WISE100 Women in Social Enterprise Awards 2024 open for nominations
This is your chance to nominate the UK's leading women in social enterprise and impact investing. In addition to our top 100 list, five awards will be announced at a special celebration event planned for March 2024. Nominate by midnight on Sunday 14 January 2024! If you would like to view the entry form in full to help plan your answers, you can download the PDF here.
The search has begun for this year's most pioneering 100 women in social enterprise and impact investing across the UK.
The annual WISE100 list, created by Pioneers Post in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital, is open for nominations.
In addition to our top 100 list, five awards will be announced at a special celebration event planned for March 2024.
This year we have also introduced a new category, the WISE100 Equality & Empowerment Champion, for a woman who is leading the way in issues of equality and diversity, particularly – but not exclusively – in gender equality, equal participation and leadership.
Nominations must be submitted online and you may submit an entry for yourself or on behalf of somebody else. The application form will be open until midnight on Sunday 14 January 2024 for the following categories:
WISE Social Business Woman of the Year
For a CEO, pioneer or leader with more than five years of leadership experience building revenue, social impact and a strong team.
WISE100 Social Business Star of the Future
For a CEO or leader showing star qualities relatively new in their social enterprise career, with five or fewer years of leadership experience.
WISE100 Social Investment Champion
For a woman making her mark in social impact investment during the past year.
WISE100 Environmental Champion
For a woman doing pioneering work in the social enterprise space with a focus on climate change and environmental issues.
WISE100 Equality & Empowerment Champion
For a woman who is leading the way in issues of equality and diversity, particularly (bot not exclusively) in gender equality, equal participation and leadership.
More detailed criteria for each category is provided below. If you would like to view the entry form in full you can download the PDF here.
What is is the WISE100?
The WISE100 celebrates, supports and connects the pioneering women working in social enterprise, impact investing and mission-driven business across the UK. In addition to the awards, the WISE100 is also a powerful network of women who are committed to making a positive impact – and to supporting one another to succeed.
The WISE100 also encapsulates a highly successful partnership between Pioneers Post and NatWest, stretching back over 20 years and including both the WISE100 and SE100 Social Business Awards.
Alongside these annual awards, Pioneers Post and NatWest have collaborated to develop an ongoing programme of content, events, and learning opportunities throughout the year to support this community of pioneering leaders. During 2023 this has included a number of 'WISE Ways to Lead' webinars tackling topics such as 'Maternity, menopause and marginalisation in social business' and 'Breaking the glass ceiling in social enterprise'. Our WISE100 story collection now includes more than 80 articles, videos and podcasts.
Writing in NatWest S&CC's annual impact report published in October this year, Julie Baker, head of enterprise and climate engagement and partnerships at NatWest, said the bank was “determined as ever to support more women to start and grow a business”. She added: “Building on the recommendations of The Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, we have continued to invest in colleague capability so they understand the different challenges women face when setting up in business and how to help them to overcome them by providing tailored support.”
WISE100 Awards: Criteria
WISE Social Business Woman of the Year
Who we are looking for: a CEO or leader, innovator or pioneer with more than five years of top level experience building revenue, social impact and a strong team. This experience may have been gained in leadership positions at just one or at several different organisations.
What we are looking for:
a) A short biography outlining the person's track record and credentials.
b) Evidence of this leader's achievements and the achievements of their social enterprise during the past year. This should include facts, figures and specific examples where possible.
Please do NOT write a long piece of prose telling us how fantastic this person is without backing it up with clear evidence.
c) Please include at least one endorsement from a team member, board member or business contact/partner.
WISE100 Social Business Star of the Future
Who we are looking for: a CEO or leader showing star qualities relatively new in their social enterprise career, with five or fewer years of leadership experience.
What we are looking for:
a) A short biography outlining the person's experience and development as a new social enterprise leader.
b) Evidence of this leader's achievements and the achievements of their social enterprise during the past year. This should include facts, figures and specific examples where possible.
Please do NOT write a long piece of prose telling us how fantastic this person is without backing it up with clear evidence.
c) Please include at least one endorsement from a board member or business mentor/advisor about why this leader is a Star of the Future.
WISE100 Social Investment Champion
Who we are looking for: a woman making her mark as a leader or pioneer in social impact investment during the past year.
What we are looking for:
a) A short biography outlining the person's track record in social investment.
b) Evidence of this leader's achievements in social investment during the past year. This should include facts, figures and specific examples of how this person has made a mark in social investment during the year.
Please do NOT write a long piece of prose telling us how fantastic this person is without backing it up with clear evidence.
c) Please include at least one endorsement from a board member, senior colleague or social investment partner.
WISE100 Environmental Champion
Who we are looking for: a woman doing pioneering work in the social enterprise space with a focus on climate change and environmental issues.
What we are looking for:
a) A short biography outlining the person's experience in climate change and environmental issues.
b) Evidence of this leader's achievements and the achievements of their social enterprise during the past year. This should include facts, figures and specific examples of how this person has made a significant positive impact in climate change during the year.
Please do NOT write a long piece of prose telling us how fantastic this person is without backing it up with clear evidence.
c) Please include at least one personal endorsement from a board member, senior colleague or business partner/advisor.
WISE100 Equality & Empowerment Champion
Who we are looking for: a woman who is leading the way in issues of equality and diversity, particularly (bot not exclusively) in gender equality, equal participation and leadership.
What we are looking for:
a) A short biography outlining the person's experience in pioneering equality, diversity and empowerment.
b) Evidence of this leader's achievements and the achievements of their social enterprise during the past year. This should include facts, figures and specific examples of how this person has made a significant positive impact during the year.
Please do NOT write a long piece of prose telling us how fantastic this person is without backing it up with clear evidence.
c) Please include at least one personal endorsement from a board member, senior colleague or business partner/advisor.
Delivered by Pioneers Post, in partnership with NatWest Social & Community Capital, the WISE100 is an initiative to celebrate, support and share expertise, learning and inspiration among women in social enterprise across the UK.
If you have any questions, please get in touch via WISE100@pioneerspost.com
Read more about Women In Social Enterprise in our WISE100 Collection
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