UK Family Business Awards 2022
19th January 2022 / All, Resources
The last couple of years have challenged us all, and for many UK family business owners, it’s been sink or swim. But thankfully, many of you have thrived and we want to draw your attention to all the UK family business awards that are opening their doors again for 2022.
Are you part of a UK family business that’s done exceptional work in the last year? If so, now is a great time to celebrate your success and gain much-needed recognition.
Putting yourself forward for UK family business awards is a fantastic way to get your name and business story out there, network with other business owners, and potentially win a glowing accreditation for yourself, your business, and your team.
To help you get started, here are some UK family business awards that are taking place in 2022. Whether you’re part of a small close-knit team or a large family-owned company, there’s an award here for everyone, so take a close look at each one and you may just find that award that was made especially for you. The majority of these awards have a ‘family business’ category, but there are also a few for SMEs/small businesses which may also take your fancy.
Please note that all dates are subject to change. As a result, it’s best to keep a close eye on the awards you’re interested in and be mindful that some dates might change closer to the time. Some of these awards will include an entry fee, but not all.
If you want any help deciding on which are the best awards to enter or want help to write an award-winning entry, do get in touch.
January
The Small Business Awards celebrate the achievements and contributions of small businesses and the self-employed across the UK. These awards are free to enter and open to all small businesses and self-employed people throughout the UK. There’s a special ‘Family Business of the Year’ category, and winners from each category secure a spot at the prestigious UK final and a chance to be crowned the UK Small Business of the Year.
Entry Deadline: Jan (varies)
Awards Ceremony: 19th May
The Management Today Business Awards recognise outstanding leadership, innovation, and hardworking teams from across both large and small businesses. While there’s not a specific category for family businesses, there are plenty to choose from, and these awards are a great opportunity for businesses looking to pit themselves against the bigger names.
Entry Deadline: 26th Jan
Awards Ceremony: April (TBC)
The Business Champion Awards showcase businesses that have shown significant evolution or development in the past year. If your small family business has done exceptional work in exceptional circumstances, or especially if you’re a new business, this one’s for you.
Entry Deadline: 15th Jan
Awards Ceremony: 1st Mar
February
The Small Awards will take place on May 19th, 2022 bringing together small businesses, experts, and family business luminaries for a fantastic evening of awards and networking. The ‘legacy award’ is dedicated to family businesses, and there are plenty of other categories as well.
Entry Deadline: 28th Feb
Awards Ceremony: 19th May
North-West Family Business Awards
The Family Business Network is an excellent community to follow, and they run the North West Awards for Family Businesses. If you are a family business from Cumbria, Lancashire, Cheshire, Greater Manchester or Merseyside, then the North West Family Business Awards are for you. They celebrate family businesses of all shapes and sizes, from across all sectors and industries.
Entry Deadline: 14th Feb
Awards Ceremony: 13th May
March
The Red Rose Awards seeks to share business stories from a whole range of backgrounds. The Family Business Award is open to businesses where majority ownership remains within a family (or multi-family) structure, and where more than one generation contributes to the success of the business.
Entry Deadline: 18th Mar
Awards Ceremony: 13th April
The Family Business of the Year award is open to businesses operating in any sector – and of any size – that is family owned and run by a member of the founding family. Typically, this award will be open to privately owned businesses and not for profit organisations.
Entry Deadline: 18th Mar
Awards Ceremony: 20th Oct
April
European Families in Business Awards
Run by Campden FP Awards, the European Families in Business Awards recognise the enormous impact family businesses have on the health of Europe’s economy. The only thing to note is that you may need to get your passport updated for the awards ceremony! This year’s location is TBC.
Entry Deadline: 1st April
Awards Ceremony: 1st July
May
The Rural Business Awards are (predictably) for businesses set up in rural locations throughout the UK. The RBAs are an opportunity to network with other rural businesses and RBA sponsors, giving you the chance to share location-specific challenges and best practices. Most importantly, if you’re lucky enough to win an award, you will receive regional and national recognition, strengthening the reputation of your business.
Entry Deadline: 21st May
Awards Ceremony: 25th Feb
June
The Great British Entrepreneur Awards
The Great British Entrepreneur Awards are all about the spirit behind the business. The Family Business Entrepreneur of the Year Award might fit the bill for you, and be sure to check out their other events, too – there are some great webinars and online resources for small businesses.
Entry Deadline: 3rd June
Awards Ceremony: TBC
This year, the Business Leader Awards are planning their biggest event to date, so it’s a good year to throw your name into the pile. Check out the Family Business of the Year category, but by all means, try your luck at the other ones as well. There are plenty of small business categories to pick from. Note: Entries for this one open on the 11th Feb 2022.
Entry Deadline: 3rd June
Awards Ceremony: 15th Sep
Are you running a high-growth business? Then this one might be for you. The Growing Business Awards are fit for entrepreneurs and growing businesses – and do take special note of the category for best Family-Owned Business of the Year.
Entry Deadline: 25th June
Awards Ceremony: 24th Nov
July
The Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards is a place to celebrate the resilience, innovation, and creativity of the UK’s business community. It attracts an enormous variety of organisations and business people, from start-ups and entrepreneurs to ready-to-scale businesses, established SMEs, and FTSE 100 powerhouses, so you’ll be up against a vast range of competitors!
Entry Deadline: 30th July
Awards Ceremony: 9th Nov
August
Do you use ebay for your business? The eBay for Business Awards is designed to celebrate the best of British small and medium-sized businesses selling online.
Entry Deadline: 2nd Aug
Awards Ceremony: 29th Oct
September
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise
The Queen’s Awards for Enterprise are for outstanding achievement by UK businesses in the categories of innovation, international trade, sustainable development, and promoting opportunity through social mobility. Many family businesses have been rewarded a Queen’s Award.
Entry Deadline: 8th Sep
Awards Ceremony: 21st Apr (2023)
In the SME National Business Awards, the winners of the Family Business of the Year award will be combining their passion for business with their shared family values. The judges will be looking at how you can grow your business while still keeping your core family values at the centre of everything you do.
Entry Deadline: 15th Sep
Awards Ceremony: 3rd Dec
October
Organised by The Business Intelligence Group, the BIG Awards for Business offers companies, their products, their people, and their tactics a chance to be globally recognised by panels of business veterans and leaders. They’re open to companies of various sizes in all major industries, and they strive to offer increased exposure for extraordinary accomplishments by women, small businesses, and those working to reduce the impact on our environment.
Entry Deadline: 22nd Oct
Awards Ceremony: 22nd Nov
November
The Family Business of The Year Awards 2022 are now closed for nominations, but the 2023 awards will be open again towards the end of 2022 – so keep an eye on this one. To be considered for an award, family firms can either enter themselves or be nominated for the awards. Entries are free.
Entry Deadline: 30th Nov
Awards Ceremony: 23rd Jun (2023)
Please note, our list of family business awards isn’t exhaustive. If we’ve missed any great ones, please let us know as we will be updating this awards list regularly. Do also check out local awards in your region too.
