Introduction
Thank you for your interest in the Rochford District Business Awards 2026. The Awards will recognise and celebrate the achievements of our fantastic business community over the past 12 months.
Are you aware of a business, service, employer or entrepreneur that deserves special recognition for their achievements, approach or attitude over the past year? Are you proud of the achievements of your own business? If so, please consider nominating to any of our award categories using our dedicated nominations form. Self-nominations are encouraged. The categories are listed below:
- Business Growth & Scale‑Up Award
To recognise a business that has moved from Micro-Business to rapidly scaling, showing measurable growth in revenue, customers, or staff over the last three years
- Circular Economy Award
To encompass sustainable sourcing, circular economy practices (e.g. reuse and regenerate materials or products) and waste reduction initiatives
- Customer Experience Excellence Award
For businesses that demonstrate a ‘people-first’ attitude, continually improving their customer service or innovating in the customer experience.
- Excellence in Employee Experience Award
For a business that encourages a dynamic, happy and healthy workplace that supports employee wellbeing, continued professional development and a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity
- Future‑Ready Start‑Up Award
For a business that began trading in the past 12 months that can demonstrate significant success in bringing forward new or innovative ideas within their industry, investing in technology and scalability.
- Innovation & Tech Impact Award
For businesses that have adapted or diversified their revenue streams or accessed new markets through investment in innovative technology or products. Or can demonstrate successful digital transformation, tech adoption or automation of their business.
- Micro‑Business or Solopreneur Award
To recognise one-person operations, freelancers, consultants or a Micro-Business that can demonstrate why they deserve to be recognised as the best in this category and how they contribute to the local economy
- Sector Champion – Personal Services Award (For 2026 year only)
A new category that will rotate each year to spotlight key local industries. For 2026 the Personal Services sector in retail has been chosen. ‘Personal Services’ refers to services focused on the appearance or repair of the body e.g. barbershops, hairdressers, tattoo shops, nail salons, aesthetics, personal training or massage clinics.
- Small or Medium Enterprise Award
For an SME business that can demonstrate why they deserve to be recognised as the best in this category and how they contribute to the local economy
- Social Value Award
For a business that has made a positive contribution to the local community or added social value through business activities (e.g. job creation in underserved groups, staff volunteering and inclusive hiring).
More details on eligibility criteria and guidelines for nominations are provided below. Nominations are restricted to 3 categories only for each business or individual.
The closing date for entries is 5pm on Monday 5th January 2026.
Awards will be handed out at our ceremony on the evening of Thursday 12 March 2026 at Saxon Hall, Rochford. Full details will be sent to all finalists.
Eligibility Criteria and Guidelines for Completing Supporting Information
In order to be eligible for an award, a business or individual needs to be based or have a fixed presence within the Rochford District and have been trading for at least 12 months (with the exception of the Future‑Ready Start‑Up award category).
For the eligibility criteria and guidance on specific categories, please refer to the list below.
When completing the supporting information section on the nomination form, please consider the following questions under the relevant category as they will form part of the entry. You do not need to respond to all of the questions but they will be used by the judges to help them consider why the business deserves recognition. At the end of the form you will also have the opportunity to upload evidence or supporting information in addition to your answered questions to support your entry.
Micro‑Business & Solopreneur Award 2026
Eligibility: To recognise one-person operations, freelancers, consultants or a Micro-Business. A Micro-Business does not employ more than 9 employees or have a turnover of more than £632,000. All businesses should demonstrate why they deserve to be recognised as the best in this category and how they contribute to the local economy.
Small or Medium Enterprise Award 2026
Eligibility: An SME business has more than 10 employees and does not employ more than 250 employees or have a turnover of more than £36 million. Businesses should demonstrate why they deserve to be recognised as the best in this category and how they contribute to the local economy.
Guidance for both Micro-Business or Solopreneur & SME Awards
- How has the business grown its profits and turnover over the last 12 months?
- What has the journey been like? What challenges has the business overcome and what has been achieved in the context of their industry/sector?
- How does the business seek to differentiate itself from the competition
- Has the business been innovative in its approach to the marketplace, solving a problem or filling a gap, improving productivity or quality?
- Has the business diversified? Has this diversification been successful in achieving profit or longer-term goals for the business?
Business Growth & Scale‑Up Award 2026
Eligibility: Recognises businesses that have moved from Micro-Business to rapidly scaling, showing measurable growth in revenue, customers, or staff over the last three years.
Guidance for Business Growth & Scale‑Up Award
- Please describe your business journey from Micro-Business status to rapid scale-up. What were the key milestones and strategic decisions that contributed to your growth?
- Provide measurable evidence of your business growth over the past three years. This may include figures relating to revenue, customer base, or staff numbers.
- What challenges did your business face during the scale-up phase, and how did you overcome them? Please share any lessons learned or innovations introduced.
- Looking ahead, what are your business growth ambitions for the next three years, and what strategies will you use to achieve them?
Circular Economy Award 2026
Eligibility: For a business that has made a positive impact on the environment. To encompass sustainable sourcing, circular economy practices, (e.g. reuse and regenerate materials or products especially as a means of continuing production in a sustainable and environmentally friendly way) and waste reduction initiatives.
