Even though you know you and are your team are deserving of recognition, entering business awards can still feel a bit daunting.
Many organisations hesitate to submit a nomination because they think they’re not “big enough”, haven’t been operating long enough, or simply don’t know where to start. The reality is that the St.Helens Borough Business Awards 2026 are designed to celebrate businesses of all sizes and stages, and taking the time to enter can bring significant benefits, whether you win or not.
A well-written award nomination is your opportunity to showcase your achievements, tell your story, and demonstrate the positive impact your business is making. With the right approach, you can significantly improve your chances of being shortlisted and standing out from the competition.
Why Enter Business Awards?
Before diving into the nomination process, it’s worth considering why entering awards is such a valuable investment of time.
Raise Your Profile
Awards provide excellent exposure for your business. Being shortlisted or winning can generate publicity, increase brand awareness and help you reach new customers, partners and stakeholders.
Boost Credibility
An award nomination demonstrates that your business is confident enough to put its achievements under external scrutiny. A shortlist or win acts as an independent endorsement of the quality of your products, services or business practices.
Celebrate Your Team
Awards aren’t just about businesses, they’re about people. Entering gives you the opportunity to recognise the hard work, dedication and achievements of your employees. A nomination can be a powerful morale booster and help strengthen team pride.
Reflect on Your Success
Many businesses are so focused on the day-to-day running of operations that they rarely stop to reflect on how far they’ve come. Completing an award entry encourages you to review your progress, achievements and impact over the past year.
Gain a Competitive Edge
A shortlist or award win can help differentiate your business from competitors, providing valuable marketing content and helping to build trust with customers and potential clients.
Top Tips for Writing a Winning Award Nomination
- Read the Criteria Carefully
This might sound obvious, but one of the most common mistakes is failing to answer the question being asked.
Before you start writing, carefully review the category criteria and identify exactly what the judges are looking for. Highlight key themes and ensure your responses directly address each point.
Remember, judges can only score you on the information you provide. Don’t assume they know your business or will fill in the gaps.
- Tell a Story
Facts and figures are important, but a compelling story can make your nomination memorable.
Think about the journey behind your achievements. What challenges did you overcome? What motivated your actions? What difference have you made?
A clear narrative helps judges understand not only what you’ve achieved, but why it matters.
- Use Evidence to Back Up Your Claims
It’s easy to say your business is innovative, successful or customer-focused. The strongest nominations prove it.
Where possible, include:
- Percentage growth figures
- Customer satisfaction scores
- Revenue increases
- Environmental savings
- Staff retention rates
- Community impact statistics
- Testimonials and feedback
Evidence gives credibility to your claims and helps judges assess your achievements objectively.
- Be Specific
Avoid vague statements such as “we provide excellent service” or “our customers love us” and use specific examples that are far more persuasive than general comments.
Provide evidence that demonstrates your success like this one: “Customer satisfaction increased from 89% to 97% following the introduction of our new support programme.”
- Showcase Impact
Judges want to understand the difference your actions have made. Don’t just explain what you did, explain the outcome. Show not tell!
Consider the impact on:
- Customers
- Employees
- The local community
- The environment
- Industry standards
- Business performance
Demonstrating meaningful impact is often what separates good entries from award-winning ones.
- Keep It Clear and Concise
A strong nomination doesn’t need complicated language.
Write clearly, avoid jargon where possible and make it easy for judges to find the information they need.
Use headings, bullet points and short paragraphs to improve readability.
Remember, judges may be reviewing dozens of entries. A clear, well-structured submission will always stand out.
- Include Supporting Evidence
If the nomination process allows supporting documents, use them wisely.
Relevant evidence might include:
- Customer testimonials
- Case studies
- Press coverage
- Performance data
- Photographs
- Accreditations or certifications
Choose evidence that strengthens your key messages rather than overwhelming judges with unnecessary information.
- Start Early
Strong award entries rarely happen at the last minute.
Give yourself enough time to gather evidence, collect data, seek testimonials and review your responses. Starting early also allows colleagues to provide feedback and spot any gaps before submission.
- Don’t Be Modest
Many businesses undersell themselves when writing nominations.
This is not the time to be shy about your achievements. Be confident, celebrate your successes and clearly explain why your business deserves recognition by providing the judges with the information they need to assess your entry fairly.
- Proofread Before You Submit
Spelling mistakes, missing information and rushed responses can undermine an otherwise excellent nomination.
Before submitting:
- Check all questions have been answered
- Verify any statistics and figures
- Correct spelling and grammar errors
- Ask someone else to review the entry
A fresh pair of eyes can often identify improvements you may have missed.
Final Thoughts
Submitting an award nomination is about much more than winning a trophy. It’s an opportunity to showcase your achievements, recognise your team’s hard work and highlight the positive impact your business is making.
The strongest nominations combine clear evidence, compelling storytelling and a direct response to the judging criteria. By taking the time to plan your entry and present your achievements effectively, you’ll give yourself the best possible chance of progressing to the shortlist, and perhaps even hearing your name called out as the winner.
Celebrate your success, tell your story, and put your business forward today!