Superwomen sought!

The awards aim to celebrate business women who have achieved significant success - particularly those who've had to overcome adversities - as well as to inspire more women to venture into the field of business.

One woman chosen from the winners of each award category will be chosen as the ultimate NatWest everywoman Award winner. This award recognises the most passionate and dedicated woman business owner who the judges feel has overcome significant challenges to achieve outstanding business success.

An awards ceremony luncheon will be held at The Dorchester in London on 1 December.

The awards are open to any female business owner, whether they operate as a limited company, sole trader, or in partnership with others.

Entrants must be able to demonstrate that they are the key owner of the business and must have been in business for longer than 12 months as of 30 July 2010.

Entrants must also be based or have their chief operations in the UK.

Nominations must be made online, by 30 July 2010.

Previous winners include:

Jan Ward - Having left school aged 16, she worked at a number of companies exporting engineering materials, carving a niche for herself by specialising in dealing with clients based in the Middle East. Jan set up Corrotherm International in 1992, specialising in supplying high grade metals, which now has offices in Dubai, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Libya, India and Iran, and the UK.

Hilary Devey - With a background in transport, Hilary came up with the idea for Pall-Ex after spotting a gap in the market for cost and mileage-efficient pallet distribution. Hilary sold both her car and her house in order to raise the capital to launch Pall-Ex, moving into a rented flat above a fish and chip shop with her seven year old son. The sacrifice paid off, and she now has a turnover of over £21 million annually.

Emma Harrison - Emma set up her company A4e in 1991 initially to provide skills and employment training for workers made unemployed by the decline in Sheffield’s steel industry. She has since built A4e into a competitive public services company that delivers a range of services to, amongst others, the financially excluded and long-term unemployed. Today A4E turns over in excess of £100 million.

Rachel Lowe - Driving a taxi to pay her way through a law degree (while supporting two young children), provided Rachel Lowe with the idea for the hit board game 'Destination London'. Rachel organised her own launch for the game in Hamleys of London. The game sold out on the first day and went on to make record sales over the Christmas period. After struggling to meet demand for the product which almost led to bankruptcy, Rachel managed to secure an exclusive deal with Debenhams. Destination London is now stocked nationwide by many leading chain stores.

Sharon Hilditch - Afflicted with a severe hearing problem that affected her ability to concentrate, Sharon left school with no qualifications, but in 1995 started Crystal Clear International, manufacturing skincare treatment machines and products, with an £8,000 bank loan. The company today supplies stars like Madonna, Cindy Crawford and Victoria Beckham and is on target for sales of £8 million this year, exporting to 20 countries.

Philippa Stephen-Martin – Philippa took in lodgers and sold all her worldly goods in order to give birth to Cbabiesafe, a webcam nursery, in April 2002. Her dream was to provide working parents with a nursery that not only cared for their children in a safe, friendly and welcoming environment, but also where they (or their grandparents) could view their little ones at any time, anywhere in the world.