The Awards

We’re looking for a company that has developed an innovative product or service that has commercial viability. We are looking for an innovative and transformational idea, displaying creative thinking, and one that has beaten the competition. The winner may be a technology business or a business that has deployed innovative technology within another environment.

Nominees will be asked to provide information under the following headings in support of their submissions:

• Introduction to the business and the nominee
• Innovation
• Vision and growth
• Why this Award and why this year?

A social enterprise is defined as a business driven by a social or environmental purpose. There are more than 70,000 social enterprises in the UK which together add £18.5 billion to the economy. According to Social Enterprise UK, social enterprises should have a clear social and/or environmental mission set out in their governing documents, generate the majority of their income through trade, reinvest the majority of their profits, be autonomous of state, be majority controlled in the interests of the social mission and be accountable and transparent.

We’re looking for a social enterprise that has been trading for a minimum of three years and is performing well against its key performance indicators.

Nominees will be asked to provide information under the following headings in support of their submissions:

• Introduction to the business and the nominee
• Innovation
• Vision and growth
• Why this Award and why this year?

We’re looking for a business that’s profitable and growing fast. The winner will have its development plans in place to build on current success in the future and will have had an exceptional three years up to the end of 2017.

In this instance, high growth is defined as operating profit growth of at least 25% over the past three years, using Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) analysis on Operating Profit as well as a minimum turnover of £5m.

Nominees will be asked to provide information under the following headings in support of their submissions:

• Introduction to the business and nominee
• Innovation
• Vision and growth
• Why this Award and why this year?

The winner of this award will be a company with an exciting vision for the future that has credibility in terms of management team, industry experience and financing commitments. Size and valuation are not necessarily the key criteria - more bursting on to the scene than an established player. It will have a robust growth plan in place. As a rising star, the company’s rate of expansion in recent years will be an important factor and it will be judged against the demanding criteria that exist for its peers. All sectors are eligible for this award. Given the nature of the investors, we do not expect all contenders for this award to be profitable.

Nominees will be asked to provide information under the following headings in support of their submissions:

• Introduction to the business and the nominee
• Innovation
• Vision and growth
• Why this Award and why this year?

We’re looking for an international business with credible development plans in place to build on its success. The company will operate across borders and could be in any industry sector, but is likely to be gaining market share due to strong international growth from a great product or service.

Nominees will be asked to provide information under the following headings in support of their submissions:

• Introduction to the business and the nominee
• Innovation
• Vision and growth
• Why this Award and why this year?

We’re looking for an exceptional emerging entrepreneur.

This award is to highlight and recognise emerging entrepreneurs who have demonstrated creativity and vision in their business, but might work in a smaller, fast-growing company. We are looking for someone with an entrepreneurial approach who is a calculated risk taker, an innovator, a charismatic personality and crucially someone who is already generating excitement in the marketplace. The business must have traded for a minumum of three years. Candidates for this award must be the owner and/or founder of the business.

Nominees will be asked to provide information under the following headings in support of their submissions:

• Introduction to the business and the nominee
• Role model and successful business leader
• Success, vision and challenges to date
• Why this Award and why this year?

We’re looking for a woman who’s played an integral part in building a company. She might have founded it, driven the growth of the company, helped it to focus on customers or created opportunities for other people. She is a forward-thinker and a strong role model for other women in her industry or wider. We are looking for a business woman who has had an exceptional 2017.

Nominees will be asked to provide information under the following headings in support of their submissions:

• Introduction to the business and the nominee
• Role model and successful business leader
• Success, vision and challenges to date
• Why this Award and why this year?

We’re looking for a great leader – someone determined and motivated. A person with vision, flair and confidence. The CEO’s company will be successful in whatever field it is in. The CEO will add value to everything they work on. They’ll communicate openly, with integrity and humility, and will inspire people around them.

Nominees will be asked to provide information under the following headings in support of their submissions:

• Introduction to the business and the nominee
• Role model and successful business leader
• Success, vision and challenges to date
• Why this Award and why this year?

We’re looking for an established family business that balances the needs and relationships of its owners with a desire to become more successful. The winner of the award is more likely to include at least two generations of the family; however, emerging family businesses are still eligible as long as they demonstrate the right trajectory and ethos of this very important part of the Private Business community. Whether one family is in charge or several families work together, the business has the potential to continue to grow and thrive within its current ownership structure.

Nominees will be asked to provide information under the following headings in support of their submissions:

• Introduction to the business and the nominee
• Innovation
• Vision and growth
• Why this Award and why this year?

We’re not looking for the largest; we’re looking for the best. A company that’s moving forward, with good cash flows, a strong market position, growth in products or services and that has excelled in 2017.

The business should have a strong long-term strategy, and be ambitious in its outlook and vision. We’re also looking for a company that’s committed to supporting its local or wider community. Above all, we're looking for a British business that may also punch above its weight whether in the UK or on the international stage. The winner will exhibit the broad range of criteria for all other categories except those specific to a family business or rising star.

Nominees will be asked to provide information under the following headings in support of their submissions:

• Introduction to the business and the nominee
• Innovation
• Vision and growth
• Why this Award and why this year?