The awards mark the achievements of the growing number of women-led businesses and recognise the entrepreneurial talents of women across Scotland. Importantly, they also help to create more business role models to inspire the next generation of leaders. This year awards will go to women running their own business and those in larger organisations.

Categories range from Start-up Business of the Year and Established Business of the Year to Rising Star of the Year and Inspirational Woman of the Year. 

New categories in the 2020 awards to mark the unparalleled economic climate include Business Growth of the Year, Resilient Woman of the Year and Social Impact of the Year.

STV, who recently announced a wide-reaching partnership with Business Women Scotland, are sponsors of the Business Woman of the Year award. As part of the deal, STV will gift the award winner £20,000 airtime and a launch commercial to help grow their business.

Judges of the Business Women Scotland Business Awards are June Walker, executive coach and board advisor; Michelle Ferguson, director of Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company; Danielle Kelly, director of strategic development at STV; Tricia Halliday, director at Martin Aitken; Yvonne Greeves, head of women in business at Natwest and Royal Bank of Scotland and Adrian Murphy, managing director of Murphy Wealth.

Lynne Kennedy MBE, founder of Business Women Scotland, said: “There’s a lot of uncertainty, but this is the time when people need to acknowledge that they still have a great business and be recognised by their peers for what they are doing.

“Business awards are vitally important, and never more so than now. Not only do they recognise and showcase the talents of women in business, they also acknowledge the contribution they make to Scotland’s female business ecosystem as role models. We need more of them to put themselves forward and inspire the next generation of female entrepreneurs and women in business.”