Rules

• Regional Restriction: Entry is open exclusively to individuals who identify as female and are primary residents or have their main place of business in Cornwall, Devon,or Somerset.

• Postcode Verification: Addresses and postcodes are strictly verified. Applicants outside these three counties (e.g., Bristol, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire) will be disqualified without further notice.

• Age: All nominees must be aged 18 or over at the time of nomination.

• Inclusivity: We warmly welcome nominations from all members of the community.

• Posthumous Awards: Nominations for deceased individuals cannot be accepted.

• The “Key” to Entry: A nomination is the initial step that invites a woman to apply. Only one valid nomination per category is required to begin the journey.

• No Public Voting: This is an independently judged awards program, not a popularity contest. Multiple nominations for the same person do not increase their chances and will be disregarded.

• Self-Nomination: Individuals are permitted and encouraged to nominate themselves.

• Social Media Conduct: To maintain integrity, do not solicit “votes” or mass nominations on social media. If you have been nominated, please update any posts to reflect that your application is in progress to avoid duplicate entries.

• Confidentiality: All entry data and application details are treated as strictly confidential.

To ensure a level playing field and maintain the “Trust Mark” of integrity:

• Ambassadors: Our Ambassadors are champions of the awards. To ensure independence, Ambassadors may not enter the awards during their tenure. If an Ambassador wishes to apply, they must formally step down from their role for that awards year.

• Sponsor Organisation: Employees, volunteers of a sponsoring company (or a partner organisation) are ineligible to enter the specific category sponsored by the organisation to avoid “pay-to-win” perceptions, and maintain integrity for the sponsor and the awards. They may, however, enter other categories.

• Judge Impartiality: If there are any questions around the above, or if there is an issue regarding perceptions or integrity, these will be dealt with and actioned by both the Operations Director and Training & Compliance Director. Their decision is final.

• The Panel: Each category will be assessed by a minimum team of two competent, independent judges who have received specific guidance on our scoring matrix.

• Transparency: All applications must be backed by evidence (weblinks, documented processes, and outcome data).

• Interviews: Judges reserve the right to request a brief interview (via Zoom or in-person) to clarify details within an application.

• Finality: The judges’ decisions are final. To maintain total impartiality, the Director General does not participate in the scoring or selection of winners.

• 6th March: Women Awards Launch
• 6th May: Making the Womens Awards Work for You: Get help with your Application Form
• 3rd July: End of Nominations – no extensions
• 10th July: End of Applications – no extensions
• 17th July – 7th August: Judging Period
• 19th August: Quarter Finalist Announcement Online
• 16th September: Semi Finalist Announcement at Somerset County Cricket Club
• 21st October: Finalist Announcement Powderham Castle.
• 27th November: Grand Final Gala Dinner & Dance Crowne Plaza, Plymouth.

• Attendance: While we encourage all shortlisted applicants to celebrate their success, there is no mandatory requirement to attend events to remain eligible to win.

• Fee Transparency: There is no fee to enter. All costs for event tickets or optional duplicate trophies are clearly listed on our website.

• Logo Use: Winners and finalists will never be charged a fee to use the West Country Women Awards branding or logos for their own promotion.

• Media Consent: By progressing to the Quarter Finalist stage, applicants consent to the use of their name and business name in promotional materials and press releases without further payment.

• Reputation: Nominees must not have pending legal proceedings that could bring the awards into disrepute.

• Publicity: Winners will be publicly declared on our official website within 7 days of the Grand Final. We provide free quotes for press releases upon request.

• An applicant may be a Finalist in multiple categories but can only be declared the Winner of one.

• Previous category winners are invited to apply for different categories in future years, but remain ineligible to win the same category twice.

For technical issues or rule clarifications, contact our Operations Director, Chris James, at chris@westcountrywomen.co.uk.

We aim to respond to all inquiries within 24 hours.