The Awards process

Stage 1: Nominations

Nominations are open Monday 5 September and we will be encouraging nominations from across the country. We want to hear about businesses that go the extra mile, who support their local economy and about people who are the unsung heroes in their community. The more we know about the business the more it helps us when it comes to drawing up our regional finalists. Nominations close Sunday 13 November.

Stage 2: Regional finalists

Once we close to nominations, we will read every nomination and draw up our regional finalists based on the information we have received from the loyal customers.

Regional finalists will be announced Monday 21 November.

Stage 3: Vote for your regional winner

Once we have announced our regional finalists, we will be going back out to the public who will vote for their favourite rural businesses. Online voting will be open till Friday 9 December.

Stage 4: Regional winners

We will announce regional champions in December.

Those businesses who win the public vote will go forward to national finals where they will be asked to complete a questionnaire about their business which must be returned to us by 12 January if they want to go through to the champions stage of judging. Once we have received all the questionnaires, we will arrange a site visit. Site or online visits will take place in January and February and we will arrange a date that is mutually convenient.

Regional Champions just have to enjoy their title now and the hard work starts for the judges who write up briefs for our national judges who meet to decide our National Champions.

Stage 5: Champions' Reception - Wednesday 17 May

Champions' Reception will be held on Wednesday 17th May 2023 at the House of Lords.