Entries open for Enterprising Rural Women awards

The Enterprising Rural Women Awards (ERWA) offer women who run their own rural businesses the opportunity to showcase their innovative rural enterprise and gain recognition for their achievements.

Rural Women New Zealand invites entries from businesswomen who have strong entrepreneurial skills, are innovative, embrace new technology and are active in their rural community. 2016 ERWA categories: Emerging Enterprising Rural Woman Award (Inspiring business or community leader).

Innovative Enterprising Rural Woman Award (Use of new technology and adapting to rural location).

Entrepreneurial Enterprising Rural Woman Award (Business success in horticulture, agricultural, dairy, tourism or rural sector).

Each category winner receives $1000 in prize money and a trophy, with a further $1000 being awarded to the supreme winner who is judged as an outstanding rural businesswomen.

“We look forward to hearing from many amazing businesswomen telling us about their achievements and how they have contributed to their rural community,” says Wendy McGowan, national president, Rural Women New Zealand.

To enter the awards, women have to own and operate a small business with less than 10 full time equivalent staff, based in a rural area. The business must have been running for at least two years.

If in partnership, women must be an active partner of ideally 50 per cent or more in the business.

Latitude Magazine’s Joanne Taylor, winner of last year’s supreme award, encourages rural women to “just do it” and enter the competition.

“It makes you look at all aspects of your business, from where you started, the journey of your business and seeing how far you have come. The support you get from the many people within Rural Women New Zealand is fantastic.”