Women in tech awards 2026: how to get nominated
Awards get a mixed reception, and that is fair. A trophy does not fix a broken pipeline. But women in tech awards do real work when used well: they raise the profile of women doing excellent work in a field that still overlooks them, they build networks that outlast the ceremony, and they give employers a reason to notice talent they might otherwise miss. The hard part is not whether to enter. It is knowing which awards matter and how to get nominated in the first place.
This guide covers the main UK women in tech awards in 2026, including the well-known Women in Tech Excellence Awards, and sets out exactly how nomination works so you can put yourself or a colleague forward with a strong entry.
The UK women in tech awards worth knowing
A handful of programmes carry genuine weight in the UK. The TechWomen100 recognises women in technology across the country and has become one of the most visible lists in the sector. The everywoman in Technology Awards celebrate women at different career stages, from rising stars to leaders. And the Women in Tech Excellence Awards, run within the technology media, reward individuals, teams, and employers across a broad set of categories, from role models to employers of the year.
For a fuller rundown of the programmes and the people behind them, our companion piece on women in tech awards in the UK and who to watch is the place to start. This article is about the mechanics of actually getting nominated.
How nomination works for the Women in Tech Excellence Awards
The good news is that most UK women in tech awards, including the Women in Tech Excellence Awards, do not require an invitation. Entries are open, and in many categories you can nominate yourself or be nominated by a colleague, manager, or employer. There is usually a window of a few weeks when entries open, a set of categories to choose from, and an online form that asks for evidence against published criteria.
So the first move is simple: find the official awards site, read the current categories, and note the entry deadline. Do not rely on last year’s dates, because they change. Pick the category that fits the actual work rather than the one that sounds most senior, because judges reward a precise, well-evidenced entry over an ambitious vague one.
How to write a nomination that actually wins
A strong nomination is a short, evidenced story. Judges read a lot of entries, so make yours easy to score against the criteria.
Lead with specifics. Name the problem, what the person did, and what changed as a result, with numbers wherever you can: systems shipped, teams built, revenue or users moved, people mentored. “A brilliant leader” means nothing to a judge. “Rebuilt the platform team from four to twelve, half of them women, and cut incident recovery time by half” means everything.
Match the evidence to the category criteria line by line, because entries are usually scored against a published rubric. If a category rewards impact on diversity, show it concretely. If it rewards technical excellence, lead with the technical work. And get a second pair of eyes, ideally from someone senior who can vouch for the impact and spot what you have undersold, a habit women in particular benefit from because the research on self-promotion shows we tend to understate our own contribution.
Nominating someone else, and why you should
If you manage or work alongside a brilliant woman in tech, nominating her is one of the most useful things you can do, and it costs you an afternoon. Women are less likely to put themselves forward, so colleague and manager nominations matter enormously for closing the recognition gap.
Ask her first, gather the evidence together, and write it with the same rigour you would want for yourself. A nomination is also a genuine development moment: the act of collecting someone’s achievements into one place is often the first time they see the full shape of their own year. For the wider context on why recognition and representation still lag, read women in technology and closing the UK tech gender gap.
Beyond the trophy
Treat an award entry as a networking and profile exercise regardless of the outcome. Shortlisted candidates meet each other, get written about, and often find the real value is the connections rather than the trophy. If you are earlier in your tech journey or switching in, the communities around these awards are worth joining long before you enter: see women in tech communities worth joining in the UK and our guide to switching careers into tech.
Frequently asked questions
Can I nominate myself for the Women in Tech Excellence Awards?
In most categories, yes. Many UK women in tech awards, including the Women in Tech Excellence Awards, accept self-nominations as well as nominations from colleagues and employers. Check the current categories and rules on the official awards site, since they change each year.
When do UK women in tech awards open for entries in 2026?
Entry windows vary by programme and usually run for a few weeks ahead of an autumn or winter ceremony. Always confirm the current deadline on the official site rather than relying on previous years, as dates move annually.
What makes a strong awards nomination?
A specific, evidenced story matched to the published category criteria. Name the problem, what the person did, and the measurable result, and ask someone senior to review it. Precision and evidence beat vague praise every time.
Are women in tech awards actually worth entering?
They are, if you treat them as a profile and networking exercise rather than only a contest. Shortlisting raises your visibility, builds connections, and gives employers a reason to notice your work, which matters in a field where women are still overlooked.
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This is educational information. Award categories, criteria and deadlines are set by each awards organiser and change year to year, so always check the official programme site for the current details.
Last reviewed: October 2026