The hunt is on for ‘Britain’s Top Real Role Model’ – could it be you or someone you know and admire?
Anyone can nominate and vote for inspirational ‘real’ role models of business, big or small at www.britainstoprealrolemodel.co.uk.
The search is being led by a panel of judges chaired by entrepreneur and Pineapple CEO Debbie Moore, OBE, and includes Claire Young, Amway’s first UK Business Ambassador and former contestant on The Apprentice.
The initiative has been created and launched by direct selling business Amway and aims to fill the perceived gap in the prominence of ‘real’ role models in business who want to find and recognise the achievements of budding entrepreneurs in all walks of business life so that they can be an inspiration to young people.
In the recent Amway study that polled 1,000 UK women and found that an overwhelming majority of 54% felt they did not look up to anyone as a good role model. The survey named Harry Potter creator JK Rowling, with 27% of the votes, as someone they looked up to as a role model. Samantha Cameron came second with 9.1%.
Cheryl Cole scored highly among 16-24 year olds registering, and also came second place with the younger respondents, while Katie Price appeared near the bottom of the list – recording no votes at all from women aged 35-plus.
Only 36.8 % of the overall survey gave a response when asked to name three successful businesswomen/entrepreneurs. The people listed without prompt would suggest there is a real shortage of awareness when it comes to successful businesswomen: Anita Roddick, Deborah Meaden, Michelle Mone, Karen Brady, Delia Smith, JK Rowling all getting multiple unprompted responses.
Sheryl Franklin-Worth, Amway UK spokesperson comments: “We are seeing a shift in attitude towards the importance and impact of throwaway celebrity culture. Celebrity led magazines are in decline, year on year at 19.3%. What we have is a younger generation that is ready and waiting to be inspired by the right kind of role model, yet there are just not enough of them out there. “
“By championing the prominence and awareness of ‘real’ role models in business, the goal is to inspire and motivate young people – that’s the goal for Britain’s Top Real Role Model’,†she added.
Nomination and voting
If you would like to nominate someone (or yourself!), go to www.britainstoprealrolemodel.co.uk. Once you receive 25 supporting votes or more you will automatically be shortlisted for judging by the panel. The nomination process closes on Monday 6th June 2011, and the winner announced at the start of July 2011.
Motivational Events
As part of the initiative, Amway UK Ambassador Claire Young and Motivational Guru Paul Stalker will be hosting a series of inspirational masterclasses that are open to all at Amway’s London Flagship Experience Centre and in Leeds.
You can register for motivational talks, nominate your own entrepreneur role model and vote on a selection of candidates drawn up by our panel of experts at www.britainstoprealrolemodel.co.uk.