BUSINESSWOMEN in West Devon are being urged to enter the Devon Venus Business Women Awards — and their friends, families and colleagues to nominate them.  The 2014 awards officially opened for nominations at a launch party in Exeter last month where Devon's business men and women were welcomed at Amanda Marsden Lifestyle Salon by event organiser Celia Delaney of SpeakingSuccess and Venus Awards founder Tara Howard. The awards aim to celebrate and recognise the achievements of the county's working women and entrepreneurs. Celia and Tara introduced the categories and officially opened the online nominations for Devon as part of an evening targeted to impress the high powered women of the county. Devon's first event was held last year and attracted almost 1,500 nominations. This year's event promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Talking about the growth of the awards, Tara, herself a business woman and mother of four, said: 'It really is inspiring to see how much support and enthusiasm there is for the awards and what a difference they can make.  'Devon generated more nominations than any other region last year and it would be great to see if we can top it this year. 'The awards really do make a difference — I've even had past winners confess to me that the awards have changed their lives. 'That's really powerful, and drives me forward to expand, and launch the awards in new regions to recognise more deserving women.' Speaking about the awards, Celia Delaney from SpeakingSuccess said: 'There are so many hard-working women in Devon who truly deserve to be celebrated for their remarkable contribution to local business.  'It takes just five minutes to nominate at venusawards.co.uk — it makes a real difference and the finalists will be invited to attend the Grand Awards at Exeter University on November 21 — the social event of the year for working women — when the winners will be announced.' To nominate your favourite working women in Devon you can go to http://www.devon.venusawards.co.uk/nominate">www.devon.venusawards.co.uk/nominate