Information supplied on entry forms or online entry will be used for judging The Glasgow Business Awards and no other purpose.

All information will be accessed by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce staff and shared with the impartial judges. It will be treated as confidential.

Entrants’ and delegates contact details will be shared with the main sponsor, all category and in kind sponsors and other event partners appointed by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and they may make contact before or after the Awards.

Glasgow Chamber of Commerce will hold the information on file for three years and may contact entrants regarding The Glasgow Business Awards during that time.

Delegates at the Awards Ceremony and Dinner will consent to filming, sound recording and photography at the event. Delegates will consent to the use by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and partners of any such recording or photography for editorial, promotional, marketing and other purposes. Delegates who do not wish their image to be used in this manner must notify us in writing, prior to the event.

This category is open to businesses which have successfully grown their organisation and now operate with 100 employees or over.

Strong leadership and clearly defined strategic objectives will have shaped the company’s growth and development. The company culture will demonstrate an approach to business based on encouraging employee development, creativity and empowerment. Employees will demonstrate strong proactive relationships with customers and suppliers and a shared ambition to optimise business performance.

Entrants should be able to present a strong performance record and explain how their business differentiates itself from the competition.

The environment is tough for all organisations, let alone small to medium sized business, so it is important that SMEs have a clear focus on growth, success and sustainability. This award is intended to highlight successful businesses with 1-99 employees.

They should be able to demonstrate a clearly defined strategy for developing and growing the business in terms of turnover, employment, innovative marketing and communications. Entrants will be able to demonstrate a strong sales focus. Staff personal development and total involvement of the workforce in the growth of the business will be important. In this ‘digital’ age, innovative approaches to product or service differentiation will be key to success.

The winner will be able to demonstrate entrepreneurial characteristics with dynamic and measurable systems in place, to monitor performance, financial controls, marketing and sales growth.

This category is open to organisations, irrespective of size or industry sector that can demonstrate a people-centred approach to economic decision-making through the development of organisational policies and practices which are aimed at distributing available assets for a stronger, more inclusive economy. Such approaches assist in the redirection of wealth back into the local economy, and place control and benefits into the hands of local people.

There are five key elements/pillars of community wealth building. Entrants should provide evidence in at least one of the following:

1. Plural ownership of the economy
   
   Incentivising ethical business practice. Committing to developing and growing small enterprises, community organisations, cooperatives and municipal ownership models which help lock wealth in place. Supporting and growing business models that are financially generative for the local economy.
2. Making financial power work for local places
   
   Increasing flows of investment within the local economy by harnessing and recirculating the wealth that exists locally. Investing longer-term funds in local business opportunities, developments, credit unions or co-ops.
4. Fair employment and just labour markets
   
   Targeting recruitment from lower income areas and priority groups, paying the Living Wage and building progression routes. Giving employees a voice at work, security, opportunity, fulfilment and respect.
5. Progressive procurement of goods and services
   
   Supporting and developing local supply chains of businesses likely to boost local employment and retain wealth locally: SMEs, employee-owned businesses, social enterprises, cooperatives and community business.
6. Socially productive use of land and property
   
   Deepening the function, ownership and stewardship of local assets (land and property) held by anchor organisations, so that local communities benefit from financial and social gain.

We will be looking for entrants who will be able to exhibit and provide examples of how they have put creativity, innovation and inclusivity at the fore when approaching economic decision-making that supports the pillars of community wealth building.

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award will recognise the most inspiring, dynamic and driven leader.

Entrants must show how they have overcome challenges to grow their successful business and how they have achieved this through risk taking, resilience, identification of opportunity, passion, commitment, market knowledge, innovation and inspiring and motivating their team.

This category is open to any business that has developed a fully integrated, dynamic and innovative communication strategy.

Judges are looking for the best communication strategy and implementation including communication design, range, techniques and channels, both offline and online as well as effective implementation. Communication can be with staff, customers, partners, suppliers and new markets to promote effective communication of the business, services and/or products.

Communication channels can mean website, video, mobile, games, social media, advertising, email, printed material etc and should be able to be monitored and measured to ensure effectiveness.

This category will celebrate and recognise the achievements of established family owned businesses across all industry sectors that have successfully blended strong business acumen and family engagement.

The applicants will be judged on distinctive business practices which have helped the business prosper and grow alongside the family commitment to smooth succession planning.

This category celebrates and rewards businesses who have, over the last year, committed to putting in place policies and practices to improve the Fair and Healthy Workplace of their employees and through doing so, have realised direct improvements to the performance and productivity of their business.

