AWARD CATEGORIES

The award categories have been designed to showcase the diverse range of businesses and business leaders across Essex. They recognise those who have demonstrated excellence over the past twelve months through strong leadership, sustained growth, exceptional customer service, a commitment to their people, and a positive contribution to their sector and the local economy.

£11.50 + VAT per entry during pre-launch. You may enter up to three categories.

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Apprentice Employer of the Year

Our criterion to win the award is simple – tell us how you as an employer look after your apprentices so they take care of your business.

Best Enterprising Business

Winners in this category won’t be standing still and doing the same old things, they’ll be moving and shaking, leading in their markets. In terms of this category, enterprise can be defined as showing initiative and willingness to undertake new projects.

Best Established Business

Guest category

This award recognises businesses that have been trading for over 10 years and continue to demonstrate strong performance, resilience, and growth. It celebrates those that have stood the test of time while maintaining high standards, adapting to change, and making a lasting impact in their business community.

Best New Business

You’ve come into business in the last 2 years (start date on or after the 1st January 2025) with a bang and are really getting noticed for what you do. Tell us what makes you the best of a great new crop.

Business Innovation

Innovation in your business means doing something new, different, smarter or better that will make a positive difference. Innovation therefore ranges from implementing a time-saving office procedure to a brand new product.

Business of the Year less than 50 Employees

This award will go to the business that can show outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, as well as sound management practices. Entrants to this award will be expected to demonstrate sustainable growth combined with a degree of commercial success that is exceptional for the size of the business.
Entrants in this category must have less than 50 employees at the time of entry, where Full-time count as 1 and Part-time or Temporary count as 0.5.

Business of the Year more than 50 Employees

This award will go to the business that can show outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, as well as sound management practices.
Entrants to this award will be expected to demonstrate sustainable growth combined with a degree of commercial success that is exceptional for the size of the business.
Entrants in this category must have more than 50 employees, at the time of entry, where Full-time count as 1 and Part-time or Temporary count as 0.5.

Business Person of the Year

This award will go to a business person or entrepreneur who shows outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, as well as sound management practices.
Entrants to this award will be expected to demonstrate sustainable growth combined with a degree of commercial success that is exceptional for the size of the business.
Our judges will be looking for entrepreneurial skills and evidence of how they have seen opportunities and are striving in their business.

Business Woman of the Year

This award will be presented to the best female business owner or a female who has had a positive impact on a business/es. They will show how they have exceptional drive to succeed and how they have been integral to making the business or businesses a success.

Community Business of the Year

This category celebrates both Community Businesses and Not for Profit Organisations. What these businesses have in common is that their focus is on positively benefitting society. All profit from a community business is reinvested in the local area and all profit from a charitable organisation goes to fulfilling their objectives.

Corporate Social Responsibility Award

This award recognises businesses prioritising their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices and demonstrating a commitment to change.

Employer of the Year

Our criterion to win the award is simple – tell us how you as an employer look after your people so they take care of your business.

Family Business of the Year

The winners of Family Business of the Year will be combining their passion in business with their shared family values. We recommend your business being passed down at least 2 generations. The judges will be looking at how you can grow your business while still keeping your core family values at the center of everything you do.

Health & Wellness Business of the Year

Guest category

This award recognises outstanding businesses operating within the health and wellness industry. It celebrates organisations that demonstrate excellence, innovation, and a strong commitment to supporting the health, fitness, and overall wellbeing of their clients or customers.

High Growth Business of the Year

High growth firms are referred to as ‘gazelles’ for the way they are racing ahead, contributing massively to employment growth. Our judges want to know about your achievements and plans for even more success

Hospitality, Leisure and Tourism Business of the Year

This award will recognise a business that has set the benchmark for excellence, value and innovation within the hospitality, leisure or tourism sector. Judges will be looking for entrants to demonstrate how they’ve delivered outstanding experiences, pushed the boundaries of innovation, created new value and provided exceptional service and quality.

Positive Impact Award

The winner of the category will be innovating and adapting their business to not only thrive but benefit the wider community. Have you changed the products or services you are producing to help during a crisis or are lending your team to assist elsewhere? Our judges will not only be looking at how you plan to create a positive impact, but what you are currently doing to put this in place.

Service Excellence

The winner of this category will give outstanding assistance and advice to those who buy or use the business or organisation’s products or services. They will be able to provide customer testimonials to back up their submission.

Sustainability Award

Being “green” and “sustainable” in business terms means reducing or removing the harmful impact that products and/or services have on the environment.

Website of the Year

Irrespective of your size, your website says it all. It should look great, be really easy to navigate, showcase whatever it is you do but most importantly, it should engage the viewer and keep them on your site for as long as you need them.

Young Business Person of the Year

For business people aged 30 or less (by 1st January 2027) who have demonstrated a high degree of entrepreneurship, creativity and vision for the future. The judges will be looking to identify an individual who has set up a business or has had a significant influence in the business, that has set and achieved objectives within its business plans and established a position of sustainable profitability and success. In addition to this, judges will want to see an understanding of the relationship between your own development and the success of the business.

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Gold winners in all categories will go through to the SME National Business Awards 2027

(please note, this does not include guest categories)

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