Here Come the Girls!

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Here Come the Girls!

Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWIF) Awards 2012

The first Encouraging Women into Franchising (EWIF) Awards were held in London and were set up to recognise and reward the contribution the growing contribution and success of women involved in the franchise industry, one of the fastest growing sectors in the UK’s economy, during 2010.

The organisers were thrilled with the response to this inaugural event and the high calibre of all the entries.

The ceremony was attended by successful business women from across the country. The aim of the event was to recognise.

In 2011 there were four awards:

1. Woman Franchisee of the Year 2010 -Sponsored by NatWest
2. Young Woman Franchisee of the Year 2010 (under 30) - Sponsored by Recognition Express
3. Woman Franchisor of the Year 2010 - Sponsored by Stevens & Bolton Solicitors
4. Woman Franchise Service Provider of the Year 2010 - Sponsored by Business Options

The 2011 winners were:

1. Lisa Tobias, Domino's Pizza, Woman Franchisee of the Year 2010
2. Amanda Perkins - Musical Minis -Young Woman Franchisee of the Year 2010 (under 30)
3. Sophie Brooks - Clive's Easylearn Pop Music Schools - Woman Franchisor of the Year 2010
4. Sarah Cook – Coconut Creatives - Woman Franchise Service Provider of the Year 2010

Sophie Brooks says: I was thrilled to win "Woman Franchisor of the Year" 2010.

The award and the subsequent publicity surrounding Clive's Easylearn Pop Music Schools has been valuable in increasing general interest and credibility within the network, and has also assisted with the recruitment of new franchisees during the year.

In 2012, the number of awards for the year 2011 has increased to six:

1. The NatWest Award for Woman Franchisee of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful woman franchisee during 2011
2. The Recognition Express Award for New Woman Franchisee of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful woman franchisee during 2011 that became a franchisee after 1^st January 2010.
3. The Coconut Creatives Award for Woman Franchisor of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful woman franchisor during 2011.
4. The WPA Award for New Woman Franchisor of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful woman franchisor during 2011 that launched their franchise after 1^st January 2009.
5. The Owen White Award for Franchisor Woman Employee of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful franchisor woman employee during 2012
6. The Franchise Show Award for Woman Franchise Service Provider of the Year 2011
   Recognising the most successful woman franchise service provider during 2012

PLUS - The Business Options Outstanding Contribution to Women in Franchising Award 2011 - Recognising the work of a woman who has made a major contribution to franchising in 2011.

Note: Individuals can not nominate themselves for this Award. The winner will be chosen by the judges based on their knowledge of the special work of the individual.

Government Recognises the need for more women in business.

New support for women's enterprise was announced by the government on 04 Nov 2011 as part of the wider economic recovery plan

Funding will provide 5,000 mentors for new and existing female entrepreneurs as research shows women are only half as likely as men to be engaged in entrepreneurial activity.

This is just one of a broad package of measures the government has put in place to support women through the current economic challenges.

Home Secretary and Minister for Women and Equalities Theresa May said: 'For too long we have been overlooking the skills, experience and talents of women.

'Better use of women's skills could be worth billions of pounds to our economy each year so that is why this government is opening up more opportunities. This support package will help those who want to start or grow their own business.

'This is real, practical help, at a time when we need to find new ways of boosting enterprise and growth.

'This will be good for the economy and good for women.'

Recent research

Recent research by Delta Economics shows women who want to start their own businesses often have specific concerns around issues such as access to finance, building confidence, work life balance and working from home. It shows women also have different motivations for starting businesses, different goals and different target markets to men, which is why mentors trained specifically to reflect the needs of women will be a valuable resource.

The Home Secretary also announced that the government will establish a Women's Business Council, to provide advice to government on what it can do to maximise women's contribution to future economic growth.

The announcement follows a wide-ranging consultation the government has carried out with women to ensure their voices are being listened to and are informing government policy.

One of the key findings was that women felt there was a need for greater flexibility from employers, which the government will address by extending flexible working to all employees and by allowing parents to choose how best to share their parental leave after having a baby.

For further information on EWIF and the EWIF Awards 2012, go to www.ewif.org

Anyone wishing to enter one of the awards should go to www.ewif.org/page5.htm and download the relevant entry form and ensure they are received at awards@ewif.org by 5pm on 24^th February 2012. The Award Ceremony will be in London on Thursday 29^th March 2012.