The Small Awards want to hear about inspirational small businesses from across the UK! Could you or someone you know be crowned a winner in The Small Awards 2026?
The contest is organised by Small Business Britain, which was founded by Michelle Ovens CBE to champion small businesses, and applying is completely free. The deadline is midnight on February 28.
Judging is based on a number of criteria relevant to the specific award, while also looking for strong performance as an ongoing business. The judges will also look for evidence of strong community engagement from small businesses.
The categories are:
High Street Hero – Best high street business
Bricks and Clicks Award – Best multi-channel small business
Legacy Award – Best family business
Supply Chain Champion – Best B2B business
New Kid On The Block – Best business start-up (less than 18 months)
Digital Star – Best digital only business
Heart Of Gold – The business that contributes most to its community
At Your Service – Best small service business
Sole to Sole – Best self-employed small business owner
Mission Possible – Best social enterprise business
Net Hero – The business that demonstrates exceptional commitment to environmental sustainability
Small Business Of The Year – Best overall small business
The awards ceremony will take place in May. To find out more about the categories and how to apply, visit https://thesmallawards.uk/