Award Categories
Find the category that best reflects your achievements.
Whether you've built a business, led transformational change, driven innovation or made a lasting impact within your organisation or community, there's a category designed to recognise your achievements.
Explore the categories below to find the one that's right for you.
Founder categories
For women who have founded and grown businesses that are making a positive impact across the North East.
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Recognising an exceptional founder who has built an outstanding business and is making a significant contribution to the North East economy.
Who it's for
Founders and co-founders of established businesses who can demonstrate strong business performance and meaningful impact. This category is designed for entrepreneurs beyond the early start-up stage who have built a strong and sustainable business.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· Strong business performance and sustained progress
· The founder's personal contribution to the strategy, direction and culture of the business
· Entrepreneurial judgement and the ability to identify and act on opportunities
· Evidence of meaningful impact through the business
· Clear ambition for its next stage
In partnership with
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Recognising a founder who has successfully grown a business beyond the start-up phase and is achieving sustained commercial growth.
Who it's for
Founders and co-founders who have moved their business beyond the start-up phase and can demonstrate significant, sustained growth.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· Clear and sustained commercial growth
· How the founder has evolved as a leader as the business has scaled
· Investment in the people, systems, structures or processes needed to support growth
· The ability to lead effectively through the challenges of scaling
· Ambition and a credible plan for the next stage
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Celebrating a founder who has built a business trading for up to three years and demonstrated exceptional early progress and potential.
Who it's for
Founders and co-founders of businesses that have been trading for up to three years at the date entries open.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· A compelling business idea addressing a clear problem or opportunity
· Strong early progress and evidence of traction
· Resourcefulness in overcoming the challenges of building a new business
· The founder's personal drive and contribution
· Strong potential and ambition for the future
In partnership with
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Celebrating an entrepreneur aged 30 or under who is already making a significant impact through their business.
Who it's for
Founders and co-founders aged 30 or under at the date entries open.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· Strong business progress and achievement
· An entrepreneurial approach to spotting opportunities and solving problems
· A significant personal contribution to the development of the business
· Initiative, determination and ambition
· Clear plans for the future development of both the founder and the business
In partnership with
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Recognising a founder whose innovation is creating meaningful change through new ideas, products, services or technology.
Who it's for
Founders and co-founders who have created or introduced an innovative idea, product, service, technology, process or approach. Innovation does not have to be technology-led.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· A clear problem or opportunity being addressed
· An original or meaningfully different approach
· The ability to turn an idea into action
· Evidence that the innovation is creating meaningful impact
· Potential for further development, adoption or scale
In partnership with
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Celebrating a founder using business to create lasting social or environmental impact
Who it's for
Founders and co-founders using an entrepreneurial or commercial model to address a social or environmental challenge.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· A clear social or environmental purpose at the heart of the organisation
· Meaningful and evidenced impact
· Strong personal leadership from the founder
· A sustainable approach balancing purpose with financial and operational resilience
· Ambition to deepen, broaden or scale the organisation's impact
In partnership with
Leadership & Workplace categories
For women creating impact through leadership within established organisations.
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Recognising an individual demonstrating exceptional potential, influence and impact early in their leadership journey.
Who it's for
Women in the earlier stages of their leadership journey who are already demonstrating leadership beyond what might normally be expected at their level. A senior job title or responsibility for a large team is not required.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· A willingness to step forward and take the lead
· Influence beyond the boundaries of their formal role
· Evidence of meaningful achievement and impact
· Active commitment to developing their leadership capability
· Clear potential and ambition for greater leadership responsibility
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Celebrating an outstanding manager who inspires others, develops their team and delivers exceptional results.
Who it's for
Women with responsibility for managing and developing people, teams or functions in organisations of any size or sector.A strong entry might demonstrate:
An effective and people-focused approach to management
A track record of developing individuals or teams
The ability to help others perform, progress and succeed
Strong management through challenge or change
An adaptable approach that gets the best from different people
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Recognising a senior leader whose strategic leadership has delivered significant organisational, commercial or societal impact.
Who it's for
Women operating at director or equivalent senior leadership level in organisations of any size across the private, public or third sectors.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· Significant strategic leadership and influence
· Strong judgement when making complex or high-stakes decisions
· Evidence of meaningful organisational, commercial or societal impact
· Influence on people, culture and performance beyond their immediate area of responsibility
· A clear contribution to the future direction of their organisation or sector
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Celebrating an inspirational leader delivering meaningful impact for their organisation, communities or citizens through public service.
