North East Women of Excellence Awards — Entry Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions apply to entries to the North East Women of Excellence Awards ("NEWoEA" or "the Awards") and are intended to keep the Awards fair, credible and transparent. By submitting an entry, the entrant confirms that they have read and agree to them.

1. Eligibility

Entrants must meet the published eligibility criteria for the category entered and have the required connection to the North East of England. Any category-specific requirements, including age, trading period or business status, must also be met.

NEWoEA reserves the right to request reasonable evidence of eligibility and to reject an entry where it does not meet the relevant criteria. Where NEWoEA considers that an entry may be better suited to another category, it may invite the entrant to move the entry. An entry will only be moved with the entrant's consent, and declining to move category will not in itself disadvantage the entrant.

2. Entries and nominations

Entries may be made by the individual themselves or following a nomination. Where someone is nominated, the nominee must complete or approve the final application and agree to these Terms & Conditions before the entry can proceed.

All information supplied must be accurate and not materially misleading. Entrants are responsible for ensuring they have permission to provide any confidential, personal or third-party information included in their application or supporting evidence.

3. Judging

Eligible entries will be assessed against the published category criteria and application questions. Judges will score independently using the NEWoEA scoring framework. Judges must declare relevant conflicts of interest and sponsoring organisations may not judge the category they sponsor.

Judging decisions are final. NEWoEA may use a moderation process to review close scores, resolve ties or ensure the scoring framework has been applied consistently.

NEWoEA may publicly identify members of the judging panel, but individual judge allocations, detailed scores and comments relating to individual entries will not normally be disclosed.

4. Supporting evidence

Entrants may provide supporting evidence where the application process permits it. Supporting evidence should substantiate the written application, not replace it. NEWoEA may set reasonable limits on file type, size and length and is not responsible for external links or material that cannot be accessed by the judges.

5. Integrity of the awards

NEWoEA reserves the right to reject, withdraw or disqualify an entry where eligibility requirements are not met, information is materially inaccurate or misleading, or circumstances arise which NEWoEA reasonably considers would materially compromise the integrity or reputation of the Awards.

In exceptional circumstances, NEWoEA may withdraw finalist status or rescind an award after it has been announced where serious misconduct, criminal activity, fraud, material misrepresentation or other significant circumstances come to light that could reasonably damage the integrity or reputation of the Awards.

Decisions will be evidence-based and, where appropriate, the individual or organisation concerned will be given an opportunity to respond.

6. Finalists and the awards event

Finalists will be contacted using the details provided in their application. Finalists are encouraged to attend the awards event but attendance is not a condition of winning. If a winner cannot attend, they may nominate someone to collect the award on their behalf.

NEWoEA reserves the right to make reasonable changes to event arrangements, timings or the awards programme where necessary.

7. Publicity and information

Entrants understand that, if selected as a finalist or winner, their name, organisation, category, photograph, biography and information about their achievement may be used by NEWoEA for awards-related publicity, communications and promotion, subject to any separate permissions collected during the application process.

Personal information will be handled in accordance with the Awards' privacy information and applicable data protection requirements.

8. General

NEWoEA may make reasonable amendments to these Terms & Conditions where necessary to protect the fair and effective operation of the Awards. Any material changes affecting an existing entry will be communicated where appropriate.

Submission of an application does not guarantee selection as a finalist or winner.