@O2BusinessUK and @SmartaHQ kick off the search for Britain’s 100 best small businesses
O2 are proud to partner the Smarta 100 awards as the search for the UK’s 100 most original, innovative and disruptive small businesses gets underway. With applications now open and a top prize of £10,000, it’s every small businesses chance to prove they’re one of Britain’s top 100.
New Dragons’ Den star Piers Linney joins other successful entrepreneurs Holly Tucker, founder of NotOnTheHighStreet.com, PR guru Lynne Franks, King of Shaves boss Will King and Tom Cohn, the founder of last year’s winners, onesie pioneers Kigu, in the hunt for the next big businesses of tomorrow.
Now in its fourth year, the Smarta 100 Awards seeks to unearth small businesses that have made huge achievements through profits, customer satisfaction, social impact and innovation.
The 100 companies, chosen by Smarta, will be divided into 10 categories (listed below) to ensure the awards represent a true cross-section of UK small business. Then the public will vote for the winner of each category, with each of those 10 brilliant businesses winning £1,000.
Finally, the esteemed judging panel will select the overall winning ‘Smarta 100 together with O2 Business of the Year’.
Ben Dowd, Business Director O2 UK, said:
“O2 are really looking forward to sponsoring the Smarta 100 awards this year. Personally I’m looking for the digital disruption that is out there in the start-up market world. We can learn from these businesses that are taking risks to upset the status quo and challenge the way things are done.”
With an alumni that includes Naked Wines, Huddle, Funding Circle, Graze, Zoopla, Crowdcube and SuperJam to name but a few of Britain’s hottest up and coming brands, the challenge is now on to find this year’s emerging businesses.
The Smarta 100 together for O2 opens for entries on Monday 10th June. Businesses have until September 1st to apply at: www.smarta.com/smarta100
This year’s winning 100 will be announced on October 1st. The voting and judging stages will then commence to determine the category winners and overall Smarta 100 Business of the Year, to be announced at an awards ceremony in mid-November.
Smarta 100 together with O2 Awards categories:
Most Innovate Business
Best Use of Technology
Best Use of Marketing
People Business of the Year
Female-run Business of the Year
Micro Business of the Year (fewer than five employees)
Biggest Social Impact Award
Mobile Business of the Year
Startup of the Year (one year old or younger)
Made In Britain
Manufacturing Business of the Year
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