Celebrating innovation and excellence in growing B2B businesses, this award recognises market-leading, high-growth, and innovative B2B companies with significant scaling potential. The judges will be looking for strong and consistent topline growth and profitability as well as potential for future growth, innovation in products or services, and high engagement amongst customers and staff.

This award recognises exceptional growing businesses in the consumer sector. It aims to highlight dynamic, high-growth, and innovative businesses within the consumer sector that demonstrate the potential for continued expansion. Judges will look at customer proposition, financial performance and growth potential, the impact of technology and people on the business, branding and route to market.

This award acknowledges businesses that have achieved growth through the attraction and retention of a loyal customer base. It aims to honour UK businesses that consistently deliver exceptional customer experiences, leading to tangible commercial performance and business growth. Judges will look for evidence of customer engagement across a variety of metrics, such as retention rates, feedback and referrals, as well as clear examples of proactive customer engagement, sustainable financial growth and scalability of business operations.

This award celebrates organisations that prioritise diversity and inclusion in their business operations and values, recognising the advantages of a truly diverse workforce. These organisations provide opportunities for employees from various backgrounds and abilities to excel and access opportunities that were previously unavailable. This category is open to any UK-based company that has implemented a diversity and inclusion strategy contributing to their growth.

This award recognises companies that prioritise their teams and leverage this focus as a catalyst for organisational growth. It evaluates how companies invest in their employees and the resulting positive impact on company growth. Judges will look for clear employee engagement strategies with demonstrable impact on business growth, high standards of people management, motivation and remuneration, and effective strategies for recruitment and retention of talent.

This individual award recognises established entrepreneurs with a history of business success and excellence, as well as emerging entrepreneurs challenging industry norms and achieving remarkable accomplishments. Judges will be looking for candidates who have established significant scalable businesses or brands, demonstrated personal ambition, leadership and commercial acumen, and impact their industries through disruption or setting high standards.

Celebrating UK companies succeeding in the international marketplace, the Export Champion of the Year Award honours UK companies expanding or launching operations overseas. In particular, this award recognises firms whose recent international achievements inspire other UK companies to trade internationally. The judges will look for a strategic approach to international expansion with a clear understanding of target markets, evidence of innovation in export strategy, and specific examples of success outside the UK.

The award for world-class family-owned UK companies celebrates businesses demonstrating exceptional growth and influenced by multiple generations of a family. These organisations have a single family as the majority owner. Judges will look for sustainable, profitable growth and scalability of business operations, positive or disruptive impact on the industry, excellent customer engagement and succession planning, as well as an insight into the benefits of keeping the business family-owned.

The award for the best growing companies in the financial services and technology industry acknowledges businesses challenging traditional practices and fostering success through disruptive activities. Judges will look for innovative products or services, positive or disruptive impact on the financial services sector, strong customer engagement and sustainable, profitable growth.

This category recognises world class, privately-owned UK companies with turnover of up to £10m in their last financial year. Successful growing businesses are extraordinarily important to the UK economy, driving innovation and creating jobs and wealth. Judges will look at sustainable growth, positive or disruptive impact on the sector, innovation in products or services and customer engagement.

This category recognises world class, privately-owned UK companies with turnover of  £10-25m in their last financial year. Successful growing businesses are extraordinarily important to the UK economy, driving innovation and creating jobs and wealth. Judges will look at sustainable growth, positive or disruptive impact on the sector, innovation in products or services and customer engagement.

This category recognises world class, privately-owned UK companies with turnover of £25-50m in their last financial year. Successful growing businesses are extraordinarily important to the UK economy, driving innovation and creating jobs and wealth. Judges will look at sustainable growth, positive or disruptive impact on the sector, innovation in products or services and customer engagement.

This category recognises world class, privately-owned UK companies with turnover of £50m+ in their last financial year. Successful growing businesses are extraordinarily important to the UK economy, driving innovation and creating jobs and wealth. Judges will look at sustainable growth, positive or disruptive impact on the sector, innovation in products or services and customer engagement.

The Healthcare Business of the Year award recognises UK healthcare businesses that are creating new markets and disrupting existing markets. This award celebrates companies challenging traditional industry practices and building successful businesses. The judges will look at product and service innovation, quality customer engagement and positive or disruptive impact on the healthcare industry, as well as strong financial performance and potential for future growth.

This award celebrates genuine innovation in all aspects of business, from unusual management strategies and disruptive business models, to ground-breaking product design and cutting-edge manufacturing techniques. The judges will be looking for companies that have challenged conventional thinking in their market or industry and seen positive commercial results.

The Investor-backed Business of the Year award recognises businesses that have received backing from investors and have demonstrated significant, sustainable growth and success as a result of this support. Judges will look for effective communication and collaboration with investors, alignment of the business’s strategy with the investor’s goals, and positive influence on the sector as a result of investor backing.

This award acknowledges businesses that have identified a market opportunity and implemented a strategy that has influenced customer behaviours. These businesses have brought about change, disrupted the status quo, and sustained consistent growth. The judges will be looks for businesses that have effectively identified and capitalised on opportunities to to have a disruptive impact on an industry or sector.

The Online Business of the Year award recognises businesses disrupting and creating new markets entirely online, challenging traditional practices, and championing the online economy. Judges will look for original online solutions to market challenges, high customer engagement and brand awareness as well as strong and sustainable financial performance.

The Recruitment Firm of the Year award recognises recruitment agencies that have demonstrated excellence, innovation, and impact in the field of talent acquisition and placement. Judges will be looking for creative recruitment strategies, effective use of technology, commitment to diversity and inclusion and positive feedback from clients and candidates.

The Technology Business of the Year award celebrates companies that have leveraged technology to drive growth or disrupt existing markets. This award recognises businesses utilising technologies like AI, robotics, CRM, or automation to enhance their operations or revolutionise competitive industries. Judges will look for clear strategy behind technology developments, innovative products or services and positive or disruptive impact on the industry or sector through technology solutions.

The Bridges Positive Impact Award celebrates successful businesses that drive positive change for people and/or the planet, emphasising social and environmental benefits. Judges will look for businesses that have continued to deliver positive impact while growing and scaling.

Open to companies that have been operating for under three years, the Young Company of the Year award recognises emerging businesses that have shown exceptional growth, innovation, and potential in their respective industries. Judges will look at growth trajectory, market disruption, leadership and adaptability.

The award for the dynamic next generation of entrepreneurs serves as a launchpad for emerging talent in the UK. This category is open to individuals aged 35 or under as of November 26, 2024. Judges will be looking for candidates who have established scalable businesses or brands, demonstrated personal ambition, leadership and commercial acumen, and impact their industries through disruption or setting high standards.