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There’s no better way to increase your profile than picking up awards for your hard work. In the UK, there are a range of competitions and awards open to a whole host of businesses, no matter their size. In this guide, we provide a full list of the various business awards and competitions that small and medium-sized businesses can enter.
Competition/Award |
Details |
How to apply |
Growing Business Awards |
An annual business awards ceremony brought to you by Real Deals Media. The award recognises established start-ups and medium-sized businesses which achieve exceptional levels in terms of growth. |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
Santander Universities Entrepreneurship Awards |
Aimed at student and graduate business ventures in their early stages from their UK partner universities. Winners can receive cash prizes as well as mentoring and support to grow their startup or small business (Prize money up to £90,000). |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
CleanTech Innovate |
A shortlist of companies who apply to the competition each year get to present in London and are then evaluated on four criteria: impact, innovation, long-term vision, and commercial viability (to determine a winner/s). |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
Shell LiveWIRE Awards |
Shell LiveWIRE Awards aims to support young entrepreneurs with smart and innovative ideas that meet the energy and resource needs of a fast-growing population (both in the UK and globally). Smarter Future Awards come in the form of start-up grants and can up to £5,000, the awards in generally run every month |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
CleanTech Challenge |
The CleanTech Challenge is an international business plan competition run by University College London (UCL) and London Business School (LBS), focusing on providing funding, exposure and advice for innovative clean technology product ideas and teams. Teams compete over three rounds for a £10,000 prize. |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
Digital Entrepreneur Awards |
The awards celebrate the best of a rapidly growing technology industry and have been recognising Britain most exceptional online talent for over a decade |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
Lloyds Bank National Business Awards |
The National Business Awards are for start-ups to SMEs to large firms. The Awards guarantee a high level of exposure and networking opportunities as over 1,000 business people, politicians, investors and press attend the ceremony. |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
The British Business Awards |
The British Business Awards aim to recognise leaders in the small business community. Annual categories vary from Insurance provider of the year to Retail business of the year, to Disruptor of the year and more. |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
EDF Pulse Award |
The goal of the EDF Pulse awards is to showcase and provide tangible support to European start-ups that are joining forces, creating and inventing tomorrow’s future in regards to Energy. Each winner receive a media/marketing campaign worth up to up to €100,000 |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
FSB Celebrating Small Business Awards |
The Celebrating Small Business Awards are for SMEs across the UK (businesses with less than 250 employees) by awarding in 11 different categories |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
NACUE Varsity Pitch Competition |
The annual NACUE Varsity Pitch Competition recognises the most innovative startups from UK students and graduates. You can enter into a range of categories. A panel of industry experts will select the final winner who can win a prize of up to £15,000 in cash |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
The Mayor’s Entrepreneur Competition |
The Mayor’s Entrepreneur Competition is looking for ground-breaking ideas to help reduce London’s carbon emissions. The competition is open to students and recent graduates of London universities (both commercial and non-commercial ideas/projects are welcome). You can win up to £20,000 (there are three prize funds) and undefined support from City Hall to turn your idea into reality. |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
Hatch Business Competition |
Hatch is a business competition to support entrepreneurs who are interested in growing their business by getting the opportunity to trade in an established retail zone/environment (without the taking on the extortionate cost). Up to 3 months rent, rates and utilities covered in a major retail location (typically on offer are shops within shopping centres). |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
Future 100 Awards |
The Future 100 awards recognise young entrepreneurs of ages 20 to 35, who show top entrepreneurial and innovation abilities to develop a socially and environmentally responsible business project. |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
China UK Entrepreneurship Challenge |
The China-UK Challenge aims to encourage new business ventures between China and the United Kingdom. It is intended to simulate the real-world process of entrepreneurs soliciting start-up funds from early-stage investors and venture capital firms. |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
Nectar Business Small Business Awards |
Since 2005 nectar business has given rewards to British business, including team dinners, holidays and trips to the cinema. The winner of each category will receive 50,000 Nectar points, £2,000, nationwide publicity and an invitation to an exclusive roundtable event and awards ceremony |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
FedEx Small Business Grant UK |
FedEx is helping small businesses with the FedEx Small Business Grant UK. Giving the chance to win £20,000, FedEx is looking to help these companies achieve their international ambitions. Two grants will be awarded: a Grand Prize of £20,000; and a Runner-Up Prize of £10,000 |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
Shake to Create |
Shake to Create is a competition for SMEs to win 35 free hours of creative work. You need to create a brief video pitch on what your company needs to keep up the growth and why they should choose your business |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
bfa HSBC Franchisor of the Year |
The HSBC Franchisor awards recognise the best within the franchising industry. Receiving this honour in Birmingham will also help gain exposure, boost your brand image and solidify your achievements as a franchisor. The prize is the recognition in front of over 350 distinguished guests from the franchising industry. |
You can find out more details and register your interest, here. |
Authors: Oliver Murphy & Sacha Bright
Disclaimer
To the best of our knowledge, the information we have provided is correct at the time of publishing. Sacha Bright is not a solicitor or accountant and we recommend that you seek professional advice on any topic discussed.
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