About Each Award

Who this category is for

Businesses that have been trading for three years or less at the entry deadline, whether the idea came from a gap in the market, a redundancy or a long-held plan. If you have launched, found customers and built something that works, this is your category.

What the judges look for

• Why the business matters now: the problem it solves and the evidence customers agree
• Traction: revenue, customers, growth since launch
• How the launch was planned, financed and delivered — and what went wrong on the way
• Leadership and learning: what you have changed as a founder
• Plans and values: where the business is going and how you will get there

What to include in your entry

Your launch story in plain terms; the numbers since day one; the decisions you would make again and the ones you would not; what sets you apart; the team you are building.

What the judges look for

• Financial performance and resilience: past results and credible projections
• Customer evidence: retention, reviews, testimonials, market position
• Leadership and culture: how the business is run and how the team is developed
• Company values in practice, including community and sustainability where relevant

What to include in your entry

Three years of headline financials; two or three moments that shaped the business and what you did about them; evidence from customers; how you lead and develop your team; and what the next three years look like. Be specific — the judges score claims that come with numbers.

Previous winners and finalists

• 2024 · Gold · Making Moves London
• 2022 · Gold · Whiskey & Wealth Club
• previous finalists included Athena Collections, Au Vodka and Cross Productions

See all 2023 winners See all 2022 winners

The recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award will have a proven track record of success in their industry, having demonstrated their skills, knowledge, and expertise in the field.

They will have played a significant role in shaping their industry and their contributions will have been recognised by their peers.

To be considered for the award, nominees must have made significant contributions to their industry and have set a high bar for others to follow. They will have demonstrated a strong commitment to their employees, community, and stakeholders, and will have a reputation for ethical and responsible business practices.

The Lifetime Achievement Award is not only a recognition of an individual's contributions to their industry, but also a celebration of their character, values, and legacy.

The recipient of this award will have inspired others through their leadership, vision, and dedication to their craft.

The recipient will be chosen by the awards programme advisory board, who will consider the nominee's entire career and contributions to the industry. The board will evaluate the nominee's achievements, impact on the industry, and legacy.

The winner will be announced at the awards ceremony and will receive a trophy and certificate to commemorate their achievement. The award is not only a recognition of the recipient's achievements, but also a source of inspiration for others to follow in their footsteps.

In summary, the Lifetime Achievement Award recognises an individual who has made significant contributions to their industry, demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities, and set a high bar for others to follow.

The award celebrates their lifelong dedication to business and their outstanding achievements, and serves as an inspiration for others to strive for excellence in their own careers.

The Outstanding Achievement Award is one of the most prestigious awards of the Business Champion Awards and recognises an outstanding business leader who has demonstrated repeated success in their field.

Has your company had outstanding commercial success as a result of innovation?

Judges of the Business Innovation of the Year Award know that growing a business and finding commercial success demands innovation into new verticals, as well as aligning your company culture, growth of your team and your ability to lead and inspire.

We’ll be diving deeply into your five year plan, to see how your new business innovation came to fruition. Yours will be a story that will make the judges nod their heads as they listen to the reasoning behind your decision making process.

Business Innovation of the Year Award Champion check list:

Your innovation should be in one of the following categories:

• invention, design or production of goods

• performance of services

• marketing and distribution

• after-sale support of goods or services

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If you’re obsessed with numbers, spreadsheets and bottom lines and you’ve seen a tangible rise in these coinciding with an expansion to your product offering or service then this award is for you.

However the figures aren’t the only aspect the judges of The Growth Business of the Year Award will be looking for. Growth can be interpreted in many different ways; growth of your product or service offering to meet demand or innovation into new verticals, growth of your team and how you’ve maintained your company culture, growth of you personally with your ability to lead and inspire. We’ll be diving deeply into your five year plan, vision and goals and seeing how you’ve made those come into fruition. Yours will be a story that will make the judges nod their heads as they listen to the reasoning behind your decision making process.

Growth Business of the Year Award Champion check list:

• Vision set years ago
• A clear capture of your process and dealing with set-backs
• Growth across many aspects
• Your ability to lead and inspire

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We’re looking for business owners who not only sustain and grow their own business but have also garnered the strength and talent of their team to provide help and assistance where it was needed within their community.

