Award Categories Explained

AWARD CATEGORIES

Business Owner/Entrepreneur of the Year 

The buck stops with you. You might be the boss, and own the profits, but you have the sleepless nights, tax bills and difficult conversations. This category aims to celebrate somebody who has achieved something impressive, but also has given something back – whether that is to the staff, to the community or to the sector – tell us all about it. 

Diversity and Inclusivity Champion 

This award recognises an individual who has made a sustained contribution to Diversity and Inclusion in their business. One of the most pressing challenges we face in the workplace is attracting and retaining talent – there simply aren’t enough available, qualified people in the current talent pool to go round. The solution: underrepresented groups including disabled people represent a huge and relatively untapped pool of talent. Come on, if you are a cheerleader for diversity and inclusion please step forward! 

Best Independent Retailer

Let’s celebrate the independent retail venues operating in our town centres, high streets and markets or local ecommerce businesses. They are a vital part of the community hubs for residents, visitors and businesses. We want to hear about what makes you the retailer of choice, attracting and keeping customers and providing great quality products and service.

Best Independent Hospitality Business

Let’s celebrate the independent hospitality businesses – cafés, restaurants, bars and catering businesses operating in our town centres, high streets and markets or across the borough. They are a vital part of the community hubs for residents, visitors and businesses. We want to hear about what makes you the hospitality business of choice, attracting and keeping customers, and providing great quality services.

Best Customer Service

Every business wants loyal customers who write rave reviews and bring their friends – but this takes a huge amount of work, a quality product and a team who love the business as much as the owners do. In this category, we want to find a business whose people go the extra mile for clients. Maybe what sets our winner apart is a great loyalty scheme, acting on feedback received, or perhaps it is collaboration with other local businesses to draw more people to their area. Whatever it is, we want to know about it!

Best Start Up Business

Open to businesses established not more that 2 years ago, as at 1 January 2023. Nominees must show how they have taken an idea and turned it into a new business which has gained traction and support from their customers (and investors, if relevant), by providing a quality product or service and/or good value for money, and/or a great customer experience. They can also show how they are helping their sector move confidently past the COVID-19 pandemic.  

Best Micro Business

This award celebrates excellence among micro businesses, recognizing those that have made a significant impact despite their small size. Open to companies with fewer than 10 employees, the "Best Micro Business" award honors those that demonstrate exceptional performance, innovation, and growth within their industry. The award seeks to acknowledge businesses that have overcome challenges, built strong relationships with customers, and delivered outstanding products or services. Entrants are judged on their achievements, creativity, and contributions to their local communities, with a focus on businesses that exemplify passion, perseverance, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Innovation Award 

Innovation isn’t limited to digital solutions; this award recognises people and organisations who have moved their business forward in a big way, despite the economic downturn and pessimistic predictions for the climate. We want to celebrate talented Wandsworth professionals who have seen a path and cleared their way to success. 

Best Charity

Charitable organisations are nonprofit organisations that exist to advance some public benefit in a broad range of areas such as education, poverty alleviation, scientific research, environment, diversity and health. This award recognises the contribution of charities who enhance their local areas and the lives of people living in them. What is the mission behind your charity and how do you operate to effectively deliver the desired impact.

Environmental/ Sustainability Champion 

This celebrates organisations that can prove great consideration for the environment and the climate emergency. Examples of your work could include the use of green / clean technology to create goods and services in the borough. Applicants should be able to show how successful greener working is having a positive impact on the local environment for example, plastic reduction or protection of scarce resources. 

Best SME Business 

This award celebrates what is so fantastic about Wandsworth small businesses, and we ask that you demonstrate a strong record of serving your target customer set. This can include B2B, such as communications or media, and direct to consumer businesses, such as restaurants, bars and hairdressers. The award will look for exceptional levels of service demonstrated with evidence of strong customer engagement. 

Best Large Business (businesses with 50+ employees)

If your large business stands out across the board, this category could be the one for you. Outstanding products or services coupled with great people, innovative marketing and customer care are the kind of strengths we are looking for. Impressive financials to prove that your business plan is working are also key, as is an awareness of your CSR commitments. One for the real all-rounder. 

Health and Wellbeing Award

This award has entries from:

• Non-health/wellbeing organisations: a workforce that feels valued and has some control over its future is healthier and more productive. A great working environment with staff health and wellbeing at its core can deliver amazing results, so tell us about your successful initiatives driving retention, job prospects and positive working environments.

• For health and well-being organisations: we want you to tell us about how you are delivering a service with great holistic health care at the core. Skilled staff who work hard to make a difference to people’s lives deserve to be celebrated, so let’s hear about the dedication and empathy that makes you the best in Wandsworth!

Best Creative Sector Business

To acknowledge Wandsworth being London Borough of Culture in 2025, we’re launching a new award for the Best Creative Sector Business. Sponsored by Wandsworth Council, this award aims to celebrate those businesses that generate new cultural contributions through creativity, skill, and talent whilst demonstrating excellent business management capability. We expect applicants to operate in areas such as, but not limited to: art, music, film, performance arts, and games; architecture, design, designer fashion, and craftwork; books, publishing, and software; television and radio; advertising and public relations.

The award is open to commercial and not-for-profit organisations but you will demonstrate in depth understanding of the creative process and producing cultural excellence combined with good business planning, market and audience understanding, commercial awareness, excellent people management, resilience and leadership. In a year when the focus will be on Wandsworth, the winner will demonstrate the excellence of the borough’s cultural sector and its contribution to London’s world class creative economy.