unLTD launch Small Business Awards

After two years collaborating with the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce on the Sheffield Business Awards, we have decided to launch our own awards to be held in Sheffield, later this year.

unLTD AWards

The very first unLTD Business Awards will be held at Peddler Warehouse on November 30, 2023 and will be a celebration of South Yorkshire’s SMEs, Start Ups and Entrepreneurs.

Each year the awards will move across the region to ensure all parts of South Yorkshire are fully represented, while the awards have been designed to be easy to enter to encourage time-poor businesses to take part.

“We want all SMEs, small businesses and entrepreneurs from across South Yorkshire to feel like they are represented by our awards and stand a chance of winning,” says unLTD owner Phil Turner. “We have designed the entry and judging processes to be as straightforward as possible to encourage small business owners and managers with often little spare time to be able to take part. We really want all types of businesses from right across the region to be involved and celebrate each other’s successes. The only caveat is that you must be an SME or smaller.”

There are 21 awards in all, with most categories bracketed by industry – the idea being that recruiters compete against other recruiters and accountants against other accountants etc. With overall awards for Best Entrepreneur, Best Micro, Small and Medium Business all included, as well as an overall winner, there is hopefully, just about something for everyone.

Phil said : “It has been a pleasure to collaborate with Sheffield Chamber of Commerce over these past two years and to develop the Sheffield Business Awards – despite the difficult times in which we were organising events.

“Now, however, a wonderful opportunity has opened to allow us to celebrate so much more in the region. Alongside the Exposed Awards, run by our sister magazine and aimed at the hospitality industry, we see a space to celebrate those small and medium businesses that drive so much of the region’s economy. With our new award ceremony, that’s exactly what we are excited to champion.”

In the meantime, we are looking for sponsors and commercial partners who would like to showcase their brand using the awards as a platform. The likes of Bag It Don’t Bin It, Simoda, Chapter II, Sevenhills Creative as well as See It Be It, a department of Sheffield Council which aims to inspire the next generation by linking up schools and colleges with local employers to provide meaningful workplace experiences, are all already signed up to sponsor the event.

Entries will open on 4 September, with judges then meeting in October to agree a shortlist ahead of the ceremony celebrating all winners at the end of November.

For more information on how to enter, sponsor or attend the unLTD Business Awards, keep a close tab on the unLTD website and social media.

What are the categories?

Best Nightlife or Hospitality Business
Best Independent Retailer
Property and Construction Company of the Year
Best Business Support or Consultancy
Creative Business of the Year
Manufacturing Company of the Year
Best Recruitment or HR Business
Best Technology Business
Finance and Accountancy Company of the Year
Legal Company of the Year
Best Not For Profit, Charity or Social Enterprise
Best Business Start Up
Best Micro Business (less than 10 employees and under £2 million)
Best Small Business (less than 50 employees and an annual turnover under £10 million)
Best Medium-sized Business (less than 250 employees and an annual turnover under £50 million).
See It Be It Award for Inspiring The Future
Entrepreneur of the Year
Best Company Culture
Sustainable Business of the Year
Business of the Year (chosen by main sponsor)