Competitions
Competitions and awards can be a good way to raise the profile of your business and the process of entering can teach you a lot about your own business. This page details some of the competitions and awards run in the South West.
Cornwall Business Awards
The Cornwall Business Awards are held every May during Cornwall Business Week and are staged by Cornwall Development Company. There are 16 categories and they are free to enter.
Cornwall Life Food and Drink Awards
The annual Cornwall Life Food & Drink Awards give recognition to producers, growers, suppliers and hospitality venues around the region. There are 10 categories and the awards are presented in November.
Cornwall Tourism Awards
The Cornwall Tourism Awards are held every November by VisitCornwall and celebrate the quality of the tourism offering in Cornwall and Isles of Scilly across 16 categories.
Express & Echo Business Awards
These annual awards are staged by the Exeter Express & Echo newspaper and celebrate business success in the city across 12 categories. The awards are usually held in April.
Ignite
Ignite is an annual business planning competition aimed at entrepreneurs in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly. It boats a prize fund valued at £100,000 in cash and kind, making it one of the biggest competitions of its kind in Europe. The winner is announced in October.
Michelmores & Western Morning News Commercial Property Awards
These long established annual awards showcase the very best of the region's commercial property projects, buildings and people in seven categories, and are usually awarded in June.
Plymouth Herald Business Awards
The annual Plymouth Herald Business Awards celebrate business success in 13 categories across the city and are usually held in April. For more details please click here.
RegenSW awards
The SW Green Energy Awards celebrate the increasing importance of renewable energy in the South West in six categories, and culminate with an awards ceremony in November. They are organised by Regen SW.
These annual awards are organised by the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and there are 10 categories. Awards are presented in November.
South Devon Business Excellence Awards
These awards are staged by the Herald Express newspaper and span nine categories. The awards ceremony is usually in February.
South West Business Insider Awards
South West Business Insider magazine stages a number of annual awards in the region. They include the South West Property Awards, Made in the South West Awards and the South West Dealmakers Awards.
Technology for Good Awards
The Technology4Good Awards celebrate the hard work of people of all ages who use the power of computers and the internet to make the world a better place. They were created by AbilityNet, working with BT and a range of commercial and not for profit partners and sponsors. There are several awards available. Nominations close 5pm, Friday 3 May 2013.
Tectona
Tectona is Plymouth University's business challenge open to all staff and students. If you are a budding entrepreneur and a student or staff member at Plymouth University, Plymouth University partner institution of the Combined Universities in Cornwall* and would like to progress your idea to business formation, then enter the competition to access the support you need.
Western Morning News Business Awards
The annual Western Morning News Business Awards span 14 categories and are presented in November during Global Entrepreneurship Week.
* Eligible partner institutions for Plymouth University's Tectona business competition include: Bicton College, Bridgwater College, City College Plymouth, City of Bristol College, Cornwall College (including Duchy College), Petroc, Tor Bridge High, Exeter College, Highlands College, All Saints Church of England Academy, Somerset College, South Devon College, Strode College, Treviglas Community College, Truro and Penwith College, Weymouth College, HMS Drake and BRNC University of Plymouth, University of Exeter in Cornwall, University College Falmouth, Cornwall College, Open University (Cornwall based staff/students)
