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Awards categories

Entry criteria

All companies must fulfil the following general criteria for entry as well as the specific category criteria:

  1. Entrants must demonstrate quantifiable evidence of growth and success. Specifically, this will involve submitting amounts and percentage increases in turnover and profits as well as employee numbers over the most recent three year period.
  2. Where entrants are not yet turning a profit, an explanation of why this is the case will be required along with supporting reasons and evidence of when profits will be achieved.
  3. Evidence of improved market share.
  4. Evidence of customer satisfaction with the product or service.
  5. Evidence of a successful launch or a continued programme of product or service development.
  6. You accept and abide by the rules of entry

Fast Growth Business of the Year

You can’t enter this directly. The winner will be chosen from the winners of the 12 other categories. For judging criteria see above.

Innovative Business of the Year

Have you been truly innovative? Your innovation could be technical or an aspect of your product or service delivery or even something you do differently in your supply chain. We are looking for innovations that have truly transformed your product or service offering. For judging criteria see above, plus

  1. Evidence of innovations and how it/they has/have directly impacted on performance.

When writing your submission the category specific criteria MUST be covered off and numbered as above

Service Business of the Year

Do you offer a truly outstanding service proposition for customers? This award will go to the company that can demonstrate it produces a service that customer's value. As a result sales are increasing - fast. For judging criteria see above, plus

  1. Sales of the company's service portfolio must exceed 51% of their total sales.

When writing your submission the category specific criteria MUST be covered off and numbered as above

Product Business of the Year

This category extends to businesses that design/create and then fund the manufacture of products, not necessarily only those with their own factory. A toy company which creates toys and owns the brand but has the toy made at a third party factory would qualify, as would the business that owns/operates the factory making the toys. For judging criteria see above, plus

  1. Product or family of products must be identified.
  2. Sales of the company's product portfolio must exceed 51% of their total sales.

When writing your submission the category specific criteria MUST be covered off and numbered as above

Online Business of the Year

This award is looking for any company that has extensively used the internet to increase its sales profits. For judging criteria see above, plus

  1. Percentage of sales achieved via the company’s website must be submitted. This figure must be 80% or more
  2. Number of unique users per month must be submitted

When writing your submission the category specific criteria MUST be covered off and numbered as above

Best Use of Technology

This award celebrates companies that have embraced technology to streamline traditional processes. The winner will be able to demonstrate a tangible link between use of technology and growth. For judging criteria see above, plus

  1. Technologies utilised must be listed with explanation of how they impact on the business.
  2. Evidence of a tangible link between use of technology and an increase in turnover and profits, brand awareness and/or customer base.

When writing your submission the category specific criteria MUST be covered off and numbered as above

International Business of the Year

Is a significant and growing portion of your business carried out in or with other countries? If you are successfully exporting to them or establishing local sales operations in other countries this award category is for you. For judging criteria see above, plus

  1. Evidence that the company is UK-founded.
  2. Evidence of countries in which the company operates.
  3. Evidence that international sales account for at least 20% of overall sales.
  4. A description of how valuable international sales are for the business and how it has dealt with red tape, legal, cultural and language constraints.

When writing your submission the category specific criteria MUST be covered off and numbered as above

New Business of the Year

Does your business have very strong potential? If you have launched your business in the last two years and can demonstrate what the business has achieved to date and the plans it has to expand, then this category is for you. For judging criteria see above, plus

  1. Evidence that the company was incorporated in the last two years.
  2. Evidence of outstanding potential and details of how growth will happen. This could be through a combination of growth to date, investor confidence, future contracts, projected sales volumes, new lines, acquisitions, management’s track record, testimonials, submission of business plan etc.
  3. Revenues can be less than £1m in this category.

When writing your submission the category specific criteria MUST be covered off and numbered as above

Female Entrepreneur of the Year

This award identifies female entrepreneurs running outstanding businesses and those who are providing impetus and inspiration for other women in business. For judging criteria see above, plus

  1. Evidence that they have positively influenced other women in business, either through inspiration, mentoring, public speaking, the focus of the business (such as training schemes to get women into their industry) and/or
  2. Evidence that they have pioneered or broken new ground as women in business.

When writing your submission the category specific criteria MUST be covered off and numbered as above

AIM New Business of the Year

All UK businesses new to AIM in 2010, either by flotation, private placement of shares or introduction are eligible. For judging criteria see above, plus

  1. Evidence of funds raised.
  2. Performance of stock, where relevant.
  3. Evidence of a strong management team.
  4. Evidence of key announcements to the market and any coverage achieved.
  5. Evidence of use of the market to grow.

When writing your submission the category specific criteria MUST be covered off and numbered as above

Angel or VC-backed Business of the Year

Your business must have received at least £250,000 in funding from either business angels or an institution such as a venture capital fund. For judging criteria see above, plus

  1. Evidence of a strong, sustainable business proposition.
  2. Evidence of USPs and differentiation and/or strong IP in your market.
  3. Evidence of ambitious projections with sound financial and business logic/research.
  4. Evidence of a strong management team with sector experience or track record of success.
  5. Evidence of sales, a strong or developing client list, and a significant market to attack.

When writing your submission the category specific criteria MUST be covered off and numbered as above

Family Business of the Year

Family businesses make a valuable contribution to both their local area and to the UK’s economy. If you are a successful family business, whether as a father and son, a brother and sister, a husband and wife or another family duo then this award is for you. For judging criteria see above, plus

  1. Award category open to family businesses currently run by one family member as CEO / Managing Director with at least one other family member working at the business.
  2. Evidence of history of the business.
  3. Evidence of how many family members currently work in the business.

When writing your submission the category specific criteria MUST be covered off and numbered as above

Young Entrepreneur of the Year

Young entrepreneurs make a vital contribution to the economy today, and are critical to the UK economic future. If you are under 30 and have founded a successful business then this category is for you



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