The 2006 Business Woman of the Year Awards are open for nominations.
The 24th annual ceremony and lunch, honouring the cream of female business talent, will take place at the Metropole Hilton Hotel, Birmingham, on October 13.
Each year, five finalists are selected from the list of business owners or members of senior management nominated for the award. These women are chosen for having made a significant contribution to the financial success and performance of their companies.
The awards are affiliated with Vitalise, a national charity helping disabled people and their carers have a holiday. So far, the awards have raised £400,000 for Skylarks, Vitalise's holiday camp in the Midlands.
Last year's winner was Carol Burke, managing director of Unipart Eberspacher Exhaust Systems.
Nominations for the 2006 Awards can be put forward by the nominee herself, or on her behalf.
Entry forms can be obtained from IT services provider and award sponsor, SCC (telephone: 0121 766 2580). The deadline for entering is September 15.
"In spite of the inherent modesty of so many high achieving women, the standard of entries we receive rises year on year, but there is still more that can be done," said Judy Groves who chairs the luncheon and awards committee. "The Business Woman of the Year Awards has become a benchmark of the exceptional achievement and ability of business women. It is a vital channel for encouraging women to be proud and vocal about their business success."
Meanwhile the Institution of Engineering and Technology has launched the search for Britain's top young woman engineer.
With only eight per cent of the UK's engineers being women, the judges say they are not only looking for candidates with exceptional skills but also those that have the ability to be a great ambassador for the profession and a role model for the next generation.
The Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards are open to women under 30 with an appropriate engineering qualification or a degree.
The winner will get a £1,000 cheque and a engraved trophy at a ceremony in London next January.
Dr Alf Roberts, chief executive of the IET, said: "The Institution is committed to raising the profile of engineering and encouraging more young people, including women, to consider the industry.
"In particular, we hope the Young Woman Engineer of the Year Awards will help to address the shortage of female role models in the profession and demonstrate that engineering is a great career for women."
Closing date is September 15.
