Just two weeks to go until nominations open for the 2021 Rising Star Awards.
Our strategic goal, set in 2015, aims to showcase 1,000 outstanding women by 2022. By highlighting the accolades of these women, WeAreTheCity are not only promoting the amazing female talent that exists across the UK, but actively encouraging organisations and business leaders to invest in and recognise these women as leaders of tomorrow and individual contributors to their respective industries.
We are now once again inviting you to nominate an amazing woman, champion or company. The nominations process for all categories, our Rising Star Champions, Company of the Year and Men for Gender Balance Awards open on 11 January 2021. Nominations will take place online via the Rising Stars website. For details of the criteria to enter the awards, visit here.
We are proud to announce that our previous winners have gone on to achieve phenomenal success. You can read about some of their achievements here.
“I was ecstatic! As a nurse and midwife, I love supporting and enabling women. To be recognised as a WeAreTheCity champion, for doing what I love was the fuel I needed to help me leverage what I do.”
– Ruth Oshikanlu MBE, Goal Mind Limited
The Rising Star awards recognise the achievements of women who are below Senior Management or Director level and therefore represent the female talent pipeline and the next generation of future leaders.
In previous years, the awards have been supported by an array of FTSE sponsors and this year is no different. We are proud to announce that the 2021 Rising Star Awards are supported by
“To be honest I was very surprised to find out I’d been nominated for this prestigious award. I was even more surprised to find out I’d been shortlisted and almost lost for words when I found out I was a winner in the Diversity Category. I felt totally humbled and honoured to have been recognised alongside other very inspirational women, and will be eternally grateful.”
– Joanne Monck, Evergreen
Alongside our Rising Star categories, we are also calling for nominations for Champions, Men for Gender Balance and a Company of the Year. Our Champion award recognises the achievements of five senior individuals, male or female, who are actively supporting the female pipeline outside of their day job. Nominations for this award are individuals who have demonstrated their commitment to gender, eg HeForShe supporters, Network Leaders, Directors, MD’s or C-Suite individuals who are championing women either inside or outside their organisations.
“When my name was announced at the WeAreTheCity Awards, I cried. I felt grateful for my journey, to all the people who helped me along the way, and to WATC for celebrating my work, and shining a spotlight on what I do. I also felt excited for what was to come – becoming part of the incredible WATC network, which supports and connects amazing women, and to build on the momentum of the award and reach new heights.”
– Anila Chowdry, Freelance Journalist at Channel 5’s The Vine Show and The Telegraph
Our Men for Gender Balance award recognises the achievements of five senior men who are championing women and gender balance either inside or outside their organisation. Nominees must be at least Director level (or equivalent) or above, must demonstrate that they have actively supported the female pipeline either through their current work role or external activities and must be working in the UK.
The Company of the Year award recognises the achievements of a company who can clearly demonstrate that they are actively supporting its female talent pipeline through their initiatives, training, development programmes and internal employee relations and diversity network groups.
Our 2021 winners, Rising Star alumni, judges, sponsors and supporters will be invited to a prestigious ceremony – details to be announced.
Categories including in the 2021 Rising Star Awards are as follows:
- Rising Stars in All Other Industries
- Rising Stars in Banking & Capital Markets
- Rising Stars in Charity & Not-for-Profit
- Rising Stars in Defence
- Rising Stars in Digital
- Rising Stars in Diversity
- Rising Stars in EA/PA
- Rising Stars in Education & Academia
- Rising Stars in Energy & Utilities
- Rising Stars – Entrepreneurs & Start-Ups
- Rising Stars in Healthcare
- Rising Stars in HR & Recruitment
- Rising Stars in Infrastructure, Transport & Logisitics
- Rising Stars in Insurance
- Rising Stars in Investment Management
- Rising Stars in Law (The Lynne Freeman Award)
- Rising Stars in Professional Services
- Rising Stars in Science & Engineering
- Rising Stars in Technology
- Rising Star Champions
- Rising Stars Company of the Year
- Rising Stars Men For Gender Balance
Awards Timeline
- Nominations open: 11 January 2021
- Nominations close: 08 March 2021
- Shortlist announced and public vote*: 19 April 2021
- Public voting closes: 30 April 2021
- Winner’s announced: 11 May 2021
- Award’s ceremony: Date TBC
*There is no public vote of support for the Champion of the Year, Men for Gender Balance or Company of the Year award
If you have any additional questions about the awards, please contact [email protected]. For details of entry criteria, please visit here.
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