Award Categories

Explore Award Categories

2026 Stockport Business Award Categories

You can enter as many awards as you would like, simply select the awards on the first question of the entry form

Category Details 

Business of the Year (Turnover £10m+)

Sponsored by CN Chartered Accountants

 

The Large Business of the Year over £10m award will be given to the company that demonstrates all-round excellence in business. The judging will focus on trading performance and future objectives, the competitive advantage of the business, and will look at examples of specific strategies which have driven business growth. If your business achievements are impressive then this award is for you.

Business of the Year (Turnover £5m – £10m)

Sponsored by Gorvins Solicitors

 

The Business of the Year £5-10m award will be given to the company that demonstrates all-round excellence in business. The judging will focus on trading performance and future objectives, the competitive advantage of the business, and will look at examples of specific strategies which have driven business growth. If your business achievements are impressive then this award is for you.

Business of the Year (Turnover £1m – £5m)

Sponsored by HSBC

 

The Business of the Year £1M – £5m award will be given to the company that demonstrates all-round excellence in business. The judging will focus on trading performance and future objectives, the competitive advantage of the business, and will look at examples of specific strategies which have driven business growth. If your business achievements are impressive then this award is for you.

Business of the Year (Turnover up to £1m)

Open for Sponsorship: Email louiselamaris@cngrp.co.uk for Sponsorship Options

 

The Business of the Year up to £1M award will be given to the company that demonstrates all-round excellence in business. The judging will focus on trading performance and future objectives, the competitive advantage of the business, and will look at examples of specific strategies which have driven business growth. If your business achievements are impressive then this award is for you.

Most Promising Young Business

Sponsored by Stockport Council

 

This award is targeted at smaller businesses that have started trading in the last two years. Entrants will have to demonstrate how the business has performed and what its future projections are. You will also be asked to explain the background to the business, the markets it operates in, the business vision and the research that was undertaken when the business was in development. By doing so you could receive the reward you deserve for successfully setting up your new business.

Family Business of the Year

Sponsored by CN Strategic Advisors

 

The Family Business of the Year award will be awarded to an established family business that can demonstrate sustained success across a broad range of measures. Judges want to see how the family values and the family members guided the development of the business, the Board and ownership structure of your business and how decisions are made, how you balance the interests of the family with the interests of the business, and your aspirations for the business and how current and future family generations will be involved.

Employer of the Year

Sponsored by Stockport College

 

This Award will go to the organisation that can best demonstrate how it has created a stimulating and supportive workplace, with a well-motivated, well-trained, ambitious, innovative and integrated workforce. Judges will look for evidence of how employees are engaged in strategic goals and company values. They will also look at investment in people, initiatives to create a more collaborative culture, and the impact this has had on commercial performance.

The Innovation Award

Sponsored by: CN Financial Planners

 

This award recognises a company that successfully applies any form of innovation, celebrating the ideas that have had the greatest impact on an organisation or industry. Whether the innovation is a new product, a service or a culture of improvement, the judges will look for evidence of how the innovation has been developed and applied to improve commercial performance, operational effectiveness or customer engagement. The award will go to the company that can best demonstrate an innovation or innovative approach that has created competitive advantage and contributed to growth.

Hospitality, Leisure & Retail Business of The Year Award

Sponsored by Robinsons Brewery

 

This award celebrates a business that has demonstrated exceptional growth within the hospitality, leisure, or retail sector. The winner will be a company that has shown strong commercial expansion, increased market share, and effective business strategy. Judges will look for evidence of sustained financial performance, innovative approaches that have driven measurable growth, and a clear vision that positions the business for continued success.

Best Creative Award 

Sponsored by Platform81

 

The winner of this category will need to show how they have built a sustainable, profitable business in the creative and / or digital sector. The judges will be looking for good general business practice but will also want to learn specifically how the business has thrived in this competitive sector. Feel free to upload of examples of projects.

The Corporate Social Responsibility Award

Sponsored by: Marketing Stockport

 

If your company has developed an effective and comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility programme that is credible, results driven, addresses your core business function and reinforces your commitment to operating in an economically, socially, and environmentally responsible manner, then this award is for you. The award will be judged on activities undertaken in areas including promotion of employee well-being, charitable engagement and taking steps towards becoming carbon neutral business working towards reducing their impact on climate change.

The Stockport Award 

Open for Sponsorship: Email louiselamaris@cngrp.co.uk for Sponsorship Options

 

The Stockport Award is aimed at those organisations flying the flag for Stockport. If your organisation is all about Stockport and has a passion for the borough then this is the award for you.

Best Not-for-Profit Organisation

Open for Sponsorship: Email louiselamaris@cngrp.co.uk for Sponsorship Options

 

The Best Not-for-Profit Organisation award will be given to a not-for-profit group or business which demonstrates all-round excellence and has a clear mission and purpose. The judging will focus on the organisations performance against aims, and will look at the planned future objectives.

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