The search is back on for the UK's most inspiring women in business as the everywoman Entrepreneur Awards opens nominations to shine a spotlight on the country’s most exceptional female founders.

Female entrepreneurs have until 29 June 2026 to submit their entries to the UK’s longest-running recognition programme for women in business.

Born from a mission to celebrate incredible women and open doors to funding, growth opportunities and valuable connections, these awards have become a life-changing springboard for countless female entrepreneurs since their inception in 2003.

By celebrating Britain’s most inspirational female entrepreneurs from all ages, backgrounds and corners of the UK, the everywoman Entrepreneur Awards have changed businesses’ trajectories and created role models, with past finalists and winners using the recognition as a launchpad to increase their profile and secure successful commercial deals.

The everywoman Female Business Owners Index, in partnership with Tide, is a groundbreaking report that showcases the pressures and resilience of female entrepreneurs across the UK and underlines why this recognition and support matters more than ever.

The report found that 39% of female business owners say 2025 was tougher than the year before, with over half (54%) working longer hours and nearly one in four (23%) taking on a second job to keep their venture alive. The most common setbacks included falling consumer spending (36%), inflation (27%) and political uncertainty (21%), issues that are still all too familiar in 2026[1].

The awards will form part of AllBright everywoman’s new initiative, the Female Founder Collective. Over the past three decades, AllBright and everywoman have played an important role in supporting female founders and championing entrepreneurship through programmes, events and recognition. Now, the best of these initiatives are being brought together.

The Female Founder Collective is designed to support founders at every stage of their journey, giving them access to opportunities, connections and insight to help them scale and thrive. The awards will become an integrated programme that upskills and connects founders throughout the year.

Supporting partners announced so far for this year’s awards programme include Specsavers, who will present the Tech for Good award, and JC Decaux.

Nicole Goodwin and Sophie Catto, Joint Managing Directors of AllBright everywoman, said: “Female entrepreneurs show extraordinary resilience in the face of challenges and they keep building and believing in what they’re creating. The everywoman Entrepreneur Awards exist to recognise that determination and to accelerate it. As part of our new Female Founder Collective, these awards are the start of a year-long journey of connection, opportunity and growth. We want every female founder in the UK to know this programme is for you, so nominate yourself, or someone who inspires you.”

The judging panel is composed of some of the UK’s most successful women in business, alongside VCs and investors who are actively working to close the funding gap through their diverse portfolios. Judges in 2025 included Chrissie Rucker OBE, founder of The White Company, Yvonne Nagawa, Founding Partner & COO, Black Seed  Ventures, and Gill Riley OBE, Managing Director GGR Group, among many other business leaders from a wide range of entrepreneurial backgrounds and companies.


THE 2026 CATEGORIES ARE:

The Balance Award
Brand of the Future
Entrepreneur for Good award – presented by Specsavers
The Next Level Award
Scale-Up Award
Scaled by Social Award
Solopreneur Award
Small Enterprise Award
Tech Innovator Award

The everywoman Entrepreneur Award winners will be announced on 2nd December at The Londoner, Leicester Square. To find out more about the awards or to nominate yourself or someone you know, visit www.allbrighteverywoman.com/entrepreneur-awards