Small business awards recognise the work of independent businesses, SMEs, sole traders, entrepreneurs and growing companies. An award might be based on business achievements, customer support, industry work or a contribution to the local community.

Hundreds of business awards operate across the UK. They include national competitions, industry awards and regional or local programmes. Some are decided by judges, while others use public voting or a mixture of both.

This guide explains how small business awards work in the UK, who can take part, how winners are selected, what they can cost and what businesses should check before entering.

What’s in this guide?

What are small business awards?

Small business awards recognise the achievements of smaller companies, independent businesses, entrepreneurs and business owners.

An award might focus on:

  • customer service
  • business growth
  • innovation
  • community involvement
  • leadership
  • entrepreneurship
  • employee development
  • sustainability
  • local popularity
  • public support
  • industry-specific achievements

There is no single definition or selection process used by every small business award. Different programmes recognise different things, so businesses should understand what an award actually measures before taking part.

Read our complete guide to how business awards work in the UK.

Who can enter small business awards?

Eligibility varies between awards programmes.

Small business awards may be open to:

  • sole traders
  • micro businesses
  • independent businesses
  • small and medium-sized enterprises
  • family businesses
  • startups
  • local branches of larger businesses
  • entrepreneurs and business owners

Some awards set limits based on employee numbers, turnover, trading history, location or industry. Others use a broader definition and allow most independently operated businesses within their chosen region or category to participate.

Check the eligibility rules for the award you are considering, as organisers do not all use the same definition of a small business.

What types of small business awards are there?

Small businesses can take part in several different types of awards across the UK.

National small business awards

National awards accept businesses from across the UK and often recognise broader achievements such as growth, innovation, entrepreneurship or customer service.

Competition may be strong because entries can come from anywhere in the country.

Regional business awards

Regional awards recognise businesses within a particular area of the UK.

For example, there may be awards covering:

  • Lancashire
  • Yorkshire
  • Cumbria
  • the North East
  • the East Midlands
  • the West Midlands
  • Cheshire
  • Greater Manchester

Regional awards are often a good fit for independent businesses whose customers and reputation are closely tied to their local area.

Explore UK business awards and current regions.

Local business awards

Local awards focus on businesses serving particular towns, cities or communities.

They give locally supported businesses a chance to be recognised without having to compete against much larger national companies.

Industry awards

Industry-specific awards compare businesses working in similar sectors.

Examples include awards for:

  • restaurants and hospitality businesses
  • hairdressers and barbers
  • beauty businesses
  • retailers
  • trades and construction businesses
  • professional services
  • automotive businesses
  • health and fitness businesses
  • pet businesses

Judged awards

Judged awards ask a panel to assess businesses against a set of criteria.

Businesses may need to submit written entries, supporting evidence, financial information, customer feedback or presentations.

Public vote awards

Public vote awards allow customers and supporters to vote for the businesses they believe deserve recognition.

These awards measure public support. They do not ask a judging panel to compare each business against professional criteria.

How do small business awards work?

The process varies, but most awards follow a similar set of stages.

  1. Businesses are entered, nominated, shortlisted or selected.
  2. Businesses are placed into appropriate categories.
  3. A judging or voting period takes place.
  4. Entries or votes are reviewed.
  5. Finalists or winners are determined.
  6. Results are announced.
  7. Businesses can promote the recognition they have received.

A good awards programme should explain this process clearly before businesses are expected to participate or make any payment.

How are businesses selected or nominated?

Businesses usually become part of an awards programme in one of four ways.

Businesses enter themselves

Many traditional awards require businesses to complete an entry form explaining why they should be considered.

Customers nominate businesses

Some programmes invite members of the public to recommend businesses they believe deserve recognition.

Businesses nominate other businesses

Business owners, employees or industry professionals may be allowed to submit nominations.

Awards organisers research businesses

Some organisers identify eligible businesses through their own research and invite them to participate.

This is common among regional awards that want their shortlist to include businesses from different places and sectors.

A business being nominated or shortlisted should not automatically be presented as having won an award. Organisers should clearly distinguish between nominations, shortlists, finalists and winners.

How are small business award winners chosen?

There is no universal system for choosing small business award winners.

Method How the winner is chosen
Judging panel Judges assess businesses against published criteria.
Public voting The business receiving the greatest number of eligible votes wins.
Combined judging and voting Both public votes and judging scores contribute to the result.
Organiser selection The awards organiser selects winners according to its published methodology.

No one method is automatically better than another. What matters is whether the organiser clearly explains what the award recognises and how it reaches the final decision.

Public vote vs judged small business awards

Public vote and judged awards recognise different things.

A judged award asks a panel to assess the quality or performance of a business against specified criteria.

A public vote award measures the support a business receives from eligible voters.

Winning a public vote award means that a business received the strongest verified support in that competition. It should not be presented as if an independent panel had assessed every business and declared it objectively better.

Likewise, a judged award should clearly explain who judged the competition and what criteria were considered.

Both can be worthwhile when the organiser is open about the process.

Read more about public vote business awards.

What are the benefits of small business awards?

Businesses enter awards for different reasons, and their value depends on the award and the business.

Recognition

An award gives a business an achievement it can share with customers, employees and the wider community.

Marketing opportunities

Businesses can use genuine award recognition across websites, social media, printed materials, email marketing and physical premises.

Customer engagement

Public vote awards can give businesses a reason to engage with their existing customers and supporters.

Team recognition

An award is also a chance to recognise employees' work and celebrate together.

Public relations

A genuine local or industry award win can give local newspapers, trade publications or other media a useful story.

