Award categories

This award is for start-ups and new businesses. Tell us about your product or service. How you started and your ideas. How do you deliver great customer service? Tell us about your growth, your innovative ideas, your routes to market and your green credentials. Tell us why you are better than another start-up. Please provide as much information as possible to impress the judges.

This award is for the sole traders and small businesses who have been established for more than 2 years. If you have a great business tell us about it. We want to hear about your growth, your innovative ideas, your routes to market, your green credentials, your staff turnover, and care for your employees. It helps to demonstrate your annual turnover as proof of growth. Tell us why you are better than your competitors. Please outline the above and provide as much information as possible to impress the judges.

This award is for the next stage of SME growth. Tell us about your customer service, your growth, your innovative ideas, your routes to market, your green credentials, your staff turnover, and your care for your employees. Tell us why you are better than your competitors. Please include number of employees and demonstrate your annual turnover as proof of growth. Please outline the above and provide as much information as possible to impress the judges.

This award is for the largest SMEs. Tell us how many employees, Tell us about your customer service, your growth, your innovative ideas, your routes to market, your green credentials, your staff turnover, and your care for your employees. Tell us why you are better than your competitors. Please include number of employees and demonstrate your annual turnover as proof of growth. Please outline the above and provide as much information as possible to impress the judges.

This award is made to individuals who are currently undertaking, or have successfully completed, an apprenticeship. This award recognises an individual that has achieved rewarding and outstanding progress so far in their career as well as delivering impact for the business they work for.

This award is for exceptional hotels, holiday lets, guesthouses or tourist attractions, bars, restaurants, and eateries. Do you have 5 star reviews on Google and TripAdvisor? What do your staff and customers say about your business? How do you deliver exceptional customer service? What makes you stand out from the rest, include as much information as possible and remember testimonials and images to further impress the judges.

This award is for any business that delivers excellent customer service. How do you look after your staff? Happy staff make happy customers so how do you involve your staff in delivering world class service? How do you measure and monitor your service? Do you have excellent CSI scores? What makes you different and better than the rest? Please outline all of the above and include testimonials and any images to support your entry and impress the judges.

Whether for websites, IT, apps,, inhouse systems, customer deliverables, inventions, sales or advertising, there is the opportunity for exceptional use of technology in businesses of all sizes and across all sectors. Creative ideas and solutions are those that stand out from the crowd. We would like to hear how your organisation has used technology to outstanding benefit. What was the need for change and how was this need identified? Describe the steps taken and the strategies that were rolled out. We want to hear how the business flourished as a result? Please outline as much information as possible to impress the judges.

How Innovative is your business? This category seeks to highlight organisations that have identified new and innovative ways of working, and/or created something that is unique to the marketplace. This may involve adapting an existing product for a new market or the introduction of something original and exciting. Entrants must be able to clearly demonstrate the demand for the innovation and that it has proved successful in line with the objectives set and been available on the market for at least 2 years. Please outline as much information as possible to impress the judges. 

Professional Service The winner of this award will have consistently delivered exceptional service to their clients demonstrating innovation and outstanding expert knowledge in their professional field, whilst continuing to exhibit excellence in conforming to relevant rules and regulations. Provide as much information as possible and identify what sets you apart from your competitors.

Tell us how you have hard-wired sustainability into your business. What have you done to reduce your carbon footprint? How do you encourage your team to be greener, both at work and at home. What makes you different from other companies.

Is your business delivering high quality health and wellbeing? Do you safeguard the mental health and wellbeing of your staff? Do you care about your staff and support your team through adversity, both at work and at home? Outline the care and support your business provide.

The chosen winner of this award will be able to demonstrate that they ensure their employees are at the heart of their business and are valued and supported in all aspects to improve performance. Evidence should be provided of your approach to people development, communication and engagement.

This is open to individuals, companies, non-profit organisations, social enterprises, community projects/trust or community interest companies who have made and continue to make an outstanding contribution to their community.

The Outstanding Personal Achievement Award, open to individuals at all levels within an organisation or community. This award honors those who have made a significant and positive difference within their workplace, education setting, or beyond. Whether you're a student, apprentice, academic, or professional from any field, we want to hear your story.
Have you overcome personal adversity, demonstrated resilience, or embarked on a journey that inspires others? Perhaps you've contributed to your organisation in a way that profoundly benefits staff, customers, or your broader community. Or maybe you deserve recognition for a lifetime of impactful work.

This is open to individuals, companies, non-profit organisations, social enterprises, community projects/trust or community interest companies who have made and continue to make an outstanding contribution to their community.