Introduction
The East of England Businesswomen of the Year Award was started by the Cambridge Businesswomen’s Network in 1989. Since then, the event has expanded and evolved to acknowledge the enormous achievements of businesswomen in the six counties of the East of England (Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk) to act as an encouragement to others.

Awards 2011
Businesswoman of the Year - Sponsored by Adnams PLC
Awarded to a senior manager or director within a commercial business, not for profit organisation or professional partnership who has made a significant contribution to the organisation and controls a budget in the region of £1m.

Entrepreneur of the Year - Sponsored by Lloyds TSB Commercial
Awarded to the Managing Director of her own established business with an annual turnover of at least £500,000.

Rising Star of the Year - Sponsored by Ashridge Business School
Awarded to an up-and-coming woman in business who has already made a significant contribution to her organisation.

Start Up Business of the Year - Sponsored by Lloyds TSB Commercial
Awarded to a business woman who has set up a company within the past three years and who shows outstanding potential for future growth.

Beatrice Wilkinson Memorial Award - Sponsored by Suffolk Business Women's Network
The Beatrice Wilkinson Memorial Award is presented to a high-achieving businesswoman. Whilst financial results are important, judges will also look for nominees who encourage, motivate and inspire others. They will also consider evidence of a contribution which impacts positively on the wider community. The award is by nomination only and self-entry is not permitted. Nominations will be reviewed by the EEBW Ltd judging panel in conjunction with the Suffolk Businesswomen’s Network.

Entry instructions
Entrants can apply directly online by following the instuctions given at the Enter page above.

Please note your organisation may be your own business or may be a subsidiary or department for which you have significant involvement at a senior level.

Benefits for all winners and finalists

• Recognition of achievement for her and for her business and staff;
• Media coverage within the region and a commemorative video;
• A variety of gifts and prizes for each winner, donated by supporters of the awards;
• Membership of the EEBW past winners’ network.

Judging process
Entries are required by 9am on Monday 4th April. The judging panel will then carefully consider every entry and select candidates for interview. The selected nominees will be asked to provide further information on the structure and finances of their businesses and they may also submit other supporting material at that stage. Each of the selected candidates will be expected to make a short presentation to the judges during interview at their place of business.

The judges will meet at the beginning of May to select the winner of each award.

The awards dinner
All the finalists will be invited to a celebratory awards dinner to be held on May 26 at The West Wing at Ickworth House, Bury St Edmunds, where the winners will be announced and the awards presented. In advance, a videographer will visit the finalists and put together a brief film of them and their businesses for viewing at the awards dinner, to be incorporated into a commemorative DVD of the evening.