Enter the 2023 Cambridge Independent SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards
Entry to the 2023 Cambridge Independent SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards is open – and it represents a great chance to celebrate the achievements of your organisation.
Every year, the awards showcase the work of small and medium-sized businesses across the county, which are the lifeblood of our economy.
There are categories for innovation, high growth and community-focus, along with awards for the Best New Business and Employer of the Year.
Our headline sponsor, Cambridge-based law firm Barr Ellison Law, will once again be supporting our Property Industry Business of the Year award.
Look out also for Hospitality Business of the Year, reflecting the hard work of businesses from street vendors to pubs and restaurants.
There’s a Networking Group of the Year award too, plus recognition for family businesses.
And there are categories for individuals – including Business Person of the Year, Business Woman of the Year and Young Business Person of the Year.
The competitive Business of the Year category is split into two – for those with fewer than 50 employees and those with more, to help level the playing field.
Editor Paul Brackley said: “We’re delighted to launch the 2023 Cambridge Independent SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards. SMEs provide so many of the services we rely on daily and are important employers too. With these awards, we celebrate their achievements across the whole of Cambridgeshire.
“Previous winners have told us how winning one of these awards is not only a welcome boost for employees, but can also bolster their business.
“We are grateful for the support of our sponsors once again in making this event possible and helping us to champion the important role SMEs play in our economy and in our communities.”
Barr Ellison Law property partner Kelly Peck said: “Barr Ellison Law is delighted to confirm its continuing partnership with Iliffe Media and the Cambridge Independent in the unique SME Cambridgeshire Business Awards. As headline sponsor for the third year running, BE Law looks forward to working with companies throughout Cambridgeshire to encourage ever improving service standards, the crucial key to business success.
“Entries are now open for the 2023 awards – consider entering! There are a wide range of categories from Best New Business to High Growth Business of the Year.
“BE Law is championing the Service Excellence Award and our particular favourite, Property Industry Business of the Year. The awards culminate in an exceptional evening that brings together the region’s key players.”
Also supporting the awards as gold partners are The Cambridge Building Society and Growth Works, the strategic business growth support service.
A black tie awards ceremony is due to take place at the Cambridge Country Club in Bourn on September 28, 2023. Winners from many of the categories go on to the National SME Business Awards, where Cambridgeshire entrants have had success in the past.
Stem & Glory founder Louise Palmer-Masterton – a Cambridge Independent columnist who has written for us this week on gender equality – was the winner of Business Person of the Year at the 2022 National SME Business Awards after previously winning the county title.
You can see the 2022 winners here.
How to enter
You can enter online now by visiting cambridgeshireawards.co.uk.
Get involved
Want to find out about getting involved in the awards or sponsorship opportunities? Email paul.brackley@iliffemedia.co.uk
The categories
Best Enterprising Business
Winners in this category won’t be standing still and doing the same old things, they’ll be moving and shaking, leading in their markets. In terms of this category, enterprise can be defined as showing initiative and willingness to undertake new projects.
Best New Business
You’ve come into business in the last 2 years (start date on or after the 1st January 2021) with a bang and are really getting noticed for what you do. Tell us what makes you the best of a great new crop.
Business Innovation
Innovation in your business means doing something new, different, smarter or better that will make a positive difference. Innovation therefore ranges from implementing a time-saving office procedure to a brand new product.
Business of the Year less than 50 Employees
This award will go to the business that can show outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, as well as sound management practices. Entrants to this award will be expected to demonstrate sustainable growth combined with a degree of commercial success that is exceptional for the size of the business.
Entrants in this category must have less than 50 employees at the time of entry, where Full-time count as 1 and Part-time or Temporary count as 0.5.
Business of the Year more than 50 Employees
This award will go to the business that can show outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, as well as sound management practices.
Entrants to this award will be expected to demonstrate sustainable growth combined with a degree of commercial success that is exceptional for the size of the business.
Entrants in this category must have more than 50 employees, at the time of entry, where Full-time count as 1 and Part-time or Temporary count as 0.5.
