2024 Entrepreneurial Awards

Get ready to raise your glass to the entrepreneurs who are rewriting the rules — the trailblazers, pioneers and innovators of the North East.

Since 2004, our Entrepreneurial Awards have recognised, celebrated and illuminated the North East's best business talent with finalists representing every stage of the business lifecycle from one to watch to lifetime achievement.

Now in our 20th year, we have introduced five new award categories to recognise the entrepreneurs in our region that are admired by their peers.

The winners will be announced at our celebratory gala dinner on Friday 27th September which is open to everyone in the North East business community. It's an evening packed with celebration, leaving you with memories as unforgettable as the North East's entrepreneurial spirit itself!

Categories

One to Watch

An entrepreneur who is building a new business with the potential to positively impact our region.

Impact

An entrepreneur behind a resilient and inclusive business which is making a sustained contribution to making the North East a better place.

Scale-up

An entrepreneur behind a high growth business which is having a positive economic impact on our region, and has the potential to continue to benefit the North East.

Champion

An entrepreneur who is a role model for entrepreneurship in our region.

Entrepreneur of the Year

Our judges will select one of the above four winners to win the overall title of 'Entrepreneur of the Year'. This will focus on performance in the past 12 months alone.

Lifetime Achievement

A business leader who has shown huge commitment over a significant period of time and made a major impact to the regional economy.

View individual award criteria.

How to Apply for an Award

You can apply directly by following the guidance below. We would love to see lots of applications so please encourage the entrepreneurs you admire to apply.

In addition, everyone who is nominated will be asked to submit an application following this guidance.

1. All applications should be submitted by email to info@entrepreneursforum.net by 5pm on Friday 24^th May 2024.
2. Applications can be submitted on behalf of the nominated entrepreneur but they must have the entrepreneurs’ approval.
3. Applications must include all of the required information for their relevant category (please see our award criteria page for more information).
4. We will accept written (no more than 400 words), video or graphical entries – you decide. Files over 10MB should be submitted by WeTransfer.
5. All information will be treated as confidential but will be shared with the judges for the purposes of judging.
6. There is no cost to apply.

Terms and Conditions

1. Entrants do not need to be Entrepreneurs' Forum members but they must meet the award eligibility criteria.
2. All entries will be reviewed by our judging panels which comprise leading North East entrepreneurs and representatives from our corporate partners. By entering you are not guaranteed to be shortlisted and the judges decision on who to shortlist is final.
3. Entrepreneurs which are shortlisted will be invited to an interview with the judging panel.
4. The winners will be announced at our gala dinner to be held at the Hilton Newcastle Gateshead on the evening of Friday 27^th September 2024.
5. Each shortlisted finalist will be given one complimentary ticket to attend the dinner on Friday 27^th September 2024.  Additional tickets may be purchased.
6. The judges decision is final.