Categories

Best BID Independent Business of the Year
  • This award recognises an outstanding independent business operating within the Newport Now Business Improvement District (BID) area.
  • The judges are looking for independent businesses that have made a significant contribution to the vibrancy of Newport city centre. They will be looking for evidence of strong performance, innovation, and a commitment to the local community, as well as alignment with the aims of the BID in making the city centre a better place to work, visit and live.
Creative & Digital Business of the Year
  • This award recognises outstanding businesses in Newport operating within the highly influential creative and digital sectors.
  • The judges want to see the creative and digital companies that have demonstrated impressive growth and strong financial performance, driven by innovation, creativity, and a commitment to delivering exceptional customer engagement and a clear strategic vision for long-term success.
Employer of the Year
  • This award will recognise those businesses in Newport that continuously invest in their employees for sustainable growth and development. They must also pay at least the real Living Wage to all employees aged over 18.
  • The judges are looking for evidence of staff development, employee voice, retention and recruitment; career development and training for employees; commitment to diversity; payment of the real Living Wage and the embedding of a learning culture.
Entrepreneur of the Year
  • This award will recognise those individuals who have shown the desire to succeed with their own ideas and have had the ambition to turn those ideas into a successful business.
  • The judges will be looking for an outstanding individual who can best demonstrate exceptional vision and leadership and personality in the development of their own business.
Family Business of the Year
  • This award will recognise and celebrate the major role that family businesses have made to Newport over the years.
  • The judges are looking for family businesses that can demonstrate sustainable growth, a clear vision for continuing long-term success and a contribution to the local economy.
Financial & Professional Service Business of the Year
  • This award is open to any business operating in the financial and professional services sector.
  • The judges are looking for companies that have achieved growth and strong financial performance through innovation, exceptional customer experience and are focused on future business success.
Green Business of the Year
  • This award recognises those businesses for whom sustainability is at the core of their activities or whose products, processes or practices have resulted in significant environmental improvement.
  • The judges are looking for businesses that have developed an environmental product, process or service or have built sustainability into the strategic operations of the business, either of which has resulted directly in increased profitability.
Innovation & Technology Business of the Year
  • Recognising those businesses that have achieved growth through innovation driven entrepreneurship.
  • For this category, innovation is broadly defined and could include technology, product or process innovation.
International Business of the Year
  • This award is open to any Newport business that is trading overseas.
  • The judges are looking for evidence of a detailed internationalisation strategy, growth in overseas markets and a commitment to improving export performance.
Leisure & Hospitality Business of the Year
  • This award is open to any business based in the Leisure and hospitality sector in Newport.
  • The judges will be looking for businesses that demonstrate exceptional commitment to provide an outstanding experience for visitors, tourists and business travellers.
Newport Community Award
  • The Newport Community award recognises those businesses within Newport that have made a real difference to their local community.
  • The judges are looking for examples of making a difference; by volunteering, by overcoming adversity, by raising awareness of a particular issue, or by organising an event that has improved the quality of life for the residents in the community.
Manufacturing Business of the Year
  • This award is open to any Newport based company in the manufacturing and engineering sector.
  • The judges are looking for businesses that are using cutting edge manufacturing techniques to create new high-quality products.
Retail Business of the Year
  • This award is open to any retail business either online or physical retail.This award is open to any retail business either online or physical retail
  • The judges will be looking for businesses that demonstrate retail excellence. Businesses will have achieved growth and strong financial performance through innovation, exceptional customer experience and are focused on future business success.
SME of the Year
  • This award is open to all organisations with less than 250 staff and a turnover less than €50million.
  • The judges are looking for those SMEs demonstrating significant growth or expansion, innovation in products, services or processes, exceptional customer engagement, effective leadership and management and strong financial results.
Start Up Business of the Year
  • The start-up award aims to celebrate and support Newport’s newest businesses. Entrants to this award must be independent and have been trading for up-to a maximum period of three years on 19th March 2026.
  • The judges will be looking for real passion, a strong plan, an innovative product or service and exceptional forecasts for further growth.
Third Sector Business of the Year
  • Calling all charities, not-for-profit organisations, campaigners and volunteer groups - here is your chance to showcase your work and achievements.
  • The judges want to hear from large and small charities, hospices, third sector organisations and non-profits that are helping those in need, bringing about real social change or raising awareness and campaigning on key issues.
Young Business Person of the Year
  • This award is made to individuals under the age of 30 on 19th March 2026 who are involved in business. These include young entrepreneurs that are building their own venture or those employees who have had an outstanding impact in contributing to the successes of a larger organisation.
  • The judges are looking for individuals who demonstrate ambition, energy, skill and vision, as well as tangible business success. Applicants should have raised the profile of their organisation, developed and implemented plans that have achieved growth, and who have exceeded customer expectations.

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