Business Person of the Year
This award will go to a business person or entrepreneur who shows outstanding initiative, boldness and imagination in the enterprise, as well as sound management practices.
Entrants to this award will be expected to demonstrate sustainable growth combined with a degree of commercial success that is exceptional for the size of the business.
Our judges will be looking for entrepreneurial skills and evidence of how they have seen opportunities and are striving in their business.
Business Woman of the Year
This award will be presented to the best female business owner or a female who has had a positive impact on a business/es. They will show how they have exceptional drive to succeed and how they have been integral to making the business or businesses a success.
Community Business of the Year
This category celebrates both Community Businesses and Not for Profit Organisations. What these businesses have in common is that their focus is on positively benefitting society. All profit from a community business is reinvested in the local area and all profit from a charitable organisation goes to fulfilling their objectives.
Employer of the Year
Our criterion to win the award is simple – tell us how you as an employer look after your employees so they take care of your business.
Family Business of the Year
The winners of Family Business of the Year will be combining their passion in business with their shared family values. Your business may have been passed down to you or you have started a business to pass on to your children in the future. The judges will be looking at how you can grow your business while still keeping your core family values at the centre of everything you do.
High Growth Business of the Year
High growth firms are referred to as ‘gazelles’ for the way they are racing ahead, contributing massively to employment growth.
Our judges want to know about your achievements and plans for even more success.
Hospitality Business of the Year
The judges of the Hospitality Business of the Year category are looking for the businesses that exceed customers expectations, build long-term customer relationships and provide a service that is consistently outstanding. Hospitality Businesses include Pubs, Cafes, Pop Ups, Street Vendors, Restaurants, Hotels, Event Companies or Suppliers to the Hospitality Industry.
Please note: finalists in this category will be split into two separate categories – businesses with 1 to 10 employees and businesses with over 10 employees.
Networking Group of the Year
Business Networking has become a very important part of many businesses marketing and sales strategy. Some groups have been around many years, some have only recently started. It is important that whatever way you run your group, it must be successful – prove it and you could be the winners.
The judges will want to know if you are an independent or part of a franchise or national network. The history behind your formation, the people involved, numbers attracted and your vision for the future. Go on – prove your group is the best…
Property Industry Business of the Year
Cambridgeshire’s property industry is buzzing and this new award, supported by Cambridge law firm Barr Ellison, our headline sponsor, will recognise a business providing an outstanding service for customers and the community.
Service Excellence
The winner of this category will give outstanding assistance and advice to those who buy or use the business or organisation’s products or services. They will be able to provide customer testimonials to back up their submission.
Sustainability Award
Being “green” and “sustainable” in business terms means reducing or removing the harmful impact that products and/or services have on the environment.
Website of the Year
Irrespective of your size, your website says it all. It should look great, be really easy to navigate, showcase whatever it is you do but most importantly, it should engage the viewer and keep them on your site for as long as you need them.
Young Business Person of the Year
For business people aged 30 or less (by 1st January 2023) who have demonstrated a high degree of entrepreneurship, creativity and vision for the future. The judges will be looking to identify an individual who has set up a business or has had a significant influence in the business, that has set and achieved objectives within its business plans and established a position of sustainable profitability and success. In addition to this, judges will want to see an understanding of the relationship between your own development and the success of the business.
The rules
You may enter up to three awards categories. Please note that if you have won a category twice previously you are not eligible to enter this specific category again.
All entries as well as supporting documents must be submitted online.
Entrants must have less than 250 employees at the time of entering or be self employed.
Entrants must be based in Cambridgeshire or conduct a significant amount of their business in the county.
Each category has different requirements in terms of length of time in business or age of entrant – please see individual category descriptions.
Entries cost £20 plus VAT. At least one representative from each finalist will be required to attend the grand final evening at their own cost.
The deadline for entries is Wednesday, May 31, 2023, at 3pm.
Please see https://eventsandpr.co.uk/sme-cambridgeshire-business-awards/entry-rules/ for the rules in full.
