The Best Awards for Women in Business (and How to Nail Your Entry)
By Shannon Kate Murray, Founder & Editor of High Flying DesignThere’s something powerful about being recognised for your work - not just by clients or customers, but by your industry.
For women founders, entering a business award isn’t about collecting trophies. It’s about building credibility, amplifying visibility, and owning your success publicly.
A nomination can unlock press coverage, attract dream clients, and strengthen your brand reputation - often sparking the kind of momentum that money alone can’t buy.
Whether you’re a solo service provider, a product-based business, or the force behind a fast-growing brand, there’s an award made for you. And many are more accessible than you think.
Here’s your updated guide to the best UK business awards for women in 2025 - plus insider tips for choosing the right one and crafting an entry that shines.
The Top UK Awards for Women in Business
Muddy Stilettos SME Awards
Best for: Lifestyle brands, creatives, consultants, wellness providers and indie retailers
Why we love it: These awards are local, free to enter, and deeply rooted in community. With 21 categories across 35 UK counties, they spotlight small businesses making a real difference.
Bonus: Categories like Best Women’s Style Business, Best Wellbeing Specialist, and Best Creative Business make this especially aligned with female-led brands that prioritise impact and authenticity.
Best Business Women Awards
Best for: Established founders and SMEs ready for national exposure
Why we love it: This is one of the UK’s most respected awards for female entrepreneurs. The award offers serious credibility and powerful PR opportunities. Winners join a long-standing alumni network that celebrates collaboration over competition.
Expect: A structured application process, transparent judging criteria, and a high but achievable bar - perfect if you’re already delivering results and ready to be seen.
National Business Women’s Awards
Best for: Women at every stage - from side hustlers to scale-ups
Why we love it: With 20+ categories and a glamorous black-tie final, these awards make space for ambition in all its forms. Whether you’re being recognised for innovation, customer service, or leadership, there’s a category that fits your growth stage.
Everywoman Entrepreneur Awards
Best for: Legacy-building founders and high-growth businesses
Why we love it: Backed by NatWest, Everywoman is known for championing vision, resilience, and leadership. It’s a platform for women who’ve navigated pivots, setbacks, or purpose-led missions - and turned them into something enduring.
Great British Businesswoman Awards
Best for: Thought leaders, strategic founders, and mission-led brands
Why we love it: These awards aim to redefine success in business, honouring women who are leading with innovation, sustainability, and authenticity. Past winners include trailblazers across finance, STEM, fashion, and creative industries.
Why Entering a Business Award Is Worth It
Even if you don’t win, entering an award is a powerful act of reflection - and positioning.
Here’s why it’s worth it:
Visibility: Awards get your name in front of judges, journalists, and potential clients.
Credibility: Receiving finalist or winner status instantly builds trust with new audiences.
SEO + PR: A win (or even a shortlist mention) earns backlinks from high-authority sites - boosting your online visibility.
Confidence: Sometimes, you don’t realise how far you’ve come until you write it all down.
How to Choose the Right Award for Your Business
Align with your values and audience. Does this award align with the story you want your brand to tell?
Check the timing. Can you realistically prepare your entry this season?
Understand the judging criteria. Are you a strong fit now, or would next year be smarter?
Review past winners. Their trajectory often reveals what the judges truly value.
Ask why. Are you applying for validation - or visibility, connection, and credibility?
How to Write a Strong Award Entry
Lead with results. Judges want outcomes, not just intentions.
Tell your story. Humanise your business journey - what challenges did you overcome?
Show proof. Use testimonials, press mentions, or case studies to back your claims.
Stay focused. Choose one clear story per category rather than covering everything.
Polish and proof. Presentation matters - treat it like your business deserves the stage.
This isn’t just about winning
It’s about backing yourself - publicly. About celebrating what you’ve built and letting the world see it, too.
If you’ve ever downplayed your success or waited for someone else to acknowledge it, maybe this is the year you stop waiting.
Awards don’t make you legitimate. They just reflect what’s already true: you’ve built something worth recognising.
As of 2025, More awards are now introducing diversity and impact categories - spotlighting social, environmental, and community-driven businesses.
The Muddy Stilettos and Great British Businesswoman Awards both expanded to include sustainability and wellbeing in leadership categories.
There’s a rising trend in digital-first awards, where online entrepreneurs and creators are now being recognised alongside traditional SMEs.
So, whether your growth comes from a Shopify store, Substack, or studio, there’s a category for you.
