Do you know any inspirational women? If so, they could be in with a chance of winning a prestigious award.

The regional awards for Successful Women in Business (SWIB) aims to recognise inspirational women from a number of different industries.

The SWIB Network, was founded by Gill Donnell MBE, and is a membership organisation for women who want to grow their businesses or develop their careers with the support of other women at regular networking events and personal development workshops.

Nominations are now open for this year’s SWIB awards in the categories of Successful Women in Teaching, Mentor, Creative, Health & Wellbeing, Innovation, New Business, Professional Services and Business Mother. The award of Successful Women will be presented to the overall winner from all of these categories.

Gill said: “The Successful Women in Business Awards went live last month and since then, over 350 nominations have been received. With just under three weeks until the closing date of the 20th April, there is still plenty of time to nominate an amazing woman you know in any of the eight categories.

“Nominees have to get their applications in before the closing date and we are particularly looking for all of those nominees for the Mentor and Innovation Awards to submit their applications!

“Judging for the awards takes place on April 26th with the three finalists in each category being invited to the awards ceremony at Weymouth College on 11th May 2018, where the winners will be announced.”

The Dorset Echo is a media partner for the awards.

Gill Donnell is an experienced leader, motivational speaker and personal development coach, who has spent much of her working life promoting the role of women in the workplace and supporting individuals to achieve their full potential.

The awards were launched last month at the SWIB Conference, which took place in Dorchester, and saw a number of successful women give inspirational speeches, including Diana Parkes, founder of The Women’s Sat Nav to Success and who is a leading authority on women in the world of work; Lisa Upchurch, Head of Tax at New Look; and Amanda Stansfield, Managing Director and owner at Granny Gothards, a Taunton-based ice cream producer.

For full details of the award categories and how to nominate someone visit womensdevelopment.co.uk/2018-awards