Calling all business mums - 19 December 2006
Yellow Pages and Prowess launch search for the UK’s most inspirational business mum.Mums who run their own business are being invited to celebrate their success by entering the first ever ‘Inspirational Business Mum of the Year’ award, sponsored by Yellow Pages directories. The award is a brand new category at the 2007 Prowess Awards (1) and recognises the commitment, energy, drive and determination it takes for mums to succeed in enterprise.
The launch follows a recent Yellow Pages study which found that mums who set up businesses from home have become a powerful force within British business, with a combined turnover of £4.4 billion (1).
Open to all mums who run their own business large or small, the ‘Inspirational Business Mum of the Year’, is looking to highlight those that have a story to inspire others. Nominations are welcome from business mums themselves or the family, friends, colleagues, customers and professional advisors of these unique women. Nominations can be posted online at www.bizmums.co.uk/inspirational and all entries must be received by January 12, 2007. Anyone who doesn’t have online access can call 020 7025 6551 to request a postal nomination form.
The panel of judges – which includes Sally Preston, owner of Babylicious, and Sylvia Philips, Vice-Chair of Prowess - will study each mum’s story, looking at how and why she developed her business and the personal journey involved in setting up the business. They will also be looking for mums who have got the work/life balance right and have perhaps helped to mentor other women along the way.
A shortlist of three finalists will be invited to the Prowess Awards Gala dinner on February 7, 2007 when the overall Inspirational Business Mum of the Year winner will be announced.
Catherine Kehoe, head of marketing strategy and communications at Yell, publisher of Yellow Pages directories, said: “Our research earlier this year pinpointed mums as a growing force in UK business who really do deserve to be championed, and we’re delighted to be able to help celebrate some of the many successes. From our work with thousands of start-up businesses, we understand the challenges they face and hope that by sharing these women’s amazing stories we can help to inspire others along the way.”
The Inspirational Business Mum of the Year is one of eight awards being presented at the Prowess Awards 2007 Gala dinner, which celebrate those who are paving the way for women starting and growing businesses in the UK. Other award categories are: Female Business Mentor of the Year, Business Support Professional of the Year, Making an Impact, Press Award, Innovator Award, Female Business Mentor of the Year, Outstanding Contribution to Women’s Enterprise Development and Inspirational Woman. For more information, go to www.prowess.org.uk.
* Run by Prowess, the UK’s leading women’s enterprise organisation
(1) Figure based on the average turnover of 224 business mum survey respondents (£26,323) multiplied by the number of self-employed mothers working from home (167,353) (Source: 2006 figures from the Labour Force Survey)
