Categories and sponsors
This year, there are 14 award categories that recognise the diversity of businesses in the borough. Each category is sponsored by a local business, and you can enter up to two categories.
The overall winner, our Business of the Year 2024, is selected by our panel of judges from the shortlist of category winners.
Best Food and Drink Venue Award
Sponsored by Drury Tea & Coffee
Rewarding local food and drink establishments which primarily offer an in-person service. This category is for businesses who have excelled at delivering the best customer experience, through a combination of superb food and drink, a welcoming ambience, value for money and consistently high levels of service, bringing vibrancy and vitality to the area they operate in.
This category includes hotels, restaurants, pubs, and cafés. Nominees must explain how they have gained support from their customers with good quality food and drink and standout service, creating a great customer experience.
The winner will be chosen by public vote, from the nominees shortlisted by the judges.
Best New Business Award
Sponsored by London City Airport
New businesses help strengthen the foundation of the local economy, contributing to economic growth, creating new jobs, products and services. This category recognises new businesses that have become established in the last two years. Nominees must show how they have taken an idea and turned it into a new business which has gained traction and support from their customers, and investors if relevant. This can be demonstrated by the quality of your product or service, delivering good value for money and an excellent customer experience.
To qualify for this award the business must be no more than two years old.
Entrepreneur Award – Under 30
Sponsored by University of Greenwich
Young entrepreneurs are rising. They’re driven by fresh perspectives, boundless energy, and a hunger to make their mark. These trailblazers leverage their youth and creativity to develop ingenious ideas, showing that age is no barrier to introducing novel concepts that challenge the norm. This award will go to a young individual who has developed and demonstrated their entrepreneurial skills across any industry. This could be for a standout project within your job role, which has grown and escalated the business you work for, or an extraordinary activity you have started in your own time, which you’ve cultivated into an inspired business.
To qualify for this award the entrepreneur must be 30 or under at the time of application.
Entrepreneur Award – Over 30
Sponsored by Berkeley Homes
According to an international study, successful founders of a startup have an average age of 40. This ground-breaking revelation not only underscores the untapped potential of older entrepreneurs, but it also suggests there needs to be a critical re-evaluation of age bias in the business world. Instead of viewing age as a liability, we must recognise it as being a distinct advantage. Age and experience equal wisdom and resilience. This award will go to a person with life experience who has developed and demonstrated their entrepreneurial skills. This could be for a project within your job role, taking the business you work for to new heights, or within your own inspired business.
To qualify for this award the entrepreneur must be 30 or over at the time of application.
Greener Greenwich Award
Sponsored by The O2
In line with our commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030, this award celebrates organisations that are taking an active role in tackling the climate crisis and improving environmental sustainability. The award recognises those businesses that are working hard to reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact.
We want to see your commitment to long term impacts, the part you are playing in being environmentally sustainable and your journey to reduce carbon emissions to net zero. Examples of your work could include the use of green or clean technology to create goods and services in the borough. Businesses should be able to show how successful their greener working practices are in having a positive impact on the local environment, for example, plastic reduction or protection of scarce resources.
Health and Wellbeing Award
Sponsored by GLL-Better
This category recognises that people’s health supports them in living their best life. It seeks to showcase those organisations that best look after the health and wellbeing of their employees, their clients, and/or the local community. It recognises those businesses that have taken positive steps in creating a supportive environment for their employees to succeed. These businesses will be able to demonstrate their commitment to the health and wellbeing of their clients, and/or the local community.
Judges will be looking for those businesses that have developed and implemented an effective, holistic strategy which has had a proven and significant positive impact on the wellbeing of its workforce.
High Street Business Award
Sponsored by Hindwoods
We want our town centres, high streets and shopping areas to be vibrant and provide goods and services that our residents need. Therefore, we want to celebrate independent retailers across the borough and recognise the important role you play in helping our high streets thrive and in meeting the needs of residents, communities and visitors. We want to hear how you gain and maintain support from your customers, including by providing a quality product or service, good value for money, and a great customer experience.