Whilst the stories covered by the media during the lockdowns of the positive stories of triumph where businesses helped their communities has faded away into politics and other news, we know that one of the lasting legacies of the pandemic is a greater sense of responsibility of community that businesses now feel.

Being in business means dealing with multiple challenges, sometimes on a daily basis. We all know that the past few years placed a massive strain on companies and individuals worldwide and we’re ready to celebrate the champions who go the extra mile to ensure that their company supports communities however they define them.  This could be completely outrageous or simply facilitating an every day act of kindness.

Warm our hearts and tell us. We’re going to share each and every one with the country.

The Community Business Award Champion check list:

• Strength in the face of adversity
• Compassion for team, community or sector
• Action to help the cause
• Change to ensure safety

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Being aware enough of the ongoing issues in society is one thing, putting plans in place to ensure diversity and inclusivity in the work place is no mean feat. If you and your business have accomplished this, that needs to be celebrated.

A few years ago many companies simply thought that having a mantra that stated their policy on diversity was enough. Incidents and negativity in the workplace have proven that it certainly isn’t.

A company needs to live and breathe these elements in their practice to encompass a richly diverse and inclusive workplace.

A strong leading HR movement to put these values into action is needed as well as sourcing a team who all believe vehemently in the cause, in the hope that one day it won’t even be an issue or a cause, certainly not one needing an award. Until then, we’re championing the businesses that are proactive in their fight for equal rights, diversity and inclusivity. Those businesses that stand up to bullying in the work place and coach others to do the same. A happy workplace is a successful one. If this describes your business then we want you to apply.

The Diversity and Inclusion Programme Award Champion check list:

• Clarity in policy and values
• Actionable steps within HR
• A happy and diverse workforce
• Measures to protect what’s in place

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Are you passionate about being planet-friendly? Have you reconsidered every angle of your internal and customer facing processes to become fully sustainable and lower your environmental impact? 

It takes a lot to become fully sustainable, changing internal and external systems has to factor in supply chains and their methods and values on sustainability too. It’s about creating an eco-system that’s future friendly. Entrants for The Sustainable Business Award will know this.

Ten years ago being sustainable meant adding a sentence to the bottom of an email asking the reader to re-think whether it needed to be printed.

Now the entirety of a business, from methods of work to the products and packaging methods all can be considered with a mind to taking care of the future of our planet.

Companies have to ensure that sustainability is embedded in their entire business culture. Every member of staff has to understand their own impact to see the total result of the company as a whole.

Championing this is no mean feat. However, we know that a vast number of companies are moving forwards not only in line with government plans for a sustainable future but to sleep at night knowing that their company isn’t costing the Earth.

See what our judges are looking for in 2023.

See last year's Sustainable Business Award winner.

Find out more about the Sustainable Business Award.

 

The Sustainable Business Award Champion check list:

• Sustainable processes internally
• Supply chain consciousness
• Messaging to consumers to provide awareness to the cause
• Embedded values

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Have you just saved your business from floundering to seeing bottom lines rising over the past three years? Perhaps you’ve adopted a family business that needed to change with the times or bought a business that needed a serious overhaul.

It’s no secret that to start in business is filling a niche, to stay in business means adapting to change with a hard view for growth. Sometimes within this, a complete company rethink is needed.

We’re keen to hear your story, how you recognised the need for transformation, how you sought advice and researched concepts before implementing them, how the marketplace has responded and how you’ve guided your team to adapt to key changes and get on board with the process. What you have learnt from it and what you’re going to do next.

Redefining how your company does business can take into account anything from working with robots vs. humans to online systems for payroll, apps for mental health, a reboot of company culture, communications with clients and consumers, quality assurances, then there’s systems and processes.

The Business Transformation Award Champion check list:

• Company journey from loss to profit
• Team turnaround
• Survive to thrive strategy
• Change management

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You’ve always felt like you wanted to achieve something a little different compared to your classmates. Perhaps you’ve grown up only ever wanting to achieve what you’ve achieved. Either way, other people wish that you could bottle up your drive and commitment and sell that so that they can have your ingenuity and success.

