If there’s a person or business you believe deserves to have their name in lights, simply pick an awards category and complete the form. Remember to include a good level of detail to help the judging panel with their shortlisting decisions. Submitting a nomination is free and could change somebody’s life.
NOMINATING IS QUICK AND EASY
2024 Award Categories
Outstanding Contribution / Lifetime Achievement Award
A leader. One who inspires and creates opportunity for others, and has done so over a long career.
Start-Up Business of the Year (less than two years old)
They’re new and they’re going places. Let’s celebrate them and help them take their next step.
Judges will be looking for
A business that:
- Has been established within the past two years (on the closing date of 29th September 2024).
- Is able to demonstrate evidence of entrepreneurship and/or innovation.
- Has defied challenging economic conditions to succeed, grow and thrive.
- Can evidence financial success, stability and future growth potential.
Small Business of the Year (less than 50 employees)
They may be small but they’re making a big impact on the business community in our region and beyond.
Judges will be looking for
A business that:
- Combines commercial success with other elements, such as customer service, social impact, innovation and developing talent.
- Can provide financial performance information which gives evidence of success and potential for growth.
- Can outline its long-term plans and company strategy.
- Can provide an overview of product and service development.
- Can detail plans for staff training and development.
- Has fewer than 50 employees.
Best Place to Work / Employer of Choice
Who goes out of their way to create a workplace where people thrive and the days fly by?
Judges will be looking for
A business that:
- Provides a good work-life balance and well-being initiatives.
- Offers rewards and recognition.
- Delivers exceptional training and offers career progression.
- Opens opportunities to all.
- Can provide evidence of a motivated workforce.
Tell us how you meet staff needs and retention rates remain consistently high.
Environmental & Sustainability Award
A business which has made big changes to reduce its environmental impact or provides services to help others reduce theirs.
Judges will be looking for
A business that:
- Is working towards sustainable development goals and can demonstrate their impact.
- Is making active green steps towards more environmentally-conscious operations and ethics.
- Has made and continues to make improvements in energy-efficiency, carbon reduction or sustainable working.
You may have introduced environmental policies across your business, are using green communications or endorsing carbon footprint reduction. Your strategy, policies and foresight will reflect a well-considered green approach – rather than fractional, ad-hoc actions.
Charity of the Year
Which organisation is making a real difference to the lives of others? Let’s put their name in lights!
Judges will be looking for
A charity that:
- Is demonstrably successful financially.
- Can show transparency, accountability, and good governance in its operations, including financial management and reporting.
- Engages with the local community and forms partnerships with other organisations and/or stakeholders.
- Has innovative approaches to fundraising and delivering support.
- Shows tangible impact, achievements and positive changes to its beneficiaries. Include details about the beneficiaries and the number of individuals the charity supports.
- Can demonstrate a clear business plan and measurable results.
The winning charity will need to demonstrate not just how much money it raises or spends, but also how it uses fundraising and the contribution of volunteers to make a significant difference to those it works for and the local community.
Key dates
29th September
Nominations close at midnight
W/C 14th October
Shortlist announced
21st November
The awards ceremony
Innovation Award
Who is doing things differently? Who is really pushing the boundaries and creating an example for others to follow?
Judges will be looking for
A business that:
- Has a clear vision of what the innovation project, product, system or process had to achieve.
- Can detail how it was developed.
- Can evidence a gain in revenue or market share as a result of the innovation.
- Is able to detail the overall benefits.
Entrepreneur of the Year
A business person who is constantly thinking of new business concepts and ideas, creating prosperity for themselves and for others.
Judges will be looking for
A person who:
- Can show how their actions and strategies have been instrumental to the success of their business.
- Provides evidence of strong financial performance, including the clear identification of an opportunity that has had a measurable impact on the success of business.
- Demonstrates enterprising behaviours such as participation, risk-taking, management and leadership, vision, originality and innovation.
- Can detail how they have overcome barriers to achieve at a high standard (ie social, geographical or physical).
- Can show a positive impact on the wider economy and local communities through employment, additional work as mentors or in the voluntary sector.
Nominations can be made by the entrant if they run their own business, or a sponsor or nominee from the business they work for.
Team of the Year
A group of people who have made a huge difference to their organisation, their community or the local economy.
Judges will be looking for
A team that:
- Can demonstrate achievement of objectives.
- Has evidence of collaboration, communication and teamwork both within the team and with other departments.
- Shows innovative approaches, creative problem solving and implementation of new ideas which have contributed to the team’s success.
- Has evidence of the measurable positive impact the team has had on the business, such as improvements on efficiency, productivity, profitability or customer satisfaction.
Eligible entries include departments within companies (eg. IT/HR), project teams or teams which have come together in collaboration.
Large Business of the Year
A leading light in the region, making a difference through employment and using local supply chains.
Judges will be looking for
A business that:
- Has demonstrated exceptional performance and serves as a benchmark of success and inspiration.
- Can show evidence of a strong managerial and financial performance including revenue, profitability and market share.
- Has future growth and development plans and clear strategic vision.
- Demonstrates staff training, career development opportunities, employee welfare and a positive workplace culture.
- Has more than 100 employees.
Growth Award
They’ve expanded quickly and sustainably, or they’ve supported others to do so. Who would you nominate?
Judges will be looking for
A business that:
- Is a growing SME.
- Has taken tangible steps to increase its scale and impact.
- Can demonstrate strong financial performance including evidence of increase in turnover and/or profit.
- Shows inspirational leadership and effective management.
- Can detail how the company has performed against its growth plan and give an overview of future plans to sustain and further this growth.
Rising Star
They’ve got heaps of potential and they’re already making a difference in their businesses. A leader of the future and the ‘one to watch’.
Judges will be looking for
A person who:
- Is 25 years of age or under on 21st November 2024.
- Is thriving in the workplace and has the potential to become a future leader.
- Demonstrates commitment to personal development and progression.
- Shows outstanding contribution to the workplace – in particular, areas or projects where they have exceeded expectations.
- Demonstrates inspirational levels of achievement and attainment.
- Is a role model for peers.
WHY GET INVOLVED
We want you to join in with the Hull & East Yorkshire Business Awards. Send in your nomination, become a partner, take part in the judging or join our team of consultants to help other businesses grow. Getting involved means you’re making a real difference to the business community of our region.