of Blaze Manufacturing Solutions, who took the coveted Inspiring Leader of the Year Award 2023, whilst The Tartan Blanket Company, founded by Emma Macdonald, was named Outstanding Business of the Year 2023. Deer Manor Gourmet Mushrooms, founded by Alisha Fuller-Armah, took the award for Start-Up Business of the Year 2023.

The deadline for entries for the Women’s Enterprise Scotland Awards 2024 is Friday 7 June, with the glittering awards ceremony taking place at the voco Grand Central Hotel Glasgow on Thursday 3 October.  

Further information about the Awards and the entry process is available at https://www.wescotland.co.uk/awards2024