Who it's for
Women in leadership roles across public services, including local and central government, health, education, emergency services and other publicly funded organisations.A strong entry might demonstrate:
A strong commitment to outstanding public service
Meaningful improvements to services, outcomes or communities
Effective leadership through complexity and competing priorities
Collaboration across teams, organisations or sectors
A contribution to stronger, more resilient or more effective public services for the future
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Recognising a woman creating lasting positive impact in communities across the North East, including through the third sector, her professional role, volunteering or an independent initiative.
Who it's for
Women creating meaningful community impact in any capacity. This might be through a charity or community organisation, their professional role, volunteering, campaigning or an independent initiative.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· A strong understanding of the community need or issue being addressed
· Tangible positive impact for people or communities
· Significant personal commitment and contribution
· The ability to bring together people, organisations, resources or partnerships
· A focus on sustainability and creating lasting benefit
Recognition categories
Recognising individuals and organisations creating a lasting impact beyond traditional leadership roles.
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Recognising an individual who has made a lasting difference through mentoring and supporting the development of others.
Who it's for
Women who actively mentor and support the development of others, formally or informally, inside or outside their organisation.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· A thoughtful approach tailored to the needs and ambitions of others
· Sustained commitment to mentoring
· Evidence of helping others build confidence, capability and independence
· Generosity in sharing knowledge, experience and insight
· A track record of opening doors and broadening opportunities for others
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Celebrating an individual taking meaningful action to challenge barriers and create more inclusive workplaces and opportunities.
Who it's for
Women taking practical action to improve equality, diversity and inclusion within an organisation, sector or community. Entrants do not need to work in a dedicated EDI role.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· A clear understanding of the barrier or inequality being addressed
· Meaningful action to challenge or change it
· Evidence of positive impact and progress
· The ability to influence others and encourage accountability
· A commitment to creating sustainable change rather than one-off activity
In partnership with
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Recognising an organisation creating an outstanding and inclusive workplace where women can thrive, progress and succeed.
Who it's for
Organisations of any size or sector with a significant presence in the North East. This is an organisational award rather than an individual award.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· A workplace culture where women are supported to thrive
· Meaningful access to development, progression and leadership opportunities
· Practical action to create an inclusive workplace
· Leadership accountability for culture and inclusion
· Evidence of listening to employees and turning insight into meaningful improvement
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Recognising a woman whose example, generosity and contribution inspire others and who consistently supports and lifts those around her.
Who it's for
Women at any career stage and from any sector whose actions, values and example have a positive influence on others. This award isn't about seniority or public profile. It's about how someone uses their position, experience or influence to help others.A strong entry might demonstrate:
· Values and behaviours that positively influence others
· A track record of creating opportunities and opening doors
· Generosity in sharing experience, knowledge, networks or influence
· Evidence of using their voice, position or platform for the benefit of others
· Sustained commitment rather than a single initiative or moment
The highest honour of the North East Women of Excellence Awards, recognising an exceptional woman whose achievements, leadership and impact exemplify excellence and who has made an outstanding contribution to the North East.
Flagship Award
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The highest honour of the North East Women of Excellence Awards, recognising an exceptional woman whose achievements, leadership and impact exemplify excellence and who has made an outstanding contribution to the North East.
Who it's for
An exceptional woman whose achievements and contribution extend beyond the immediate expectations of her role, business or organisation. Entrants may come from any sector or career path.
This is an open-entry category and women can enter themselves or be nominated directly for the award.
A strong entry might demonstrate:
An exceptional track record of achievement and positive impact
Leadership, expertise or influence that has created meaningful change
A contribution extending beyond the immediate expectations of her role or organisation
The willingness to use her voice, position or experience to lead, challenge, champion or create change
An outstanding contribution to the North East and the people around her
In partnership with
Not sure which category is right?
Every category has detailed eligibility guidance and judging criteria to help you choose.
If you're still unsure, we'd be happy to help you identify the category that best reflects your achievements.
Ready to enter?
Found the right category? Enter yourself or nominate an outstanding woman for a North East Women of Excellence Award.