THE word is spreading about this year’s Venus Awards thanks to a specially decorated bus.

The awards, for women in business, will be officially launched this evening at Playgolf Bournemouth.

Ahead of the launch, organisers unveiled the first ever Venus Awards bus, made possible by Exterion Media, at Yellow Buses’ Yeomans Way base.

Venus founder Tara Howard was joined by former winners, ambassadors for the Daily Echo-backed awards and some of the Yellow Buses team.

Paul Cranwell, business director at Exterion Media, which organises the advertising on the buses, said: “At Exterion Media we are passionate about supporting local businesses, and we are delighted to partner with Venus Awards to recognise local businesswomen in Dorset. This eye-catching bus campaign will run for a year, in association with our local transport partners Bournemouth Yellow Buses.”

The Venus Awards have been recognising and rewarding business women in Dorset since 2009 and have since expanded into eight other regions in the UK, with plans to expand into several more regions in the coming years, and go international by 2017.

Tara Howard said: “Seeing the Venus Awards on the bus has reminded me of how far the awards have come and spurred me on to take them even further and continue to change people’s lives.”

Nominations open today and close on May 28 at venusawards.co.uk

The award categories are: Dutton Gregory Small Business Award; Breeze VW Influential Woman Award; Tigerlilly Nails New Business Award (for businesses less than two years old); Bournemouth University Inspirational Woman Award; Desixn Digital Media and Online Business Award; Stewarts Garden Centre Lifetime Achievement Award; Heart Employee of the Year; Rubicon Employer of the Year; Daily Echo Business Mother of the Year; Playgolf Networker of the Year; Mouchel Entrepreneur of the Year; Gem of England Customer Service Award; Exterion Media Marketing and PR Award; Enhanced Director of the Year; and Business of the Year.

Tara Howard said: “In our sixth year, we are looking forward to seeing even more inspirational businesswomen celebrated for their incredible achievements and contributions to the local business and wider community. There are now more categories than ever before, meaning even more success stories to share and celebrate.”

The awards support Dorset Women’s Aid as their designated charity.