A new awards scheme is launching in Birmingham to recognise the talents of the city’s businesswomen.

The NatWest Venus Awards will launch for the first time in Birmingham on Tuesday, May 20, at New Hall Hotel.  

The Post is backing the awards, and one of the gongs on offer will be the Birmingham Post Employee of the Year.

Founded in 2009 by working mother-of-four and managing director of the Historic Langtry Manor Hotel in Dorset, Tara Howard, the Venus Awards were created to give due credit to women in business who can sometimes be overlooked.

The awards are split into 14 categories covering all aspects of business and personal achievement. Ms Howard said: “There are so many hard-working women out there who truly deserve to be celebrated for their remarkable contribution to local business.”

The categories include:

*Birmingham Post ​​Employee of the Year

*NatWest Small Business of the Year

*SimkissGuy Recruitment PA of the Year

*Heart Business Mother of the Year

Other categories include:

Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Influential Woman, Inspirational Woman, Employer of the Year, Green Business, Home Based Business, Online Business, Small Business and Professional of the Year.

The awards ceremony will be held at the ICC in November 2014. 

Pre-nominations are being accepted at http://Birmingham.venusawards.co.uk