Nominations open for 2025 Bold Woman Awards by Veuve Clicquot

Nominations for the 2025 Bold Woman Awards by Veuve Clicquot are now open.

The prestigious awards seek to honour exceptional female entrepreneurs and business leaders. Inspired by Madame Clicquot, the awards are in their 53rd year, aiming to reflect her innovative spirit and tenacity.

Previous recipients include noted figures such as Professor Sarah Gilbert, who was acknowledged in 2021 for her role in developing the University of Oxford's COVID-19 vaccine, Selfridges Group CEO Anne Pitcher in 2020, and architect Dame Zaha Hadid in 2013.

The Bold Woman Awards recognise female leadership, particularly celebrating those who have demonstrated an enterprising spirit, courage, and determination in their respective fields. The main categories open for nominations are the Bold Woman Award and the Bold Future Award.

The Bold Woman Award is designed to honour female leaders who have made significant achievements in their organisations and personal careers while also serving as role models. This award is open to female founders and leaders from a broad range of organisations, including private companies, charities, and not-for-profits, who have held their roles for at least three years. Last year’s winner, Tracy Blackwell, was recognised for her contributions to growing Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) into one of the UK's largest specialist insurers. Blackwell co-founded PIC in 2006, and under her leadership, the company's asset portfolio expanded to GBP £50 billion, with over GBP £13 billion invested in UK infrastructure.

The Bold Future Award focuses on female founders of organisations established less than five years ago, emphasising innovation and entrepreneurship. Nominees should demonstrate the same audacity and drive as Madame Clicquot, with a focus on bringing new offerings to market or transforming existing markets. Last year's recipient, Francesca Brady, was acknowledged for her work in founding AirRated, a company that utilises advanced technology to measure indoor air quality, addressing a commonly overlooked aspect of environmental health.

Both award categories require nominees to show tangible evidence of making a positive social, ethical, or environmental impact. The judging panel for the 2025 awards comprises an array of industry leaders and networkers. New judges include Bridget Lea, Vice President and General Manager UK of Snap Inc., and Izzy Obeng, CEO and founder of Foundervine. Sharmadean Reid MBE, founder of The Stack World and a past Bold Future award winner, returns to the panel.

Jean-Marc Gallot, President of Veuve Clicquot, stated, "The Veuve Clicquot Bold Woman Award has honoured remarkable female entrepreneurs for over fifty years, and each year the candidates are exceptional. Narrowing them down is always challenging." He encourages the public to nominate inspiring female leaders who embody the pioneering spirit and success exemplified by Madame Clicquot.

Nominations for the awards are being sought from across the UK, and the winners will be honoured at a prestigious event in London in 2025. The judging criteria include reinventing traditions, showing entrepreneurial daring, promoting female leadership, and upholding ethical standards.

Future winners will also be featured in Veuve Clicquot's newly launched Bold Open Database, a global, open database aimed at bringing together female entrepreneurs worldwide. The database seeks to increase visibility for women entrepreneurs and provide valuable data for journalists, researchers, and investors.