The Small Business of the Year Award

Criteria 

At the end of 2024, there were 5.45m small businesses, employing 12.9m people and generating £1.8 trillion to the UK economy. Small businesses, with between 10 and 50 employees, employed 4.3m people and generated £780million.

Small businesses are the backbone of the UK economy, creating wealth, employment, social impact and opportunity.

This Award celebrates the overall contribution of Small Businesses and recognises innovative and impactful firms with inspirational leaders that have built high performing teams, delivered for loyal customers, and achieved commercial success.

Open to any organisation with between 10 and 50 employees and revenues up to £10m, this award will be judged on the following:

• Significant growth that has exceeded key targets
• Innovative product and service
• Customer and employee engagement
• Effective leadership, vision & ambition
• Ethical approach to business
• Plan for sustained financial growth
• Finance on track with business strategy

Scoring & Weighting 

In this category judges will compare the extent to which each candidate has demonstrated excellence in the following areas:

• Employee & Customer Engagement – 20%
• Leadership & Innovation – 25%
• Organisational Ethics & Policies – 25%
• Financial Performance & Growth – 30%