Category Description:

An emerging force in the technology community, this woman who is 25 years old or under, is making waves by creating a recognisable impact in both her career and the community. This accolade is a spotlight on the next generation of female talent, who are pushing boundaries and propelling the tech industry into the future.

Nomination form questions:

●     Your name

●     Your email address

●     Nominee (self-nominations welcome)

●     Nominee email address

●     Nominee LinkedIn profile link (if available)

●     Tell us why you think your nominee is a “Rising Star in 2025”? Tell us about the impact they are having in both their career and community, and how they are pushing boundaries. (Max 250 words). Remember your nominee must be 25 years old or under on our closing date of 19 August 2025

●     Please share any information and/or evidence to support your nomination (Max 250 words)

●     Optional attach evidence

●     Please check here to confirm the individual is 25 years old or under.

Judging Criteria:

●     Entry criteria: nominee must be 25 or under, please try to quantify this as the person nominating may not have the individual’s exact age, an approximate age will be acceptable. Please check career and education dates on LinkedIn

●     Judging criteria

○     Evidence of work to support colleagues and/or community

○     Evidence of pushing boundaries, trying new things, innovation

○     Clearly ahead of the curve in their position/career

Category Description:

 A woman, who in the past year has boldly transformed her career by switching into a new discipline in technology or has embarked on a brand-new career in technology. Not only changing paths, but she has also become a role model for anyone contemplating a career change.

Nomination form questions:

●     Your name

●     Your email address

●     Nominee (self-nominations welcome)

●     Nominee email address

●     Nominee LinkedIn profile link (if available)

●     Tell us about the career transformation journey your nominee has been on during the past year. Include details of where they started from, and how they made the switch into their new career in technology. How has this person become a role model for others considering a career change. (Max 250 words).

●     Please share any information and/or evidence to support your nomination, (Max 250 words).

●     Optional attach evidence.

Judging Criteria:

●     Entry criteria: nominee must have made a notable change in career since approx. March 2024. This change needs to be more than a promotion in line from the same role, but a significant change in role and/or area of focus. Please check career and education dates on LinkedIn

●     Judging criteria

○     Evidence of being a role model through participation in the new community, being vocal about that change to encourage others or accolades/awards for new roles.

Category Description:

A recruitment company or employer who demonstrates awareness of diversity and inclusive issues and is leading the charge in tackling inclusion for women in the tech recruitment pipeline. An organisation who looks beyond the colour, gender, education, and background, and awards based on talent and merit.

Nomination form questions:

●     Your name

●     Your email address

●     Name of the company being nominated (self-nominations welcome)

●     Nominee contact (if available)

●     Nominee email address

●     Nominee LinkedIn profile link (if available)

●     Tell us why this recruitment company or employer would be considered the Inclusive Recruiter of the Year. How is the nominee approaching diversity and inclusion for women in the tech recruitment pipeline in the period from March 2024 - today?  (Max 250 words).

●     Please share any information and/or evidence to support your nomination, (Max 250 words).

●     Optional attach evidence.

Judging Criteria:

Entry criteria: nominee must be a company and not an individual

●     Evidence of commitment to diverse and inclusive hiring practices which could be job descriptions, press articles, statements on social media or websites.

●     Evidence of an improvement in the % female workforce in technical roles year on year.

●     Demonstrates partnerships with other organisations and networks to further the gender diversity agenda in Scotland and beyond.

●     Add additional criteria about new initiatives in the past year (March 2024) not awarded for before.

Category Description:

This man has shown exceptional allyship in gender equality and inclusion. Someone who is a true gender champion, demonstrating support for women in technology and championing females. 

Nomination form questions:

●     Your name

●     Your email address

●     Nominee (self-nominations welcome)

●     Nominee email address

●     Nominee LinkedIn profile link (if available)

●     Tell us why this individual is gender diversity ally of the year? What actions and behaviour supports women in technology?  (Max 250 words).

●     Please share any information and/or evidence to support your nomination, (Max 250 words).

●     Optional attach evidence.

●     Please confirm that this person identifies as a man.

Judging criteria:

●     Evidence of support for the technology community and projects/initiatives which support females in technology careers.

●     Evidence using their voice to celebrate and/or support females in technology.

●     Evidence of mentoring and/or coaching women in technology.

Category Description:

 The mentor of the year is working to help elevate women in tech. Sharing their experience to guide and uplift others. This award will recognise an individual who not only inspires others but supports others with skills development, goal setting, networking, and confidence building while providing constructive feedback and accountability —a true architect of positive change in the tech community.

