The Business Champion Awards celebrate the UK's most ambitious founders, scale-ups and SME leaders — the operators who are creating jobs, exporting talent and shaping whole categories. Fifteen years in, the ceremony is one of the UK business calendar's most anticipated black-tie nights out.
Whether you're a founder in year two, a scale-up past Series B, a family business on its third generation, or the CFO who just closed the growth round — there's a category that recognises what you've built. Entry is free in every category and open to companies headquartered or substantially operating in the UK.
The headline prize. Awarded to the UK leader who has most moved the needle in the last 12 months.
Under-30 founders building standout companies.
Celebrating outstanding women in founding and leadership roles.
Companies that have crossed £10m revenue and kept growing.
Businesses in their first three years making exceptional progress.
Multi-generational businesses writing their next chapter.
UK companies making serious headway overseas.
The product, service or process rethinking a category.
Applied tech and AI driving real commercial outcomes.
Businesses embedding ESG into strategy, not PR.
Outstanding culture, retention and people strategy.
Brands whose customers do the selling for them.
Campaigns that moved commercial needles, not just trophies.
The numbers person who steered their company through the hard yards.
Celebrating UK businesses flying the flag abroad.
Judges' choice. 25+ years of entrepreneurial service to UK plc.
Our panel is built from active founders, investors, experienced plc chairs and senior editors. Every entry is scored independently by a minimum of three judges, anonymised where practical, and debated in person for the shortlisted finalists.
Since 2017 the Business Champion Awards have recognised more than 400 UK founders and businesses. Here's a selection of recent headline winners — the full roll of honour lives in the archive.
"Winning Business Champion of the Year opened doors we didn't even know existed — and it told our team that what we'd built really mattered." — [PLACEHOLDER]
"The calibre of the judging panel is what made winning this one feel different." — [PLACEHOLDER]
"A brilliant night, and an award that actually means something to the people who know what it takes to build a business." — [PLACEHOLDER]
"Being shortlisted alongside founders I've admired for years was the win. Taking the trophy home was the bonus." — [PLACEHOLDER]
"Thirty-plus years in and the proudest night of my career." — [PLACEHOLDER]
"The Business Champion trophy is on the shelf that investors see first when they walk into our boardroom." — [PLACEHOLDER]
Fifteen editions in, a Business Champion trophy is a currency understood by investors, buyers, customers and the press. Our judging methodology is published and rigid.
Shortlisted and winning companies get dedicated coverage in Business Matters (1M+ monthly readers), cross-promoted across Travelling For Business and EV Powered where relevant, and featured in the newsletter network.
500+ founders, CFOs, investors, advisers and corporate partners in one room. We put serious effort into the table plan so conversations at dinner lead somewhere.
There is no fee to enter any category. We keep it that way on purpose — the awards should reward the work, not the marketing budget.
Each ceremony raises funds for our chosen charity partner through the live auction and pledge moment. Since 2017 the awards have helped raise more than £[PLACEHOLDER] for UK charities.
Sponsoring the Business Champion Awards is the most efficient way to reach ambitious UK founders and SME decision-makers at a single moment. Every tier below is bookable for the 2026 ceremony, and all include year-round positioning across the Business Matters digital audience.
Tables sell out every year well before the event. VIP and premier tables are positioned closest to the stage and include pre-reception drinks with the judging panel. Prices below are guide-only for 2026 and exclude VAT — final pricing and allocations are confirmed on booking.
Any UK-based business, or any UK-headquartered business with international operations, can enter. You can enter yourself, your company, or nominate a leader or business you know. Self-nominated entries are not ranked any differently to third-party nominations.
Entries are judged on the strength of your written submission, a short set of supporting evidence, and (for finalists) a 20-minute judging call. There is no entry fee in any category.
Start your entry →Choose the categories that best match what you've built. You can enter up to three — we recommend one headline and up to two sector categories.
A 1,000-word written entry per category, addressing the judging criteria. We publish a template and a scoring rubric so you know exactly what the panel are looking for.
Accounts, press coverage, customer testimonials, impact data, team photos. Evidence isn't scored separately — it's there to substantiate the claims in your written entry.
Shortlist announced in October. Finalists invited to a 20-minute judging call. Winners revealed on the night of the ceremony, Thursday 12 November 2026.
The Business Champion Awards are produced in-house by the Capital Business Media events team, working alongside the editorial team of Business Matters magazine. Every year the ceremony grows, and every year we rebuild the production to raise the bar.
Managing Editor of Business Matters and founder of the Business Champion Awards. Chair of the judging panel since 2012.
Leads the ceremony production, from venue and catering to table plans, stage design and the run of show.
Manages the entry process end-to-end, coordinates the judging panel and runs the shortlist calls.
Point of contact for sponsorship packages, table sales and partner opportunities for the 2026 ceremony.
