Entries close in 0days 00hrs 00min 00sec Deadline 31 December 2026, 5:00pm Enter the 2027 awards Add to calendar

The 2027 programme

Celebrate the champions of British business

The Business Champion Awards recognise the entrepreneurs, SMEs and fast-growth companies that make the UK economy work. Fourteen categories, an independent panel of judges who have built businesses themselves, and a black-tie grand final in London on 23 March 2027.

Enter Today

14 award categories
Gold, Silver & Bronze in every category
100% carbon-neutral entry process

Entries open 1 September 2026
Entry deadline 31 December 2026, 5pm
Finalists announced 1 Feb 2027
Grand final 23 March 2027 · London

Built for the businesses that build Britain

A unique opportunity to showcase the best innovators, leaders and entrepreneurs in the country.

Founded in 2021 by the publisher of Business Matters, the Business Champion Awards were designed around one idea: recognition should be worth the effort. So the entry is short and online, every finalist presents to their judges from their own desk, and every finalist's seat at the grand final is included in the entry fee.

categories for every kind of business, from start-ups to scale-ups

Medal tiers: Gold, Silver and Bronze awarded in every category

judges per category, all business leaders, and a 45-minute presentation for every finalist

Free

seat at the grand final included for every finalist

Find the category that fits your story.

Dedicated categories for entrepreneurs, SMEs, fast-growth companies, community, sustainability and inclusion.

About each award

New Business of the Year Award

SME of the Year Award

Lifetime Achievement Award

By invitation of the judges

Outstanding Achievement Award

By invitation of the judges

The Business Innovation of the Year Award

The Growth Business of the Year Award

The Community Business of the Year Award

The Diversity and Inclusion Programme Award

The Sustainable Business Award

The Business Transformation Award

Young Entrepreneur of the year Award

Founders under 30

Exporter of the Year Award

Sponsored by Department for International Trade

Why enter

Why businesses enter

Why enter

Recognition that carries weight.

Independent judges, published criteria and a fee-for-entry model — never pay-to-win. Winners can say, truthfully, that they were the best in their category in the UK.

A story to tell for a year.

Finalists receive their badge the day they are announced, a profile on this site, and coverage in Business Matters.

Time well spent.

The entry saves as you go and most entrants finish it in one sitting. Finalists present online — no day out of the office, no travel.

Winners

Join our roll call of champions of British business.

All finalists

Winner SME of the Year Award Whiskey and Wealth Club
Winner New business of the Year Award Seeblue Marketing
Winner The Growth Business of the Year Award Killing Kittens
Winner The Sustainable Business Award DPD UK
Winner The Sustainable Business Award Planet Tracker
Winner Champions in a Crisis Networking Central
Winner Entrepreneur of the Year Award Daniel Priestly – CEO – Dent Global
Winner Young Entrepreneur of the year Award Raissa and Joyce De Haas – Double Dutch Drinks

The judges

Judged by people who have done it

Every category is judged by a panel of four business leaders, investors and specialists. Our judging panel has included James Caan CBE, Daniel Priestley, Dean Forbes, Professor Ainurul Rosli and Alex Robson. The 2027 panel will be announced here.

What our judges look for