Nomination form questions:

●     Your name

●     Your email address

●     Nominee (self-nominations welcome)

●     Nominee email address

●     Nominee LinkedIn profile link (if available)

●     Tell us why this individual should be mentor of the year. Provide an overview of their work; Highlight their inspiring work, ability to provide guidance, support for personal and career growth, commitment to collaboration and networking and dedication to ensuring accountability for progress and success, (Max 250 words).

●     Please share any information and/or evidence to support your nomination, this can include statements and quotes from mentees, (Max 250 words).

●     Optional attach evidence 

Judging criteria:

●     Evidence of a mentor relationship with feedback or statement on the impact of that mentoring.

●     Evidence of mentoring several individuals or groups of individuals with demonstrable impact.

Category Description:

A phenomenal woman orchestrating greatness behind the scenes. She’s the driving force without whom your successful network, exceptional board, outstanding club or ground-breaking initiative wouldn’t be possible. Her brilliance and hard work create impact.

Nomination form questions:

●     Your name

●     Your email address

●     Nominee (self-nominations welcome)

●     Nominee email address

●     Nominee LinkedIn profile link (if available)

●     Describe the role that this woman plays in the network, organisation or initiative, providing specific examples of what she is doing to enable others and where you believe her contribution has achieved the greatest impact. (max 250 words).

●     Please share any information and/or evidence to support your nomination, this can include statements and quotes from mentees, (Max 250 words).

●     Optional attach evidence. 

Judging criteria:

Entry criteria: nominee must be a woman and hold a role which supports a network or group, not previously the recipient of an award or public article

●     Evidence of supporting a group or initiative through their work, examples of her contribution to the group

●     Demonstrated impact of the group or initiative

Category Description:

An initiative focused on promoting gender diversity in tech that has delivered results from March 2024 onwards. This may include an initiative that encourages women and girls to build digital skills to support a move into technology, or an initiative to support and retain women already within a technology career. This award can also be for new or existing networks that have demonstrated an impact.

Nomination form questions:

●     Your name

●     Your email address

●     Name of the company being nominated (self-nominations welcome)

●     Nominee contact (if available)

●     Nominee email address

●     Nominee LinkedIn profile link (if available)

●     Describe the initiative you would like to nominate for Diversity Initiative of the Year. Please be clear on the objective of the initiative, (Max 250 words).

●     Please share any information and/or evidence to support your nomination and the impact in the past year, (Max 250 words).

●     Optional attach evidence. 

Judging criteria:

Entry criteria: nomination must include evidence from the initiative which has been seen since March 2024

●     Evidence of impact in improving gender diversity and/or skills of women in the technology space.

●     Evidence the initiative has a focus to bring more women and girls into technology.

Category Description:

Celebrating a remarkable woman who, although not holding a formal managerial or senior position, leads and inspires others every day. Her influence is woven into the fabric of the team, creating a ripple effect of motivation and empowerment.

Nomination form questions:

●     Your name

●     Your email address

●     Nominee name (self-nominations are welcome)

●     Nominee email address

●     Nominee LinkedIn profile link (if available)

●     In 250 words (or less) tell us about your Everyday Leader. What is she doing to lead and inspire? How does she influence, motivate and empower people? (Max 250 words)

●     Please share any information and/or evidence to support your nomination. This can include statements and quotes from individuals or mentees, (Max 250 words). Please note that this category aims to celebrate a leader who does not have leadership responsibility for the impact she is making, nominees must either not be in a formal leadership role or be making an impact with a different group to her leadership responsibilities.

●     Optional attach evidence. 

Judging criteria:

Entry criteria: nomination should not be for a woman's work as a leader, but an individual contributor or for involvement in a project or initiative outside of her leadership role.

●     Evidence of work in a group, programme, initiative.

●     Evidence of impact and influence, how the work motivates and inspires others.

Category Description:

A woman, working in a technology role who is an inspirational role model in the technology field. This individual is trailblazing and leading by example in technology and/or gender diversity.

Nomination form questions:

●     Your name

●     Your email address

●     Nominee name (self-nominations are welcome)

●     Nominee email address

●     Nominee LinkedIn profile link (if available)

●     Tell us why you believe this woman is the Inspirational Woman of the Year. How does she lead by example and inspire others? (Max 250 words).

●     Please share any information and/or evidence to support your nomination, (Max 250 words).

●     Optional attach evidence. 

 Judging criteria:

Entry criteria: nominee should hold a technical role or with a technology company.

●     Demonstrates a significant effort in innovating and/or gender diversity.

●     Evidence of being a positive role model in the technology field.

●     Evidence of trail-blazing and striving to achieve in technology and/or gender diversity.