Wandsworth Women’s Enterprise Awards 2026
A celebration of female entrepreneurship in Wandsworth
Small businesses are the heartbeat of our borough. They power the local economy, create jobs, serve our communities, and bring our high streets to life.
Female entrepreneurs are known for their resilience, creativity, and adaptability. The Wandsworth Women’s Enterprise Awards celebrate these exceptional women – from sole traders and service-led businesses to start-ups and social enterprises – whose achievements keep our local economy thriving.
These awards shine a light on the remarkable women balancing business success with the demands of everyday life. We want to hear real stories of determination, innovation, and the challenges you’ve overcome. Show us what makes you and your business stand out.
This year, we have also introduced three People’s Choice awards, giving the community a chance to recognise their favourite female-led businesses. Wandsworth
Judged Award Categories:
Best Start-Up
Celebrating early-stage female founders who have launched a business with energy, creativity, and determination. This category recognises entrepreneurs showing early success, taking bold decisions, and demonstrating resilience in their first years.
Who it’s for:
- Female founders running businesses for up to 3 years, including solopreneurs, service-led businesses and retailers.
Judges are looking for:
- Early traction and progress – growth in clients, revenue, audience, partnerships, or visibility
- Innovation and problem-solving – creative approaches to challenges or market gaps
- Clear future vision – realistic plans for the next 12–24 months and evidence of determination
Best Community Champion
Recognising women or female-led organisations making a tangible, positive difference in Wandsworth’s community life. This award celebrates those whose work strengthens local communities, promotes inclusion, or addresses social or environmental needs – beyond business or commercial success.
Who it’s for:
- Women, social enterprises, charities, CICs or organisations whose work has measurable community or social impact.
Judges are looking for:
- Local impact – measurable benefits to individuals, families or groups in Wandsworth
- Active engagement – collaboration, volunteering, advocacy, or programmes that build community
- Commitment to values – inclusion, equality, social value or environmental responsibility embedded in their work
Tip: This award is about social and community impact, not cultural or artistic projects.
Best Creative Enterprise
For businesses where creativity drives both identity and success. This category highlights founders whose originality, design, or artistry underpins their business model and contributes to the borough’s cultural vibrancy.
Who it’s for:
- Female founders or women-led teams in design, marketing, fashion, arts, makers, digital creativity, architecture, photography, film, branding or other creative industries.
Judges are looking for:
Distinctive creative identity – originality, craft, and a strong creative voice
Creative impact or innovation – pushing boundaries or setting trends within their sector
Sustainable success – evidence of growth, recognition, client demand or influence in the community
Entrepreneur of the Year
(For businesses established 4+ years)
Celebrating female founders whose leadership and vision have shaped their business. This award recognises women who inspire through their ability to grow, innovate, and maintain a positive organisational culture.
Who it’s for:
- Women leading businesses established for 4 years or more, including solopreneurs, SMEs and service-or product-based businesses.
Judges are looking for:
Personal leadership impact – how the nominee’s decisions and vision shape the business
Sustained business performance – growth, stability, reputation, or scale relative to the business model
- Market understanding and innovation – insight into customers and the ability to adapt or lead change
Cultural Champion
Honouring individuals or female-led organisations that enrich Wandsworth’s cultural life through arts, heritage, creative projects, festivals or cultural education. This award celebrates those whose vision, creativity and leadership make a lasting contribution to the borough’s cultural identity.
Who it’s for:
- individuals, female led businesses or organisations whose work enhances arts, heritage, creativity or cultural engagement in Wandsworth.
Judges are looking for:
- Cultural impact – measurable engagement, awareness, participation or influence in arts, heritage or creative fields
- Innovation and authenticity – original approaches to celebrating, preserving, or promoting culture
- Inspiring leadership – advocacy, mentorship, or projects that motivate and influence others in the cultural sphere
Tip: This award is about cultural enrichment and creative influence, not general social or community support.
People’s Choice Awards
(Public vote – no judging criteria applied)
These categories celebrate the businesses that the community loves and supports
- High Street Hero (Retail) – Female-run retail businesses that make our town centres vibrant and welcoming.
- Best Food & Drink – Cafés, bakeries, restaurants, bars or food producers delighting customers with creativity and quality.
- Best Beauty & Wellbeing – Salons, spas, fitness studios and wellbeing businesses creating calm, confidence and self-care.