The winner will be chosen by a public vote, from amongst the nominees shortlisted by the judges.
Innovation Award
Sponsored by Alcatel Submarine Networks (ASN)
This award recognises high value businesses that have brought new ideas, processes, products, technologies and applications onto the market that has helped the business stay competitive, survive and thrive. Judges will be looking to see how businesses are using technological advances, innovative approaches in their design of products, systems or processes to bring superior goods or services to their customers. This award is open to businesses of all sizes that can showcase new ideas that have been adopted in their business which have had a measurable impact. This might include innovative products or services, environmental or energy savings, IT, and automation.
Made in Greenwich Award
Sponsored by Grant Saw
The creative economy and its industries are strategic sectors within the Greenwich economy that if nurtured can boost competitiveness, productivity, sustainable growth, and employment. Royal Greenwich is proud to have one of the largest concentrations of artists and makers. This category celebrates all things made in Greenwich, particularly the creative talent bringing new products and services to market, continuing Royal Greenwich's proud tradition as a place where things are created and produced. Examples of eligible businesses include artists and sculptors, architects, illustrators, jewellery-makers, and designer-makers.
Market or Mobile Trader Award
Sponsored by Brighter Futures Project
This award recognises the rich and growing mix of Market and Mobile Traders operating across the borough. Whether you are licensed to trade by Royal Greenwich, or a private operator in one of the following markets: Greenwich Market, Royal Farmers' Market, Greenwich Vintage Market, Eltham Producers' Market, or Kidbrooke Market, nominees must explain how they have gained support from their customers, including by providing a quality product or service, good value for money, and a loyal customer base.
The winner will be chosen by a public vote, from the nominees shortlisted by the judges.
Digital Award
Sponsored by Digital Greenwich Connect
This category recognises businesses that are making the best use of digital channels to improve processes, raise awareness, increase sales, reach new markets, better serve their customers or add a competitive advantage. Applicants will need to demonstrate how their digital channels, such as website, social media and apps, have had a positive impact on the business. For this award, tell us your digital story. This could be a social media campaign that gained great interest, a website that took your business sales to the next level or a productivity app and task management system which automates workflows.
Professional Service Award
Sponsored by Lifeforce Security
This award recognises businesses that require professional qualifications to deliver their services, demonstrate excellence in their sector and offer outstanding customer service. This award is open to any organisation that provides accounting, financial, insurance, legal, health, training, compliance, or other professional services. This also includes any organisation that provides investing, accounting, architecture, surveying, real estate, management consultancy, advertising, market research as well as services like medical support, pharmacy and dentistry.
Tourism and Culture Award
Sponsored by Uber Boat by Thames Clippers
Tourism and culture are a key driver in delivering positive economic and social impact. It is vital to placemaking and helps make people want to visit, tell others of their experiences and come back to an area. As a royal borough steeped in history, this category highlights Royal Greenwich as a great visitor and entertainment destination. Nominees can include new and established organisations, such as museums, galleries, event spaces, theatres, music venues, and festivals.
Applicants should show how their use of creative or cultural skills has improved their business efficiency or profit or has helped sustain the business. In addition, the judges will also be looking to see how the business measures visitor experience and uses this information to make improvements.
Staff Development Award
Sponsored by London South East Colleges
Royal Greenwich wants to see more residents in good jobs with the skills they need to develop and progress in work. This category is open to all businesses, regardless of size or sector, who can show that they have created a supportive work environment for staff to reach their full potential. Businesses should be able to show their commitment to supporting staff by telling us about their staff training, talent management, Equality Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) initiatives, Continuing Professional Development (CPD) or the use of apprenticeships.
Nominations
Nominations open on Tuesday 3 September for 5 weeks closing on Monday 7 October. The shortlist will be announced in December, with eleven of the category winners and the overall winner chosen by the judging panel.
Public Vote
The three categories selected by public vote are Best Food and Drink, High Street Retailer, and Market & Mobile Trader. The public vote will open from mid-December for 5 weeks, with all applicants being notified of the dates nearer the time.