This award is open to all hospitality businesses that are committed to offering the highest levels of customer care to each and every customer and who can demonstrate excellence in their customer service. CRITERIA: Entrants must be in the hospitality sector which can include, pubs, bars, hotels, restaurants, coffee shops.

This category is specifically for those independently owned retail stores. Not a franchise and there will be less than three stores in Belfast. CRITERIA: Entrants must be able to provide information on how they go the extra mile for their customers and how they deliver excellent customer service which ensures return visits and repeat business.

This category will recognise those businesses that are reaching out beyond their day-to-day business activities to make a positive impact to the community in Belfast.  The Contribution to the Community Award is open to companies which have run either one-off projects or long-term, ongoing initiatives aimed at engaging business with the local community and bringing about great social benefit.

Criteria: Judges will be looking for demonstrable, positive outcomes which show how a company's CSR activities have delivered clear, tangible and lasting benefits.

This category is open to all businesses that provide a professional business service in Belfast. This could be, banking, legal, accountancy, HR, recruitment, PR, communications, training providers, strategic advice etc. CRITERIA: Entrants must be able to explain what their professional business service is and demonstrate their commitment to customer service excellence within their particular service provided.

Open to all businesses that have been founded or are new to Belfast since 1^st November 2021.

CRITERIA: Entrants will be asked to explain their business and to demonstrate how they have translated a great idea into a viable and successful business venture. They will also be asked to explain their plans for the future.

This award will recognise Belfast’s most dynamic and inspiring successful social enterprise. If your organisation strives for business excellence, contributes to society by bringing about economic, technological, social or environmental changes, then this category is for you.

CRITERIA: Entrants must be able to clearly demonstrate how their social enterprise makes a positive impact on a community or the environment in which they operate.

This category is open to all family owned and run businesses in Belfast.

CRITERIA: Your business must be managed by family members and you must be able to demonstrate the involvement of at least two generations of family members who are currently working in the business.

Open to all businesses which, since 1^st November 2021, can demonstrate growth in a challenging business environment. This may be new markets, products or services.

CRITERIA: Entrants must be able to explain how the growth of the business has impacted on it, be that with new staff, increased turnover or other. You will need to provide facts and figures as part of the answers to the online questions.

This award seeks to find those businesses which provide an excellent, supportive, inclusive, secure and nurturing environment for their employees.

CRITERIA: Entrants will be asked to explain their HR policies and the benefits, support structure and other incentives that they provide for their key asset, their employees.

Open to all businesses who have delivered a unique marketing initiative which successfully promotes their businesses and impacts on turnover, growth and footfall. CRITERIA: Entrants must be able to explain the marketing concept, actions taken and provide examples of its results.

This award will seek to reward a business premises’ design that is fit for purpose, exhibits all-round design and layout excellence and suits the needs and requirements of both staff and customers.

CRITERIA: Entrants will need to explain the ethos behind the design and functionality of the premises, interpret the innovation of design, use of materials and colours. Shortlisted finalists will be visited by appointment to look at further aspects of the premises.

Open to Belfast’s young entrepreneurs (35 years or under on 31st March 2023) who will have achieved commercial success in building their business or, who hold a strategic and influential position within an existing company.

CRITERIA: Entrants must be able to demonstrate their business prowess and give examples of their successes to date and future plans.

Open to an individual within a Belfast business. The person will have played a significant role in the development and success of the business.  They may also be influential or involved in the wider community or with civic duties. They may or may not be the owner of a business.

CRITERIA: Entrants should be able to demonstrate how the nominee has made a contribution to the wider business community. The winner will demonstrate energy, ambition, skill and vision.

This is a business that exists purely in the digital marketplace, either as an online business or the provision and support of online and digital services to other businesses.

CRITERIA: The business must be able to explain its position within the digital market and provide a clear description of it services and how this translates to a successful and sustainable business in Belfast.

Entrants will be asked to select if they are entering (i) Eatery or (ii) Coffee Shop and can only enter one option.

CRITERIA: Entrants must be able to demonstrate how they support local producers, provide excellent and consistent customer service, provide innovative offerings in the food and beverage market and display excellent levels of house-keeping. Short-listed finalists will undergo thorough mystery visits over a number of weeks.

A creative business in Belfast might be a design house, radio / television, production etc. or you might be an artist, make-up, props for the film industry, fashion designer, music studio or something else entirely!

CRITERIA: Your business must be able to demonstrate how it is ‘Creative’ and explain the impact and benefits to its clients and customers.

Open to an individual within a business who is not the boss. Someone who plays an integral part and contributes to the success of the business; that valued employee who you can’t do without.

CRITERIA: This must be an individual and they will not be the business owner. Entrants need to explain who this person is and succinctly communicate their contribution to business. Short-listed finalists will be interviewed by a panel of experts who will want to meet the individual face-to face.

Our capital city now boasts a wonderful selection of hotels to suit all tastes and budgets. Welcoming the local shopper, business person, corporate client or international tourist, we have some of the best hotels in Ireland along with first-class customer service. If you are one of these hotels then this is your opportunity to tell us about your establishment, your excellent team and your Belfast uniqueness. CRITERIA: You must be a Belfast based hotel providing an overnight accommodation service with a minimum food offering of breakfast and a bar facility. Short-listed finalists will be extensively mystery-shopped and this will include an overnight stay.

This award is open to all business that go the extra mile to make their products and services dementia-friendly. Becoming  dementia-friendly isn’t just good for people living with dementia, it’s good for their family and friends, and its good for your business.

CRITERIA: Entrants must be able to demonstrate how they provide a welcoming environment and good customer care for people living with dementia and their carers

This category will identify those technology-based businesses located in Belfast who show innovation and entrepreneurship. We want to hear from engineers, researchers, developers and those working in the knowledge-economy.

CRITERIA: Your business must be based around technology and you should be able to provide succinct answers to entry questions and demonstrate the impact your technology business has had to date on your team and clients.

Has your business embraced all things ‘green’ and made changes that directly impact on the environment, your business, staff and customers?

CRITERIA: We want to find out about those businesses who are leading the way with their environmental procedures and decisions. Are you taking a stand on sustainability? Then we want to hear from you.

This prestigious award is in recognition of the outstanding contribution of an individual to the Belfast business community and will be announced on the night. Nominations should be made via a letter of recommendation to the executive committee of Belfast Chamber of Trade and Commerce.