Many large and small companies recognise that their success can depend on encouraging a healthy workforce.

The Glasgow Business Award for Fair and Healthy Workplace is an opportunity for employers to show their commitment to the Fair and Healthy Workplace of their workforce through the application of such practices and policies in their organisation.

This award aims to recognise individuals or teams who are driving the development of green initiatives in the workplace, charities, community initiatives and other organisations.

This individual or team will be championing innovative practices and products which promote and drive forward environmental performance.

Award winners may be self-nominated or nominated by another party.

Entrants should provide evidence of at least one of the following:

• Innovation: new and innovative ways of driving forward environmentally friendly practices, procedures or products.
• Impact: providing evidence of achievements in reducing adverse environmental impact.

This category is looking for innovative initiatives that demonstrate the circular economy in action and which bring organisations closer to future proofing their business models.

The circular economy is where we continue to keep the value of the project or service, by making things last. This helps conserve finite resources, supports jobs and improves the quality of life.

This category is open to all businesses that have successfully developed innovative products, technologies or services; adapted an existing one for new markets, or have developed innovative business processes, models or ways of doing business around the circle economy.

Entrants will show a high degree of creativity and dynamism and will be exploring ways to exploit their innovation to its fullest potential. They must be able to clearly demonstrate the adoption of circular economy* business principles, that there was a demand for the innovation and that it has proved successful in line with the objectives set.

The judges will be looking for evidence of:

• Creation of a new innovative product, process or service, or a new way of working or adaption of an existing development within the last three years.
• Clear written description of the development (layman’s terms as far as possible) and its background, including any details of protection obtained.
• Clear adoption of circular business principles to drive forward the innovation and development.
• Commercial relevance of the development and actual or projected commercial success, demonstrating how this initiative has helped future proof the business.

This category is open to any organisation irrespective of size or industry sector. A successful entrant will be able to demonstrate that they have implemented programmes and initiatives that have created sustainable employment for young people which has positively impacted on their business.

Business should be able to demonstrate some or all of the following:

• Innovation: new and original ways of showcasing the world of work to young people. This may include innovative partnerships with schools and colleges or a creative approach to work placements that influence the decisions young people make about their future careers and may have been employed by the company as a result.
• Workforce Development: a commitment to providing training, mentoring and apprenticeships that offer young people employment or develop an existing workforce.
• Sustainability: Entrants should be able to provide details of their long-term commitment to employing young people and can include policies or accreditations to support this pledge.

This category is for businesses that can demonstrate carbon neutral practices that are aligned to help achieve, or are on track to realise, the ambitious net zero emissions target of 2030 for Glasgow as set by Glasgow City Council - 15 years before the Scottish Government’s official aim of 2045.

This category is open to all businesses that have, or are successfully innovating and pivoting to develop either technologies, services, products, internal operations or existing systems that serve to support in meeting the net zero goal for the City.

Businesses applying for this category will be able to showcase solutions that have been actively implemented, or that are currently underway which will help drive the objective of net-zero emissions of all greenhouse gases.

We will be looking for entrants who will be able to exhibit and provide examples of how they have put creativity, innovation and inclusivity at the fore when approaching their net zero targets.

This category is open to any organisation, irrespective of size or industry sector. A successful entrant will be able to demonstrate that they are actively improving and adding value to their business through sustainable practices. Judges will be looking for evidence of efficiency savings in both internal operations and with product and/or service delivery/development. Entrants should provide evidence in at least one of the following:

• Resource efficiency: measurable improvements in reducing consumption and improving efficiency in resource use (eg reducing energy, water and waste); use of sustainable materials
• Energy: achievements in reducing carbon emissions by promoting energy efficiency and renewable energy
• Innovation: new and innovative ways of improving corporate sustainability in business activity and products

a successful career progression and be able to clearly demonstrate business expertise with leadership and management prowess.

You will also be able to provide a well-defined and innovative vision for future plans.

This category recognises businesses that have excelled in integrating digital technology into their operations, products, or services.

The award recognises companies that have used technology not just as a tool, but as a catalyst for innovation, efficiency, and growth.

It celebrates those who have pushed the boundaries of what is possible, leveraging digital solutions to enhance customer experience, streamline processes, and gain a competitive edge.

A registration exists under this email address :

If this was not you or someone related to your company please contact us on 0141 204 2121

Otherwise change the entered email address or