The Awards process

Stage 1 - Nominations

Nominations open Monday 11 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 will close on Sunday 12 November.

Stage 2 – Regional finalists

Once we close to nominations, we will read every one of them and draw up our list of Regional Finalists based on the information we have received from their loyal customers. Regional Finalists will be announced in early December.

Stage 3 – Vote for your regional finalist

Once we have announced our regional finalists, we will go back out to the public, asking you to vote for your favourite rural businesses. Online voting will open in January 2024.

Stage 4 – Regional winners

We will announce our Regional Champions in February 2024. Scotland, Ireland and Wales will hold Champions Receptions’ in February and March.

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

After this, our Regional Champions just have to enjoy their title! The hard work will now begin for the judges (who write up briefs for our national judges), who meet to decide our National Champions.

Stage 5 – Champions’ Reception – June 2024