Nominations for the 2026 awards are under way, with Business Power Awards organisers looking beyond the biggest companies to recognise family firms, start-ups, professionals and businesses rooted in their communities
For every business success story that attracts attention, there are many more that develop largely out of sight. They are the family firms that have traded through changing high streets and difficult economic cycles, entrepreneurs who began with little more than an idea, and small businesses whose contribution is measured not only in turnover, but in the jobs and opportunities they create.
The awards return with the Gala Dinner on 25th November in Bradford, bringing together businesses and professionals from across the region at a time when smaller firms continue to navigate rising costs, changing consumer habits and an increasingly competitive trading environment.
NOMINATE NOW: Visit businesspowerawards.co.uk – closing Date 11th October 2026.
While large companies tend to dominate business headlines, much of Britain’s economy is built around smaller enterprises, independent operators and family-owned firms.
Their stories can be less visible, and the Business Power Awards were established to give greater visibility to those different forms of achievement.
Business Power Awards CEO Nadim Hanif said: “Across the UK there are incredible businesses and individuals achieving remarkable things, but many simply don’t shout about what they do.
“The Business Power Awards are about finding those stories, putting them in the spotlight and recognising the hard work and determination it takes to build something successful.
“You don’t have to run a huge company or have a household name. If somebody is doing something exceptional, we want to hear about them.”
Recognition beyond the balance sheet
Commercial performance remains important, but businesses are increasingly judged by their impact beyond their balance sheets – whether through employment, training, community investment or the way they respond to social needs.
Not every potential nominee will necessarily regard themselves as an obvious awards candidate.
That is partly why nominations are open beyond businesses themselves. Entrepreneurs and organisations can put themselves forward, while employees, customers, colleagues, friends and members of the public can nominate businesses or individuals whose work they believe merits recognition.
It creates the possibility of uncovering achievements that might otherwise remain within a company, profession or local community.
NOMINATE: 16 Categories of Excellence
- Entrepreneur of the Year Start Up of the Year – for businesses under two years old
- SME of the Year Restaurant of the Year
- Fashion Retailer of the Year
- Family Business of the Year
- Brand of the Year
- Beauty & Aesthetics Business of the Year
- Retail Business of the Year
- Social Enterprise of the Year
- Accountancy Firm of the Year
- Law Firm of the Year
- Professional of the Year
- CEO of the Year
- Special Recognition Lifetime Achievement
Nominations can be submitted at businesspowerawards.co.uk/nominate. Deadline for entires 11th October 2026. Business Power Awards Night & Gala Dinner will be held at Cedar Court Hotel, Bradford, on Wednesday 25th November 2026.
About the Business Power Awards
The Business Power Awards are an extension of the community and business storytelling that has been at the heart of Asian Express for more than 26 years.
‘Business Power’ has long existed as a dedicated supplement within the newspaper, documenting the entrepreneurs, family businesses, professionals and emerging enterprises contributing to UK’S economic and community life.
For founders Nadim and Andleeb Hanif, taking ‘Business Power’ from the pages of Asian Express to a live awards platform was a natural progression.
The concept was brought to life as Asian Express marked its 25th anniversary last year – transforming more than two decades of business storytelling and recognition into an awards platform that could celebrate those achievements on a larger stage.
Today, the Business Power Awards, and the BPA Empowering Women Awards continue that editorial legacy, recognising enterprise, leadership, innovation and impact while giving greater visibility to the people and businesses helping shape the region’s economic landscape.
