The inaugural Bristol Women in Business Awards celebrates the organisations and individuals driving real progress on inclusion and equity in our region.
Since the Charter launched in 2019, Bristol has been leading the way in creating workplaces where women thrive.
From shrinking pay gaps to gender-balanced leadership, our Signatories now employ more than 45,000 people across the city.
Now it’s time to recognise and showcase that success.
Key Dates
ENTRY DEADLINE EXTENDED: December 19th, 2025
Finalists announced: January 8th, 2026
Early bird tickets until: January 16th, 2026
Judging period: January - February, 2026
Awards ceremony: The evening of 12 March 2026
What to expect:
Dress code: Glamour and evening wear
Featuring live entertainment
Fine dining and powerful storytelling
Awards ceremony
All in the spectacular setting of Bristol Museum.
Organisational Awards
Outstanding Internal Women’s Network of the Year
Celebrating ERGs and networks creating real cultural change
Outstanding Women’s Organisation of the Year
Recognising external groups making an impact in our communities.
Outstanding Organization of the Year
Our flagship award for organisations embedding equity at every level.
Charity or Not for Profit of the Year
Showcasing the charities leading the way in inclusion.
Outstanding Programme of the Year
For initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes.
Individual Awards
Diversity Champion of the Year
For an individual whose leadership has delivered real change.
Ally of the Year
Recognising those who use their influence to challenge bias and open doors.
Woman of the Year Gamechanger
For a woman who has transformed her field and inspired others.
Inspiring Young Woman
For an under-30 leader already making a big impact.
Lifetime Achievement Trailblazer
Honouring a career spent breaking barriers.
Signatory Recognition
These four awards are to recognise top voices and influencers in our Signatory network – people who are championing these issues, going above and beyond every day. These will be chosen by the Bristol Women in Business Advisory Board, based on the detail provided in the last signatory progress report.
Inspire:
Small organisations under 100 employees
Empower:
Medium organisations 101–500 employees
Amplify:
Large organisations 501–1000 employees
Influence:
Enterprise organisations 1001+ employees
OUR 2026 SPONSORS
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OUR 2026 SPONSORS ✨
We are delighted to have a range of businesses as sponsor strengthening the region’s commitment to gender equality and inclusive growth.
OUR GOLD SPONSORS
YTL Construction and Wessex Water are Gold Sponsor of the inaugural Bristol Women in Business Awards 2026.
Colin Skellett, Group Chief Executive of YTL UK Group, said: “YTL Construction and Wessex Water, are committed to breaking barriers and ensuring women have the opportunity to succeed at every level of our business. That’s why we’re proud to support the Bristol Women in Business Awards 2026 –championing trailblazers, celebrating leadership, and creating new pathways for futuregenerations.”
OUR SILVER SPONSORS
Silver Sponsors include architect Stride Treglown, law firm Burges Salmon, Bristol Airport, and accountancy firm S+W. Together they represent a wide cross-section of the region’s employers, each committed to advancing equity and improving workplace cultures for women across Bristol.
Sandra Gordon, founding director of the Bristol Women in Business Charter, said:
“To have such an impressive group of sponsors behind the awards speaks volumes about Bristol’s ambition. These organisations are part of the backbone of every corner of our economy, and their support highlights the ongoing need to build workplaces where women can thrive at every stage of their careers. It’s fantastic to see so many influential businesses standing behind our mission.”
We are proud to have Sprague Gibbons as our Bronze Sponsor and official Print Partner.
Their support will help bring our awards night to life, ensuring our message is shared clearly, creatively, and with impact across the region.
As a long-established creative agency, Sprague Gibbons brings a wealth of expertise and a strong commitment to championing women in the workplace.
OUR BRONZE SPONSOR
OUR MEDIA PARTNER
We are delighted to have a prestigious and influential media partner in TheBusinessDesk.com, the UK’s leading regional online business publication.
At the forefront of supporting growth, leadership, and innovation across the country, TheBusinessDesk.com connects decision-makers and entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of regional economies.
Their editorial insight, trusted reputation, and extensive digital reach make them the perfect partner to amplify our celebration of business excellence and inclusivity.
OUR EVENTS PARTNER
We are delighted to have Zia Bia as our Events Partner.
As a global events company known for delivering seamless, high-impact experiences, Zia Bia’s advice has helped us to bring to life our awards programme and ensure we create meaningful moments on our awards night.
Our Host for the Evening:
Sherrie Eugene-Hart
Sherrie Eugene-Hart is an award winning Broadcaster and has spent all her working life either in front of the camera or microphone or on stage. Her career in TV started in the early 80’s with HTV News.
Sherrie began as the Sign Language Interpreter and went on to become the main News Anchor reading the nightly news for ITV West.
Sherrie spends much of her time on stage interpreting theatre productions into British Sign Language. St Werburghs-born Sherrie, was the first Black Woman in the country to qualify as Sign Language Interpreter. She is married to BBC Executive Patrick Hart and between them have five children.
How to Enter
Entry is free and simple:
Complete the online form
Keep within the word count and provide concise evidence - check our nomination guidance
Submit by the deadline
Shortlisted finalists will be announced well ahead of the event.
Why Attend?
Celebrate and showcase the best in equity and inclusion
Gain recognition for your organisation or your people
Network with the region’s most influential leaders
Take home insights and inspiration to share with your teams
Judging
Entries will be reviewed by an independent judging panel, made up of respected business leaders, civic figures, and inclusion champions.
Each panel will review five or six categories to ensure fairness and rigour.
Judges will be announced shortly.
Who Will Be in the Room?
200 senior leaders from across Bristol and the South West
HR, DEI, and People leaders setting strategy and budgets
Board members, founders, and investors
Civic partners, universities, and media
This is building to be the premier inclusion awards night in Bristol – the perfect setting to connect, celebrate, and inspire.
Sponsorship
We still have Bronze sponsorship packages available - offering exceptional visibility and association with Bristol’s only dedicated inclusion awards.
From sponsor branding and stage presence to social media campaigns and hosted tables, sponsorship is designed to deliver value before, during, and after the event.
Call to Action
The countdown has begun. Join us on 12 March 2026 at the Bristol Museum for a landmark evening of recognition and celebration.
Whether you’re entering, attending, or sponsoring, don’t miss your chance to be part of Bristol’s first ever Women in Business Awards.