Guidance for Circular Economy Award
- Please describe the most significant positive environmental impact your business has achieved in the past year, highlighting how your actions support the principles of the circular economy.
- In what ways has your organisation implemented sustainable sourcing of materials or products? Provide specific examples of how these practices contribute to resource conservation and regeneration.
- If applicable, explain how your business reuses, regenerates, or repurposes materials and products within your operations or supply chain. How do these initiatives support ongoing sustainable production?
- Detail the waste reduction strategies your organisation has introduced. How have these initiatives reduced waste sent to landfill or minimised environmental harm, and how do you measure their success?
- Please provide evidence either with testimonials or data which shows the impact these changes have had; e.g. a significant reduction in your business carbon footprint/CO2 output.
Customer Experience Excellence Award 2026
Please note this category will be open for the public to vote on the top 5 finalists that are chosen.
Eligibility: For a business that demonstrates a ‘people-first’ attitude, continually improving their customer service, exceeding expectations, and reacting appropriately to ensure customer satisfaction or innovating in the customer experience (e.g. digital, omnichannel – multiple customer interaction channels like physical shops, websites, mobile apps and social media or accessibility improvements).
Guidance for Customer Experience Excellence Award
- Please provide evidence either with testimonials or from reputable national business review websites that demonstrates customer satisfaction from the last 12 months.
- Can the business demonstrate a high repeat customer base over the last year, if applicable?
- Has the business received any nationally recognised accreditation in Customer Services?
- How does the customer experience this business offer differ from their competitors?
- Describe what the customer interaction is like?
Excellence in Employee Experience 2026
Eligibility: For a business that encourages a dynamic, happy and healthy workplace with sound policies to emphasise employee wellbeing. Supporting continued learning and development of staff and demonstrating a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusivity.
Guidance for Excellence in Employee Experience
- How does the business demonstrate they have a happy, motivated, high team morale workplace in the last 12 months?
- Does the business have policies to support equal opportunities, diversity and inclusion?
- Does the business continually invest in their workforce and encourage personal and/or professional development?
- Does the business have policies in place to support staff and their wellbeing? Some examples are domestic abuse awareness, mental health first aiders and anti-modern slavery.
Future‑Ready Start‑Up Award 2026
Eligibility: For a business that began trading in the past 12 months that can demonstrate significant success in bringing forward new or innovative ideas within their industry, investing in technology and scalability.
Guidance for Future‑Ready Start‑Up Award
- Please describe the new or innovative ideas the business has introduced within their industry in its first 12 months. What challenges did it address, and what impact have these innovations had so far.
- How has the business invested in technology to support its growth and operations? Please provide examples of specific technologies, tools, or systems that have been adopted.
- In what ways has the business demonstrated scalability in their business model? Outline any strategies or actions taken to enable sustainable growth.
- Since beginning trading, what measurable successes or milestones has the business achieved that highlight their future-ready approach?
Innovation & Tech Impact Award 2026
Eligibility: For a business that has adapted or diversified their revenue streams or accessed new markets through investment in innovative technology or products. Or can demonstrate successful digital transformation, tech adoption, or automation of their business.
Guidance for Innovation & Tech Impact Award
- Describe the innovative product, service or transformation.
- Has the business invested in a more innovative business model, product or technology in the last 12 months? What problem is this looking to address?
- How successful has this innovation been? What are the business’s long-term objectives for this innovation?
- What are the business’s long-term projections in terms of business growth?
Sector Champion – Personal Services Award 2026
Eligibility: In the retail business sector, ‘personal services’ refers to services focused on the appearance or repair of the body, such as barbershops, hairdressers, tattoo shops, nail salons, aesthetics, personal training or massage clinics.
Guidance for Sector Champion – Personal Services Award
- What made the business owner choose the Personal Services retail sector for their business?
- Describe how the business delivers exceptional personal service and how they ensure a high standard of client care in their area of personal services (e.g. barbering, hairdressing, tattooing, nail care, aesthetics, personal training, massage, etc.). Please provide specific examples.
- What innovative practices or unique techniques has the business introduced in the last 12 months to improve client experience or results in the personal services sector? How have these contributed to the success?
- How does the business support the ongoing professional development and wellbeing of their staff or practitioners? Include any training, mentorship, or wellbeing initiatives.
- Please provide evidence of any sector specific accreditations or qualifications and/or awards.
Social Value Award 2026
Eligibility: For a business that has made a positive contribution to the lives and/or livelihoods of their local community and demonstrated a firm commitment towards meeting their social responsibilities. Adding social value through business activities in terms of well-being of individuals, communities and/or their physical environment, including job creation in underserved groups, staff volunteering and inclusive hiring.
Guidance for Social Value Award
- What social, cultural, economic and/or environmental activity has the business undertaken in the last year to benefit the community? Please include detail on how the impact was measured
- What inspired the initiation of these activities? What were the objectives behind them?
- In the last 12 months has the business participated in staff volunteering or recruited positively from underserved groups to demonstrate disability confident or inclusivity.
- Please provide evidence either with testimonials or data which shows the level of impact these activities have had for the community in the last year.