The third annual awards ceremony will continue to champion businesswomen leading across a multitude of sectors.

 

This year’s Great British Businesswoman Awards Grand Final is set to take place in London on 31st January 2024. Ahead of the Grand Final, the shortlist for the Great British Businesswoman Awards is unveiled.

 

Over 200 women in business have been named as finalists in categories including: Banking and Finance Businesswoman; Construction Businesswoman; Engineering & Manufacturing Businesswoman; Social Enterprise Businesswoman; and Diversity Initiative of the Year.

 

One of the category winners will also be crowned the overall Great British Businesswoman of the Year, won in 2022 by Beth Knight, Amazon in the Community Leader at Europe Amazon.

 

The programme launched three years ago to recognise and celebrate the inspiring women innovating and leading the way in their respective industries. While there has been progress, statistics still show that men hold most of the top jobs, with just 8% of companies having a woman in the CEO role.

 

Despite the smaller representation, data published by money.co.uk business loans shows that women-led companies have an average revenue of $26 billion. In comparison, firms led by men have an average revenue of $20 billion.

 

Further studies estimate that £250 billion could be injected into the UK economy if women were equally as prominent in leading businesses as men.

 

With much work to be done, the awards will play an active role in showcasing the importance of having more women in leading corporate positions and, ultimately, getting closer to realising swathes of untapped potential.

 

This year, the organisers are making the event bigger and better, staging it at Leonardo Royal Hotel, London St Pauls.

 

Finalists and winners are also encouraged to remain engaged with the programme after the final as they are welcomed into a growing alumni network where previous award applicants can connect, learn and share ideas.

 

The finalists will be whittled down to 22 winners selected by a panel of expert judges spanning a wide range of industries and big-name companies, from Nancy Hobhouse

Head of ESG at EVRI, to Romy Desmarais, Talent Development Manager at Harrods, to Ellie Long, Inclusive Hiring & Early Careers Leader, Rolls Royce and many more.

 

Awards founder Nicola Dowdall said that the judges have a tough decision on their hands:

 

"We received over 1000 entries all of which were of exceptional quality, showcasing a remarkable spectrum of talent and accomplishments.. Being shortlisted from a pool of highly qualified applicants is a source of pride, and I sympathise with the judges tasked with selecting the winners.”

 

“Promoting and supporting women in business transcends gender boundaries. To foster more women leaders in the corporate world requires collaborative efforts from all of us.”

 

“These awards, with their categories recognising male advocates, corporate initiatives, and teams promoting gender equality and diversity, embody this ethos.”

 

“Warm congratulations to our outstanding finalists. I eagerly anticipate discovering the 2023 award winners."

 

The Grand Final of the Great British Businesswoman Awards 2023 will be held at Leonardo Royal Hotel, London St Pauls on 31st January 2024.