Country Living Magazine's "Enterprising Rural
Women Awards"

Do you have a brilliant business idea or run a successful small company? If so, enter Country Living Magazine's Enterprising Rural Women Awards.

Since Country Living launched the awards seven years ago, the magazine has helped more than 500 businesses to launch and expand, all of which started small. Often their 'factory' was the kitchen table, their 'retail outlet' the village shop, but they've grown into successful enterprises.

If you have come up with an innovative proposition, why not enter the Best Business Idea award. If you have been trading for less than two years then you are eligible for the Best New Business category. And if your hard work is already paying off with a successful small business over two years old then go for the Best Growing Business award.

Your business must be based in the countryside and make a valuable contribution to the local community. The woman behind the winning idea will receive £500, WiRE membership and business support for the first year - and those with the best new and growing businesses will win stands worth £2,500 each at the Country Living Christmas 2007 or Spring 2008 fairs.

Winners and finalists will be featured in Country Living and invited to an awards ceremony at RHS Hampton Court Flower Show. For more details visit www.countryliving.co.uk.

Featured below is a selection of previous success stories...

Kate Grubb of Eco Cabin, 2006 WINNER

Last year's winner of the 'Best New Business' category, Kate Grubb, provides the ultimate 'green retreat' - an environmentally friendly holiday cottage that never fails to bring its visitors closer to nature. Since winning the award, Kate has enhanced the Eco experience further by adding learning packages to the range of Eco Cabin holidays. (01547 530183; www.ecocabin.co.uk)

Elizabeth Guy of Betty Guy's Little Pies, 2005 WINNER

Elizabeth (pictured top right) won the 'Best Business Idea' category in 2005 and invested the prize money in launching her good food project, "the ultimate ready meal" using healthy, local Wensleydale ingredients. "We have had a tremendous start since winning the award," she says. (01969 666006; www.wensleydalefoods.co.uk)

Liz Scambler of Lollipop, 2004 WINNER

When Liz's cotton nappy business in Cornwall won an ERW award, she was inundated with new orders and support for her campaign against wasteful disposable nappies. She now employs 20 people in Cornwall, has more than 200 agents nationwide, supplies 96 stores, and has launched One Life, the first ethically produced nappy. (01736 799513; www.teamlollipop.co.uk)

Gilli Allingham of The Really Garlicky Company, 2003 WINNER

On her farm in Inverness-shire, Gilli successfully grows porcelain hardneck garlic, a variety that thrives in cold climates, and supplies 200 stores. She has also introduced garlic-based products including bread, butter, cheese and mayonnaise, and is trialling new strains of garlic. (01667 452193; www.reallygarlicky.co.uk)