Key dates
- Entries open: June 9
- Entries close: September 19
- Shortlist announcement: September 29
- Judging day: October 9
- Awards night: November 25
Created by
Supported by
Created by Real Business, held in association with Lloyds Bank and supported by the CBI, The Growing Business Awards are the most established, respected national recognition of SME and entrepreneurial success.
Who should enter
All UK-based high-growth and entrepreneurial companies - no matter the size or stage of your business.
Since 1999 the Awards have identified many of Britain's finest high-growth businesses, including now-household names such as Innocent, Tyrrells, EasyJet, Phones 4U and LoveFilm. Read more on Real Business.
Your entry could propel your business to the next level.
Awards night: November 25
London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square
... it truly is the 'Oscars' that every business in the country should be seeking to win.
Peter Radcliffe, Monitise
Sponsors
A tremendously prestigious Award and a quality mark for both companies and individual nominees.
Alexander Temerko, OGN Group
Categories
Entrepreneur of the Year
Growing Business of the Year
Innovator of the Year
Retail Hero
Brand Builder of the Year
Young Company of the Year
Young Entrepreneur of the Year
Export Champion of the Year
The “Made in Britain” Award
Digital Champion
Why you should enter
Meet the UK's business elite
At the fantastic Awards night you'll meet the UK's best businesses, our sponsors and partners and of course the shortlisted finalists. And for successful candidates, you'll be invited to present to a high-profile judging academy.
Brand awareness and reach
All shortlisted candidates will be featured on Real Business (115,156 monthly unique visitors ABC audit March 2014) and through our network of distinguished partners for incredible national coverage.
Recognition and motivation
Winning or making a shortlist will give you and your team an unrivalled morale boost and recognition for hard work.
Competitive advantage
Only the very best companies will make the shortlist. For those that do, this recognition of excellence will propel you far ahead of the competition.
CBI Membership
All Growing Business Awards winners receive automatic membership of the CBI.
No fee to enter
Unlike other industry awards, there is absolutely no cost to put forward your nomination.
Incentives from our partners
Many of our all-star cast of partners will provide our shortlisted candidates with exclusive offers, to be announced shortly...
Thanks to Real Business, the CBI and Lloyds for recognising the importance of exports for the success of our economy and country.
Rami Ranger, Sun Mark
The Night
The Growing Business Awards night is one of the highlights of the entrepreneurial calendar, bringing together more than 300 guests representing the cream of UK entrepreneurship, business and government.
Schedule
- 18.45 - Champagne reception
- 19.15 - Welcome speeches, Keynote address
- 19.45 - Dinner
- 21.30 - Guest Speaker
- 21.35 - The Growing Business Awards
- 23.00 - Cash bar
- 01.00 - Carriages
Above all this award will give the team a sense of achievement and they will realise what they are doing makes a difference.
John McArthur, Tracsis
Judges
Maxine Bligh
head of group - member engagement and sectoral affairs, CBI
Parveen Dhanda
manager of london city incubator, City University London
John Clare
retail veteran and former chairman of Comet
Stephen Welton
chief executive, Business Growth Fund
Steve Aston
investment director, LDC
Adrian Pike
CEO, Anesco
David McDonald
co-founder, Acturis
Catherine Barnes
professor of retail innovation, Leeds Metropolitan University
Russell Gould
managing director, Everline
Neill Ricketts
co-founder & ceo, Versarien
Martyn Dawes
founder and former ceo, Coffee Nation
Roger Pedder
private company chairman and NED
Rami Ranger
chairman, Sun Mark Ltd
Henrietta Lovell
founder, Rare Tea Co
Jim McColl
founder, chairman & ceo, Clyde Blowers
Amit Bhatia
chairman, Hope Construction Materials
Alex Chesterman
founder & ceo, Zoopla Property Group
Mark Wignall
managing partner, Mobeus Equity
Stephen Fear
chairman and founder, Fear Group
Lara Morgan
founder, Company Shortcuts
Jess Butcher
cmo & co-founder, Blippar
Charlie Johnstone
partner, ECI
An inspiring evening with fantastic stories of success. Disruptive business models abound!
Neil Bentley, CBI
