Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Am I eligible to enter?

Entrants must be based in the [UK or specific county] and have less than 250 employees at the time of entering or be self-employed.

  1. How many categories can we enter?

You may enter up to 3 awards categories and 1 public vote category. Please note, if you have won a category twice previously you are not eligible to enter this specific category again.

  1. How do I know if I make it through to the finals?

Once you have entered and the entry period closes your submissions will be scored by our independent panel of Judges. We will then announce the successful finalists by letter during September and on our website and social media following this.

If you are successful, you will be sent information on how to promote your achievements and further details about the Awards Ceremony.

  1. How long does it take to enter a category?

Usually, an entry will take between 1-2 hours to complete. Once you have finished, send it to someone else to proof read, ideally someone that doesn’t know your business very well for some feedback.

  1. Can I nominate another business?

Yes, you can nominate another business in one our Public Vote categories – Best Customer Service and Business Hero. We will tell them that you have nominated them, however, it is up to the business if they want to proceed with their entry.

  1. I own a small business with 3 members of staff, would I stand a chance against a business with 200 employees?

Definitely! These awards are designed to celebrate all Small Businesses!

We do not judge your financials unless you would like to include them in your supporting evidence. This allows all levels of business to have the same chance. If you have a great story or have spent the time producing a quality entry, then you are in the running!

  1. What supporting evidence should I include?

The attachments are there to back up any claims you have made in your answers. If you say you have great customer service, then include some testimonials to prove that.

If you can, include some of the following:

  • Photos and Videos – Your team, teambuilding and charity events
  • Testimonials – Staff, Customers, Suppliers
  • Website – Screenshots or videos
  1. How does the judging work?

We have developed our judging over 16 years and our judges, all top business people within their chosen arena, have cited our awards as both the most transparent and professionally executed. Each application is scored by up to 4 different judges. The judges spend several hours and score multiple entries.

It is worth noting that although all judging is computer based please ensure you upload images or screen shots of all-important pages. There are no site visits or presentations involved.

The finalists are chosen by adding all the scores and up to 12 entrants can make it through to the Final, however if scoring is low, less entrants make it through.

  1. How can I promote myself as a finalist?

Share the news on Social Media. Use our hashtag  and we will spread the news too!

Contact your local media – try print, radio and television. They love to hear about your success stories. Don’t wait until the final, if you do become a winner, they will have even more reason to write about you again!

Use your finalist logo wherever you can, your website, email signatures, social media platforms etc.

Send in a blog post or press release. We will add this to our website blog and share over our social channels too.

  1. Do I need to attend the Awards Final?

You only need to purchase a minimum of one ticket for the event, equally you can book a table of 10 to celebrate your achievement in reaching the Finals.

  1. Are there any discounts available for tickets?

Yes, we do offer discounted Early Bird tickets. We also have a small number of VIP Tables of 10 available, these are sold on a first come first served basis.

  1. How much are tickets and when/ where will the Awards Ceremony be held?

Find all the information about the Awards ceremony here.