Business credibility

A relevant award can help potential customers when they are comparing or researching businesses.

However, businesses should avoid presenting awards as proof of something the award did not actually assess.

Are small business awards worth entering?

They can be, but not every award offers the same value.

Before taking part, consider:

  • what the award actually recognises
  • whether your customers are likely to value it
  • how winners are selected
  • whether the organiser is transparent
  • whether there are entry or participation costs
  • what you receive if you win
  • whether previous winners are publicly available
  • how you would use the recognition afterwards

An award connected to your location, industry or customers is likely to be more useful than one with little relevance to your business.

Do small business awards cost money?

Some do and some do not.

Possible costs can include:

  • entry fees
  • application fees
  • event or ceremony tickets
  • trophies
  • certificates
  • advertising
  • promotional packages

Charging money does not automatically make a business award illegitimate.

Before paying, ask:

  • Are the costs clearly disclosed?
  • What exactly is the business paying for?
  • Is the payment mandatory or optional?
  • Does paying affect whether the business wins?
  • Can a genuine winner remain recognised without buying anything?

Businesses should be cautious if they are unexpectedly told they have won but then discover that they must make a payment before the result itself will be recognised.

Read our guide to business award fees.

How can you tell if a small business award is legitimate?

There is no single test, but you can make several checks before taking part.

  1. Identify the company or organisation operating the awards.
  2. Check how businesses become nominated or shortlisted.
  3. Find out exactly how winners are chosen.
  4. Check whether judging or voting rules are publicly available.
  5. Review all mandatory and optional fees.
  6. Look at previous winners.
  7. Check whether winner records can be verified.
  8. Read the terms and conditions.
  9. Look for clear contact information.
  10. Search for independent references to the awards.

Be cautious if it is difficult to find important information about who runs the awards, what they charge or how they select winners.

Read our full guide to spotting questionable business awards.

How do you enter a small business award?

Start by finding awards that are relevant to your business.

Look for programmes based on:

  • your location
  • your industry
  • your company size
  • your achievements
  • the type of recognition you want

If the award requires an application, read the judging criteria before writing your entry. Make sure your answers address what the judges are actually looking for rather than simply describing your business.

Useful evidence can include:

  • customer feedback
  • business growth
  • measurable results
  • examples of improvements
  • employee achievements
  • community work
  • case studies

For public vote awards, businesses may instead need to accept their place in the competition and encourage genuine customers and supporters to vote.

How can you improve your chances of winning a small business award?

How you improve your chances depends on how the winner is chosen.

For judged awards

  • read the criteria carefully
  • answer the question being asked
  • use specific evidence
  • include measurable results where appropriate
  • avoid unsupported marketing claims
  • give judges clear examples

For public vote awards

  • tell customers that voting is open
  • share your voting link on social media
  • display posters or QR codes where appropriate
  • include voting information in customer communications
  • explain why the award matters to your team
  • follow the organiser's voting rules

Businesses should never attempt to manipulate voting systems or submit fraudulent votes.

What should you do after winning a small business award?

Winning is only part of the opportunity. Think about how you will share the result afterwards.

You could:

  • announce the win on social media
  • add the award to your website
  • display the recognition in your premises
  • thank customers who supported you
  • celebrate with employees
  • contact relevant local or trade media
  • include the award in proposals or company presentations

Always describe exactly what you won, including the category, year, location and selection method where relevant.

Small business awards from My Local Awards

My Local Awards operates regional business awards that recognise businesses through verified public voting.

Businesses can be nominated or selected for participation before the voting period begins. Customers and members of the public can then vote for the businesses they want to support.

After voting closes, eligible votes are checked and the business receiving the highest number of valid votes within its category is recognised as the winner.

Purchasing optional products or promotional packages does not determine the voting result.

Our awards cover a wide range of sectors, including independent retail, hospitality, trades, professional services, health and beauty, and many other types of local business.

Explore current My Local Awards regions or read exactly how My Local Awards works.

Small business awards FAQs

What are small business awards?

Small business awards recognise SMEs, independent businesses, sole traders, entrepreneurs and other eligible smaller businesses for particular achievements or public support.

Can sole traders enter business awards?

Yes. Many awards accept sole traders, although businesses should check the eligibility requirements of the individual programme.

Do small businesses have to pay to enter awards?

Not necessarily. Some awards are free while others charge an entry fee. Additional products such as trophies, ceremony tickets or promotional packages may also be available.

Are public vote small business awards legitimate?

Yes, public voting can be a legitimate way of selecting winners when the organiser clearly explains what the award represents, publishes its voting process and takes reasonable steps to protect the integrity of the result.

Are business awards only for successful large companies?

No. Many awards exist specifically for smaller businesses, independent businesses and entrepreneurs.

Can a new business enter a small business award?

Often yes, although some programmes require businesses to have traded for a minimum period. Startup awards are also specifically designed for newer businesses.

What should I check before entering an award?

Check who operates the award, how winners are selected, all associated costs, the terms and conditions and whether previous winners can be verified.

What is the difference between a judged award and a public vote award?

A judged award is assessed against criteria by a judging panel. A public vote award is determined by eligible votes from customers or members of the public.

About this guide

My Local Awards operates public vote business awards across regions of the UK. Because we operate within the business awards industry, we have a commercial interest in the subject covered by this guide.

This guide explains how small business awards work and what to check before taking part. You can verify our own process through our published voting methodology, terms and winner information.

UK Business Awards | What Are Business Awards? | Business Awards Transparency | How My Local Awards Works