Terms and Conditions

1. You may enter up to 3 categories

2. All entries as well as supporting documents must be submitted online, if you have any queries about hard copies of evidence please contact the team

3. The competition is open to all businesses nationally who commenced business prior to 1st January 2018

4. If you commenced business after the 1st January 2018, you can enter up to 3 categories from Best New Business, Business Person of the Year, Business Woman of the Year, The Green Award, Young Business Person of the Year, Website of the Year, Positive Impact Award and the Public Vote Categories.

5. The cost of entry is £95 + VAT per application. 

6. Entrants must have less than 250 employees at the time of entering or be self employed

7. A sponsor cannot enter an award in the category that they are sponsoring

8. Each category has different requirements in terms of length of time in business or age of entrant – please see individual awards for specific rules

9. The comments made on your application form should be accurate to the best of your knowledge

10. The Judges will be representatives from each of the sponsors and guest judges, who are well respected experts in their field

11. The Judges reserve the right to move your application to another category or to add you to another category

12. The Judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 

13. By entering these awards, you agree to our business partners and sponsors having access to your contact details 

14. Entrants must be available for consultation with the Judges should the need arise

15. By entering the awards you agree to partake in publicity of the awards, including the use of any images taken

16. Should a category not receive sufficient entries, it will be withdrawn from the Awards Ceremony

17. Entries will only be accepted on the official entry form

18. Entry is completed solely on your application form, there will be no site visits

19. The closing date for all entries is Monday 6th July 2020 at 3pm

20. We reserve the right to extend the deadline

21. All finalists will be required to attend the Grand Final evening at their own cost

22. Please note that due to the nature of the Awards Ceremony, Children under the age of 16 will not be able to attend.

23. The Grand Final takes place on Friday 5th March 2021.

24. Refund policy – Entry Fees, there is 100% refund within 60 days of closing date, 50% refund within 45 days of closing date and zero refund within 30 days of closing date

25. Refund policy – Grand Final Tickets, there is a 100% refund within 60 days of event, 50% refund within 45 days of event and zero refund within 30 days of event

26. Refund policy – There is zero refund on all merchandise due to the nature of our ordering process.

27. Ticket Refund Guarantee - As the current pandemic situation changes daily, we want you to feel completely confident about booking a seat or table at this year’s SME National Business Awards. If we need to reschedule the event, we will simply roll over your booking to the new date and in the unlikely event that we are unable to run the event within the following 12 months, you will be entitled to a full refund.

28. By entering the awards, you authorise us to use personal data collected during the registration process for the purposes of administering the awards, and receiving/circulating further information regarding the awards and other relevant events from time to time. To opt out please email emily@eventsandpr.co.uk 

Public Vote Categories

1. The public vote categories are Best Customer Service and Business Hero

2. Each nomination in the public vote categories will be required to fill out an application form to complete their entry.

3. Independent Businesses, Franchises, and branches of larger businesses may enter the public vote categories.

4. The competition is open to all businesses nationally who commenced business before January 2020.

5. Entry into the Public Vote categories is FREE, although an entry form must be completed.

6. Scores in the Public Vote categories will be determined by both the entry form (30%) and number of public votes (70%).

7. Only one person from a company can be nominated

8. A company can only be put forward once

9. Please note you may only enter one category. If you are nominated in more than one, the first category you are nominated in will be the category chosen.

Business Chameleon and Lockdown Leader Categories

1. You may enter one or two of these categories.

2. Entries are open to all SME’s including those who have already reached the finals.

3. If you are through to the finals in three categories already, you are still eligible to enter these as additional categories.

4. The cost of entry is £95 +VAT per application.

5. The closing date for these categories is Thursday 12th November at 2pm.

6. In addition to these rules, entrants must also adhere to the main Terms and Conditions.