How Does It Work?

The UK Small Business Awards was founded after growing tired of seeing pay to progress and pay to win competitions.

At SBA we charge a single transparent entry fee which helps towards finalist packs, day to day running costs of the competition - our fair approach to awards ensures honest results, and we encourage as many businesses to enter as possible to help us determine the true Best in UK businesses.

Whilst we do have an annual event to celebrate small businesses this in no way affects the result of the competition, and we provide a FREE live stream for anyone who wants to watch the results from home.

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  • 1. Submit Your Entry

    Find and select the perfect categories for yourself and your business. Whether you're an industry newcomer or a master of your craft - there's something for everyone at The UK Small Business Awards

  • 2. Fill Out Your Submission

    Shortly after purchasing your entries, we'll send you an email with a submission form to fill out; in which you may upload examples of your work and provide thorough responses.

  • 3. Official Review

    Your submission will be thoroughly reviewed by the board at The UK Small Business Awards to determine whether you meet entry requirements to qualify for Finalist Status. This can take up to four weeks.

  • 4. Finalist Status

    Once our team have reviewed your application, if successful you will be contacted with your Official Finalist Title, Certificate and Handbook.

    *if your application is unsuccessful we’ll send you a full refund

  • 5. Gold Carpet Event

    All successful finalists are invited to our VIP Red Carpet Event, where the National Top 10 will be announced. Attend in person for the full VIP experience or join the celebration from home via our FREE livestream, wherever you are, be part of the excitement!
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Frequently Asked Questions

If you can't make the event don't worry! This has no affect on the results of the competition, and if you do happen to win your personalised SBA trophy will be sent out to you free of charge via post.

No, as part of our new approach to awards - Finalists are able to apply year round and are shortlisted if they meet the standards to be entered into the final judging round.

Unlike many awards that reveal hidden costs after nomination, often charging hundreds of pounds to progress or claim a win, The UK Small Business Awards keeps things transparent and fair from the start. We charge a small £12 entry fee to help cover essential running costs, including personalised Finalist Titles created by our design team and dedicated support from our customer service team. If your entry isn’t successful, you’ll receive a full refund with no catch.

Our judging panel consists of highly qualified industry professionals, each with a minimum of 10 years of hands-on experience in their respective categories. To maintain the integrity of the awards, our judges remain completely anonymous. This anonymity ensures they can make unbiased decisions without external pressure or influence. As independent experts, they specialise solely in evaluating entries based on merit, and unlike other awards programmes, they don't receive social exposure or public recognition for their role.

Tickets are now on sale for The UK Small Business Awards! Join us on 13th December in Birmingham, for an evening celebrating the nation’s top small businesses. Get your tickets now and don’t miss out! For more information, contacttickets@smallbusinessawardsuk.co.uk

During our Golden Carpet ceremony, the National Top 10 will be revealed on stage. First place winners are then called out and invited to collect their trophies on stage. For winners unable to attend, trophies will be securely dispatched after the event. For each category, we will also release the UK Top 10 for each category in a PDF following the event. Please note that all finalists have an equal chance of winning, regardless of whether they attend in person or watch via our free livestream.

If you notice any discrepancies on your certificate, such as misspelled names or positioning errors, please reach out to us at hello@smallbusinessawardsuk.co.uk. Our dedicated team will swiftly rectify the issue and provide you with an updated certificate.

If you have any further questions or require assistance, our team is here to help. Feel free to contact us at hello@smallbusinessawardsuk.co.uk. We strive to deliver exceptional customer service and ensure that your Small Business Awards experience exceeds expectations.

We understand that circumstances can change. Requests for refunds are handled on a case-by-case basis. We encourage you to contact us athello@smallbusinessawardsuk.co.uk to discuss your refund inquiry.

Yes, you can enter as many categories as you like! Simply complete a separate submission form for each category you wish to enter. Each entry requires its own £12 fee.

Once your submission is submitted, you cannot make changes to it. We recommend reviewing all details carefully before submitting to ensure accuracy.

If your submission meets the competition standards, you will receive an email notifying you that you have qualified as a finalist. Along with this, you will receive a Finalist Pack, including a digital certificate and guidance on next steps.