The Bristol-based Festival of Female Entrepreneurs (FFE) is on the look-out for up-and-coming female business talent to enter its awards this year.
The long-running FFE, organised by small business support group Enterprise Nation, is set to crown its Facebook-powered Female Start-Up of the Year at the October 21 event, shining a spotlight on early-stage entrepreneurs that are excelling in their industry.
Last year St Paul’s-based Chloe Tingle, 25, won the award after a live-pitch on stage, for her pioneering social enterprise No More Taboo.
Her 100 per cent not-for-profit company is aimed at raising awareness – and money – for women in countries where menstruation is still a huge stigma that interferes with their access to education, affects body confidence and impacts on their freedom.
Since winning the Female Start-Up of the Year award in 2015, Chloe’s firm has reached its £7,000 crowd-funding target, recruited ten new volunteers and rolled out an in-school project aimed at encouraging girls to take up science, funded by Bristol University.
The prize gave her a free new website, all designed and built by 123-reg and access to mentor Mike Jackson, founder of Webstart Bristol, who was one of the judges.
Chloe said: “Having access to mentors was so important. Having a great idea is one thing, making it into a business that works is quite another, so speaking to Mike was so helpful. And my website looks brilliant, I dread to think how much it would have cost me if I hadn’t had any help.”
The Festival of Female Entrepreneurs isaimedat helping women to build and grow businesses. Ithas already carved a reputation over five years for delivering inspiration for British female self-starters via incisive key-note speakers including the stories of high functioning corporate leaders - and those that have escaped the rat race and started their own successful venture.
The criteria for entering the awards are:
Female-founded business
less than three years old
maximum of 10 employees
a clear vision for the direction of the business
ambitious plans for growth
This year’s judges are:
• Catherine Flynn,Facebook
• Mike Jackson, CEO,Webstart Bristol
• Alison Edgar, founder,Sales Coaching Solutions andThe Entrepreneur's Godmother
• Chloe Tingle, founder,No More Tabooand 2015 Female Start-up of the Year
• Richard Dennys, founder,GenerateLearning
For more information about the criteria and prizes, or to enter the awards, click here.
For tickets: www.enterprisenation.com/festival