If you’ve been opportunistic enough to see a gap for your brand and tenacious enough to get it moving to great results. If you’re under the age of 35 with a successful 3 years of accounts to back up your story then we want to celebrate your success.

Getting started in business is tough at any age, we want to hear where your concept came from, how you financed it, pitfalls you’ve hd to suffer getting started and where you see your business going moving forwards.

A keen head for figures and company values is crucial as well as a clear cut plan of how you wish to collaborate, work and scale your company moving forwards.

A keen honesty when talking about self-development and learning is expected.

Young Entrepreneur of the year Award Champion check list:

• Gap filled in the market
• Personal development and learning
• Overcoming of challenges
• Vision to sustain the success and expand the business moving forwards., tenacious enough to leap onto trends in a marketplace.

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There’s a vast amount of logistics involved in any business, however, mention exporting as part of your business plan and whether you’re exporting to one specific destination or multiple, the amount of logistics trebles, if not more.

Systems, protocols, red tape, hiring staff, everything is more of a challenge and that’s before anything even goes wrong. Dealing with the day-to-day ups and downs of business life from multiple sources requires a specific mindset and company structure.

If your business has thrived running teams in multiple countries, forged excellent relationships with suppliers and have managed to survive and even turn a profit even in the most challenging of times, this is the award for you.

We’re keen to hear about the processes and sharing of key information, team building and vision behind your business. How you support local suppliers both here and the countries you export to and how you’ve grown relationships of trust despite any pitfalls along the way.

Exporter of the Year Award Champion check list:

• Systems and processes to run your business smoothly
• An attitude that is solution focused and logistic savvy
• Figures to show it’s all been worth it
• Relationships that place a spotlight on British trade overseas

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Whether you’re putting yourself forward or nominating someone who you feel deserves this title, seeking, recognising opportunities and deliberating risks and maximising potential for growth, training and leadership all come into consideration for this award.

Facts and figures play a large part of the entrepreneur’s success story but the overall character of the contender is crucial too.

Dig deep with your application and let us know what drives you to keep striving forwards. What are you passionately trying to change in the world with your business and outlook.

Your values become your companies mantra and we want to know what that comes from. Your work is the proof of the pudding, we’re interested in you and your successes and failures and how each have shaped you to become the entrepreneur you are today.

Entrepreneur of the Year Award Champion check list:

• Passion and drive
• Tenacity in the face of adversity
• Organisation and ability to scale
• Leadership qualities and compassion

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If your business has burst onto the scene within the last three years to receive great success and respect from your clients or consumers to the point where you’ve scaled it to become even more than you initially hoped then this is the award for you.

Whether it was a gap in the market, a redundancy or a dream of yours to achieve one day, firstly, congratulations that you’re in the business space and have done it. Secondly, we want to know how.

Tell us how you prepared your launch - was it planned or were you running to keep up. What’s gone well with your venture and what has challenged you? Have there been any surprises along the way that have, in hindsight, made you a better leader, business person and human?

Being in business is a journey. Share your goals and results with us, your vision for the future and the kind of impact you’d like to create along with the team you’d like to build.

New business of the Year Award Champion check list

• Why your business is crucial and relevant right now
• Your personal development and leadership training
• Figures and how you’re scaling them
• What sets your business apart and plans for growth
• Company values

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If your small or medium sized business has been running for a while, offering a high level of product or service, and it’s managed to overcome the challenges and ride high on the successes that have breathed new life into it, then your business could be deserving of this award.

The SME of the year award is one of the most prestigious small business awards in the UK.

There are six million SMEs trading across the UK today. And that number is on the rise. Competition is fierce and business life can be tough.

Adapting to change is key, the ability to stay current in the eyes of your consumers and clients is crucial to seeing growth and loyalty with your business.

Over the years there will have been successes, failures and a whole lot of learning in between. We want to hear about pivotal moments that have shaped the landscape of your business today. It’s time to look back and see how far you’ve come and celebrate how hard your team have worked.

Find out what our business awards judges are looking for in 2023.

The SME of the Year Award 2023 Champion checklist:

• Company values
• Past and projected finances
• Leadership qualities
• Company culture and community

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