Female awards

An awards ceremony set up to attract aspirational female entrepreneurs based in Perth and Kinross and other parts of Scotland, returned last Friday, February 1.

This year’s winners of the AccelerateHER Awards will be offered a free place on a trade mission to Dubai or Berlin where they will showcase their business, be introduced to key industry contacts and investors, and build their understanding of how best to target these and other global markets.

Back for their fourth consecutive year, the awards are organised by Scotland’s only all-female business angel group Investing Women, designed to inspire and support more female-led companies in Scotland.

Launching this year’s AccelerateHER Awards programme, Jackie Waring, CEO of Investing Women, said:“These awards provide a fantastic opportunity for aspiring businesswomen, including those based in Perth and Kinross, to showcase their companies before an audience of angel investors, commercial advisers and fellow entrepreneurs.

“The competition gives participants an ideal platform to promote their companies and attract initial or additional investment to help them grow their business on a global scale.

“We are urging all female entrepreneurs who have strong growth aspirations for their companies to enter the AccelerateHER Awards.

“This includes those whose businesses are only at concept stage who could secure recognition through our new rising star category.”

Entrants will initially be asked to submit a video pitch and executive summary via the Investing Women’s website, outlining their business, its ambitions, growth plans and investment potential.

A panel of experienced judges will then review the submissions and draw up a shortlist of 12-15 entrants who will present to a panel on March 20 at Skyscanner, Edinburgh.

The short-listed finalists will be showcased to an audience of UK investors, entrepreneurs and professionals at this year’s Investing Women‘The Sky’s No Longer the Limit’conference, being staged in Edinburgh on April 23.

Up to three winners will then be chosen at the AccelerateHER Awards finals event being held in May.

The deadline for entries for the awards is on Friday, February 22.