Are you running a small social enterprise that can be scaled up quickly? Are you looking for funding and expertise? Or do you have an excellent idea and a business  plan but just need help getting started? We can help!

UnLtd, the Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs have funded many thousands of innovative ideas, including Women Like Us, which helps women find work after starting a family.

We have an exciting new opportunity : the Big Venture Challenge. This is a national competition to find the 25 most ambitious social entrepreneurs in England and is being run by UnLtd, together with the Big Lottery Fund. Communities across England are facing increasing social needs as a result of public sector constraints and we are looking for entrepreneurs with ideas to deliver alternative solutions.

We are keen to encourage more mums to apply – not least because a high proportion of ideas submitted to the television programme Dragon’s Dencome from mums to young children. There is a lot of innovation and imagination out there – all that is needed is advice and funding, both of which we can provide.

Winners will get an initial £25K and the chance to access up to £150K of seed investment (if matched by loans or equity from co-investors), plus first class business support and mentoring, designed to keep pace with high growth social entrepreneurs.

In other words, we need:

?         people with big ideas to transform disadvantaged communities across England;

?         people who have got what it takes to build credible ventures;

?         people who have the ambition to scale up impact fast.

Some press coverage here , and if you have any questions please contact Sinead Hanks on sineadhanks@unltd.org.uk or call 020 7566 1116

Last year I was honoured to not only be nominated but voted for and won Dorset Business Mum of the Year (big thanks to Laura Morris, Darren Toms, Daddy Moo, Moo and Megan for all their help along the way!) and as you can seefrom this press release issued by the Awards for 2011 my category was a huge success. Sadly this year I am not allowed to be nominated for the title Dorset Business Mum of the Year but do remember all the hard work that other members of Networking Mummiesachieve daily in their lives and if you do feel the need to tell me how lovely I am you know my email 

Enthusiasm was high at 1700 hours on 20^th January 2011 when the official launch of TheLangtry Manor Business Woman’s Awards took place at the award winning newly refurbished Langtry Manor Hotel.

Sponsors, winners, finalists and the media were out in force to celebrate and kick start the official launch with guests ready to spread the word of the awards for Dorset and New Forest women in business.

Founder Jackie Phillipson says “The awards are becoming a permanent fixture on the Dorset calendar and are well supported. For any business, the awards are a great way to maximise marketability and PR opportunities. This year there are eleven award categories and a newly created Lifetime Achievement Awards – all categories acknowledge the valuable contribution Dorset’s businesswomen make to the local economy. All categories are sponsored by female friendly companies.”

Nigel P Hedges President of Bournemouth Chamber of Trade and Commerce says, “Never under estimate the power of a woman, in today’s business world women are playing a huge role and bring a much wider range of people skills and determination to corporate business.”

The award categories are:
Best PR Initiative - P-PR Media Solutions Ltd
Business Woman of the Future – Women in Business Network
Business Mum of the Year - The Daily Echo
Dot Com Business - The Bournemouth Town.co.uk
Employer of the Year - The Coast FM
Entrepreneur of the Year - Princecroft Willis
Green Business Award - The Green Energy Centre
Lifetime Achievement Award - The Bournemouth Chamber Of Commerce
New Business Award - Nat West Bank
Small Business Award - Federation of Small Business
Special Woman Award - Job Shop UK

The award finalists will be invited to the exclusive awards ceremony dinner at Langtry Manor in May 2011.

2010 multi award winners New You Boot Camp, (Winner of The PR Award and the Entrepreneur of the Year award) director Sunny Moran says of the awards, “We were honoured to be presented with our awards and they have certainly added further to our company profile and marketability. Our advice to other women is – enter as you have plenty to gain and nothing to lose.”

Founder Tara Howard also commented saying “Women in business often have to work harder to succeed in a man’s world and I feel we need to be recognised for our efforts and every business woman in Dorset and the New Forest should enter these awards no matter what they do and no matter what the size and capacity of their business”

Last year an award which generated a huge responsewas the Business Mum of the Year. The Daily Echo received 10,000 votes for this category – confirming this as the most votes ever received from a competition. The title was won by Joanne Dewberry of Charlie Moo’s andNetworking Mummies. Says Guy Neale of the Daily Echo “The Daily Echo attends many award ceremonies every year and this was one of the very best and that’s why we are on board for the second year. Emotions were high at the award ceremony, the atmosphere was alive, the awards were well organised and very well attended.”

Despite its focus on women, there is a one category which can be won by a man! ‘The Coast FM Award for Best Employer’ will go to the best boss or company as voted by its female employees. Bob Hoad MD of the Coast FM says, “The Coast is delighted to be involved for the first time in the Business Woman’s Awards especially in this category where we can acknowledge an employer who values the great work of females in the workplace. We are looking forward being part of what is becoming one of the highlights of the Dorset business community.”

Editors Notes:

Tara Howard, Managing Director of the Langtry Manor and Jackie Phillipson, Managing Director of P-PR Media Solutions created the inaugural Langtry Manor Business Woman’s Awards in 2010 to recognise the efforts of business women in Dorset and the New Forest.

Last year’s categories and winners:
Entrepreneur of the Year - New You Boot Camp
Small Business Award - Fab Frocks
Business Woman of the Future - Hannah Burgess
Business Mum of the Year - Joanne Dewberry, Charlie Moos
Dot Com Business - Me-Mo
New Business Award - My Carry Potty
Green Business Award - The Green, Lower Parkstone
Special Woman Award - Nikila Newman, The Infectious Academy
Best PR Initiative - New You Boot Camp
Employer of the Year - Cherish

To learn more about the awards please contact PPR Media Solutions T 01202 896698 or email jamie@p-pr.co.uk or admin@p-pr.co.uk or visit www.p-pr.co.uk orwww.businesswomenawards.com