 Department for Education.jpg "Inspiring Leader Finalist - (Clare Charlesworth) Department for Education")
.png)
'We all face moments of self-doubt. The key is knowing how to move through them with purpose and courage.'
The CCA Women in Leadership Awards celebrate the achievements and impact of women who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation, and dedication in their fields.
These awards recognise the contributions of women who inspire others, break barriers, and drive success within their organisations and industries. Key areas of recognition include:
Leadership excellence
Recognising women who have shown outstanding leadership, guiding their teams and organisations to success through vision, inspiration, and strategic direction.
Innovation and impact
Celebrating women who have introduced innovative ideas, processes, or products that have significantly impacted their organisations or industries.
Mentorship and development
Celebrating women who have made significant contributions to the professional growth and development of others, serving as mentors and role models.
Diversity and inclusion advocacy
Recognising women who actively promote and advocate for diversity, inclusion, and equity within their organisations and communities.
Overcoming challenges
Celebrating women who have faced and overcome significant challenges, demonstrating resilience, determination, and strength.
Community and social impact
Celebrating women who have made notable contributions to their communities through volunteer work, social initiatives, or advocacy.
These awards not only recognise exceptional performance but also inspire best practices, foster innovation, and set benchmarks for excellence in the customer service industry.
CCA WIL Awards Webinar 11 July 2025
Everything you need to know to apply for Women In Leadership Annual Awards 2025
There are 10 award categories
To recognise individuals - regardless of gender - who are true allies in advancing women's leadership and inclusion.
Ideal for:
• Active advocates and supporters of women's progress
• Challenging bias, opening doors, and using their platform for good
• Building trust and shared responsibility for equity
Recognising women who are making waves in the technology or digital space breaking barriers, innovating, and driving inclusion.
Ideal for:
• Tech professionals in any role or function
• Champions of digital transformation, innovation or STEM access
• Role models in male-dominated or evolving tech environments
Spotlighting women at the early stages of leadership who are already demonstrating impressive capability and future potential.
Ideal for:
• Those stepping into their first leadership roles
• Known for initiative, influence, and positive disruption
• Rapidly gaining credibility and trust
Recognising senior women who have delivered long-term success and whose leadership leaves a lasting mark on their organisation or industry.
Ideal for:
• Women with a strategic influence at the highest level
• Known for shaping direction, delivering results, and developing others
• Often sought out for insight and vision
Recognising women leading the way in creating more equitable, inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive.
Ideal for:
• Advocates driving systemic change or championing marginalised voices
• Known for practical initiatives that open doors and break down barriers
• Often working cross-functionally or at a grassroots level
Spotlighting women who are leading new thinking, products, processes or movements within their space.
Ideal for:
• Innovators in CX, tech, service, policy, people or process
• Courageous leaders taking calculated risks
• Making bold moves to solve problems creatively
Celebrating women who consistently lift others up through their leadership, energy, and presence.
Ideal for:
• Mentors and influencers with strong people-centred values
• Creating inclusive and empowering team cultures
• Demonstrating empathy, courage and influence
Celebrating those who dedicate time and energy to guiding, developing and supporting the growth of others.
Ideal for:
• Trusted mentors recognised by their mentees
• Individuals who consistently invest in others' journeys
• Often working behind the scenes to enable others' success
Recognising women whose leadership consistently inspires others through
example, not just position.
Ideal for:
•Women who are recognised as role models by peers, teams, or wider networks
•Leaders who inspire trust, loyalty, and growth in others through their values and behaviours
•Individuals whose presence and example create meaningful impact beyond their formal remit
•Those known for mentoring, championing others, and building confidence in the next generation of leaders
Recognise the teams, initiatives or individuals who provide vital support, connection, and encouragement to women in their leadership journeys.
Ideal for:
• Internal networks, ERGs (Employee Resource Groups), or informal mentoring circles
• Initiatives that actively create safe, empowering spaces for women
• Organisations or teams driving structural or cultural change to support women's progression
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
CCA Members – Free to enter
Non-Members – £95 per entry
Once all applications have been received an invoice will be issued. Payments can be made via credit card, cheque, or BACS transfer. You can contact our Finance Team for more information. All entries must be paid for, even if you are not successful in reaching the shortlist.
Friday 5th September 2025
Yes, as long as all amendments are made prior to the published entry deadline. To amend your entry, simply upload your amended document onto the online submission website and send an email to the Awards Manager to advise of this amendment, indicating what entry should be discounted from judging i.e. category and date submitted.
The judging panel is made up of an independent group of professionals from all sectors. All judges must have at least three years' experience in customer service and demonstrate a sound knowledge of operational processes with multichannel experience.
Each individual submission is scored independently by three members of our judging panel. These scores are combined to provide a total score. The shortlist will include companies/individuals that reach the minimum benchmarking score for the category entered. Feedback on written submissions is provided to entrants at the time of being notified whether or not they have been successful in reaching the shortlist.
Shortlisted entrants will then be invited to take part in a discussion with CCA Judges which provides a final score. This final score is added to the scores allocated at the written submission stage.
No. To make the process as fair as possible we require all submissions to be entered by the agreed submission date.
The online entry system will calculate your overall word count, automatically applying a discretionary 10% allowance. If you exceed this total word count allowance a message will appear on screen highlighting this to you. You should adjust your entry accordingly or risk your score being penalised by judges.
Prepare your entry in a word doc first of all. Award entries should then be submitted using the online entry form.
The shortlist will be announced on the 3rd October 2025
All shortlisted entrants will be required to participate in a verification call with a member of the Excellence Awards Committee. This provides Committee Members with the opportunity to question entrants further on their submission and offers entrants the opportunity to provide additional information in sections that may have scored lower as identified by judges in the written submission stage.
CCA or your appointed Judging Panel Member will be in touch to arrange a suitable time and date for this call.
It is preferable that a maximum of 2 participants per shortlisted entry contributes to the presentation. Where two organisations have submitted a joint application, there may be a representative from each organisation. For individual categories, nominees may have their nominator/line manager present to support them during presentation. However, this must be carried out by the nominee and the Judging Panel Member will decide if input from the nominator will be contributed to the final score.
No further input is required from entrants after this stage. Committee Members will allocate a final score, based on the presentation, which will be added to the 3 scores already allocated by judging panel members at the written submission stage. Winners will be those with the highest score in each category. Winners will then be announced at the Awards Ceremony.
The winners of CCA Women in Leadership Awards will be announced at a prestigious celebratory lunch at The Midland Hotel, Manchester on 11th November 2025.
Shortlisted entrants who are unable to attend the Awards Ceremony can nominate a representative to accept the award on their behalf. Alternatively, the winner will be announced, and the Award will be forwarded separately following the event.
Costs To Participate
|
CCA MEMBER Early Bird Rate till 31 July 25 |
CCA MEMBER Rates from 1 August 2025 |
NON MEMBER Early Bird Rate till 31 July 25 |
NON MEMBER Rates from 1 August 2025 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Women In Leadership Summit | £295 | £349 | £495 | £695 |
| Group Bookings |
Table of 10 £2,495 |
Table of 10 £2,995 |
Table of 10 £4,495 |
Table of 10 £6,495 |
| Women in Leadership Awards | Free entry | Free entry | £95 per entry | £95 per entry |
CCA Women In Leadership Awards 2025 - Now open for entry
If you are considering entering the awards, please register your interest by completing the form.
Please select one or more of the categories you are interested in.
On receipt of your details, we will send you an email containing links to the awards entry portal to start your submission process.
For more information contact the team
