The Opportunity Now Awards in 2011 are generously sponsored by Santander

Now in their 16th year the Opportunity Now Awards are the UK’s most prestigious awards for advancing women in the workplace.

The awards celebrate outstanding examples of best practice, innovation and individual achievement. If you have a story that deserves high profile recognition then entering for an award category is a must!

Any employer with a UK presence is eligible to enter. Award winners will be drawn from the Top 50 Employers for Women List. The awards recognise specific areas of exceptional practice.

Submissions from organisations in all sectors are welcome.

There is no charge for entry.

Winners of the Opportunity Now Awards 2010 are not eligible to submit their winning initiative or individual/champion for consideration in the awards in 2011.

Two entries are permitted per organisation but they must be in different categories.

The Opportunity Now Excellence in Practice Awards

There are three stages to the submission form and each stage must be completed. The last section of the entry form, the case study section, is where you can tell the story of your initiative or champion.You will select a category for each of your case studies / award entries. The categories in 2011 are:

Award Categories The Advancing Women in the Workplace Award

The Agile Organisation Award

The Champion Award

The Directing Diverse Talent Award (In partnership with CIPD)

The Diverse Women Award

The Global Award

The Inclusive Culture Award

The Santander Award: Inspiring the Workforce of the Future

Process & TimelineEntry is by written submission and the deadline for receipt of all submissions is

12.00pm on Friday 7 January 2011

All accepted submissions will be reviewed by experts and answers to each question in each section will be scored against a scale of best practice criteria. This will take place in January.

The organisations that achieve the highest scores will be included in a list of the UK’s top 50 employers for women which will appear in a supplement in The Times in April.

Case studies considered for an Opportunity Now Excellence in Practice Award will be scored against a scale of best practice criteria and up to three of the top scoring entries will be shortlisted to go through to attend a finalist judging panel in February.

The award winners will be announced at the Opportunity Now Awards Dinner in the City of London on Tuesday 12 April 2011

About Opportunity NowOpportunity Now is a not for profit organisation which empowers employers to accelerate change for women in the workplace because it makes good business sense. Opportunity Now is part of Business in the Community, a charity which mobilises business for good.

Deadline for entry: 12.00pm Friday 7 January 2011

For further information contact:

Louise Hall, Events Manager, Opportunity NowT: 020 7566 8710 E: louise.hall@bitc.org.uk

Visit the Opportunity Now website to:

• Download the submission form• Download submission guidance• Read case studies from previous winners• Find further information on the award categories

www.opportunitynow.org.uk/celebrate

12.00pm Friday 7 January 2011Deadline for submissions

January 2011Expert review of submissions. Awards finalists notified

February 2011Award finalist judging panels

12 April 2011Award winners announced at the Opportunity Now Awards Dinner

13 April 2011The Times Top 50 Employers for Women list supplement published

Registered Details 137 Shepherdess Walk. London N1 7RQ. Telephone: 020 7566 8650 Registered Charity No: 297716.Company Limited by Guarantee No: 1619253e: information@bitc.org.uk w: www.bitc.org.uk

Recognising UK organisations who are making the most of the women in their workforce

The Times Top 50 Employers for Women list will be featured in a special supplement April 2011

How to take part Any employer with a UK presence is eligible to enter.

Submissions from organisations in all sectors are welcome.

The process is by self nomination.

There is no charge for entry and particularly innovative or outstanding individuals/initiatives may also be considered for an Opportunity Now Excellence in Practice Award. Further information regarding award categories and process can be found on the flipside of this flyer.

About Opportunity NowOpportunity Now is a not for profit organisation which empowers employers to accelerate change for women in the workplace because it makes good business sense. Opportunity Now is part of Business in the Community, a charity which mobilises business for good.

Organisations complete a single entry form for both The Times Top 50 Employers For Women List and the Opportunity Now Excellence in Practice Awards. The list recognises organisations for their all round achievements, whilst the awards recognise specific areas of excellence.

1. The first section asks for information on what your organisation is doing internally – as an employer – that makes it a top employer for women

2. Part two asks for information on what your organisation is doing externally to promote gender equality, diversity and inclusion and to create inclusive opportunities for women in a wider context

3. The final section focuses on case studies of specific initiatives/programmes or the achievements of individuals which demonstrate the work that your organisation is engaged in, to the benefit of women. Case studies that describe initiatives - which are particularly effective or innovative, or individuals - who are outstanding champions, will go forward to be considered for an Opportunity Now

Process & TimelineEntry is by written submission and the deadline for receipt of all submissions is

12.00pm on Friday 7 January 2011

All accepted submissions will be reviewed by experts and answers to each question in each section will be scored against a scale of best practice criteria. This will take place in January.

The organisations that achieve the highest scores will be included in The Times Top 50 Employers for Women list which will be published in a supplement on the 13th April.

Case studies considered for an Opportunity Now Excellence in Practice Award will be scored against a scale of best practice criteria and up to three of the top scoring entries will be shortlisted to go through to attend a finalist judging panel in February.

The award winners will be announced at the Opportunity Now Awards Dinner in the City of London on Tuesday 12 April 2011

12.00pm Friday 7 January 2011Deadline for submissions

January 2011Expert review of submissions. Awards finalists notified

February 2011Award finalist judging panels

12 April 2011Award winners announced at the Opportunity Now Awards Dinner

13 April 2011The Times Top 50 Employers for Women list supplement published

Deadline for entry: 12.00pm Friday 7 January 2011 For further information contact:

Louise Hall, Events Manager, Opportunity NowT: 020 7566 8710 E: louise.hall@bitc.org.uk

Visit the Opportunity Now website to:

• Download the submission form

• Download submission guidance

• Read case studies from previous winners of the Opportunity Now Awards

• Find further information on the award categories

www.opportunitynow.org.uk/celebrate

Internal • External • Case Studies ➔ Opportunity Now Awards

Submission Structurewww.opportunitynow.org.uk/celebrate

Registered Details 137 Shepherdess Walk. London N1 7RQ. Telephone: 020 7566 8650 Registered Charity No: 297716.Company Limited by Guarantee No: 1619253e: information@bitc.org.uk w: www.bitc.org.uk