The Inspirational Individual - Businessperson of the Year 2026
Interested in sponsoring this award? Get in touch - [email protected] or call 024 7665 4321
The Inspirational Individual - Businessperson of the Year Award recognises an exceptional business leader who has demonstrated vision, resilience, and innovation while making a significant impact on their organisation and the wider Coventry & Warwickshire business community.
We are looking for an individual who not only drives commercial and business success but also inspires others through their leadership, values, and commitment to excellence.
Whether a founder, entrepreneur, or senior leader, this award celebrates those who set the standard for business achievement and inspire the next generation.
The honoured individual serves as a role model, inspiring others through their actions, values, and contributions.
Judge's Criteria
- Leadership: Demonstration of strong leadership qualities, including the ability to motivate, inspire, and guide others toward a common goal or vision.
- Positive Impact: A measurable and significant impact on their community, organisation, or industry, positively affecting the lives of others or advancing important causes.
- Overcoming Challenges: Evidence of personal resilience in overcoming obstacles or challenges while maintaining a positive and inspiring attitude.
- Commitment to Service: Dedication to working with others, advocating for change, or championing a cause that creates meaningful improvements in their business, sector or wider society.
- Inspiring Others: Demonstrated ability to inspire, mentor, or empower others, leaving a lasting influence through their actions and leadership.
This award seeks to recognise and celebrate an individual whose dedication, actions, and leadership have inspired those around them, setting an example of what can be achieved through passion, determination, and a commitment to making a difference.
NOMINATE NOW
CLICK HERE TO NOMINATE FOR THE BUSINESSPERSON OF THE YEAR CATEGORY
Important Information about your entry:
- Entries open at 12.00pm on Friday 19th September 2025
- Entries close at 12.00pm on Friday 28th November 2025. Submissions received after this time will not be put forward for judging.
- If the person you are nominating is successfully shortlisted as a finalist in this award category, our Judges will meet with them on Thursday 5th February 2026 for approx. 45 minutes.
What information will you need to complete your entry:
- Company Information - company name, registered address, registered company number
- Social Media handles
- A short description, max. 50 words, of your company or organisation
- A 150-word summary of why you feel you should win this award
- A 1000 word written entry in support of your award entry
Terms and Conditions of Entering the 2026 Awards
Coventry & Warwickshire Business and Community Awards 2026
Terms and Conditions of Entry to the Coventry & Warwickshire Business and Community Awards 2026
- The closing date for entries is 12.00pm on Friday 28th November 2025. Entries received after this time will not be considered for judging and will not be entered into the awards programme.
- Any businesses or organisations entering must have a registered office or operating address located within the geographical region covered by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. This covers postcodes CV1 – CV37 and B46, B49, B50, B76, B78, B79, B80, B94, and B95.
- The Awards are open to all businesses within the above postcode areas and you do not need to be a current Chamber Member to enter. Entry to the awards is free for all businesses and organisations.
- The business or organisation entering should be registered with Companies House in England & Wales, unless you are a Sole Trader where a Company Number will not be required for entry. The business or organisation must have been trading for at least 12-months prior to the entry deadline.
- Entrants may submit entries for multiple categories, but each entry must be tailored to the specific criteria of the category. Any entries received in multiple categories which are deemed by the Chamber to contain similar content, or copied and pasted content, will be disqualified.
- Entries will only be accepted when submitted via the approved online entry form for the relevant category by the closing deadline. All mandatory fields must be filled out and fully completed. The ‘Submit’ button at the bottom of the entry form must be clicked to submit your entry. Any incomplete, or partly completed, forms will not be considered for judging. All entries must be submitted in English.
- Entrants can find the category criteria online at cw-chamber.co.uk/awards and on the respective award category page.
- Entrants must have full authorisation to enter their organisation/a person into the awards programme.
- Entrants should keep to the word count specified in each section. Entries submitted which are over the specified word count will not be considered for judging.
- All entries will be acknowledged when received, within a two-day working period. All entries are treated as completely confidential and entry forms will become the property of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce. These will be shared with the category judges of the awards. Entries will not be returned. Judges and organisers will not disclose any details of the entries outside of the judging process.
- The category judge’s decision of finalists and winners is final, and no correspondence will be entered into. Entrants should not make any attempt to contact any judges directly at any time during the process.
- Category judges reserve the right to audit and verify any information supplied through any channels or means deemed necessary and appropriate.
- Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce reserve the right to disqualify any entry that does not comply with these terms and conditions or that provides false or misleading information. Entrants who engage in unethical behaviour, such as lobbying judges or tampering with other entries, will be disqualified.
- No employee of Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce shall be entitled to enter. No business or organisation sponsoring a category will be eligible to enter their business or organisation in the particular category they are sponsoring, but are able to enter into any other category.
- Finalists in all categories will be notified in early January. The named person on the entry, or a designated representative, from your business or organisation must be available to accommodate a visit from the category judges, for a maximum of 45 minutes, on the date specified on the entry form in January / February 2026.
- Award winners will be announced at the Coventry & Warwickshire Business and Community Awards ceremony on Thursday 23rd April 2026 at the Belgrade Theatre.
- By entering, and therefore potentially being shortlisted as a finalist for any category, it is required that your business or organisation attends the awards ceremony. Information and costs to attend the ceremony can be found at cw-chamber.co.uk/awards.
- Finalists and winners will be required to participate in promotional activities related to the awards. Further details and requirements of any promotional activity will be provided by the Chamber of Commerce Award Team in due course.
- The organisers accept no responsibility for any loss, damage, or costs incurred by entrants in connection with the awards, including but not limited to, entry preparation and submission. The organisers accept no responsibility for entries that are lost, delayed, misdirected, or incomplete due to technical or other reasons.
- The organisers reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions at any time. Any changes will be communicated to all entrants via the official awards website or email.
- By registering and completing an entry form for the awards you are agreeing to these terms and conditions.
Awards Judging
- Each category will be judged by an independent expert (or experts) along with a representative from the award category sponsor.
- All qualifying entries received by the entry deadline will be judged and a final shortlist will be drawn up.
- It is anticipated that up to five finalists will be shortlisted in each category.
- All shortlisted finalists will be notified in early January 2026, prior to the ceremony, by Coventry & Warwickshire Chamber of Commerce and further information may be requested for the ceremony.
- Finalists in all categories will be notified in early January. The named person on the entry, or a designated representative, from your business or organisation must be available to accommodate a 45-minute visit from the category judges on the date specified on the entry form in January / February 2026.
Got questions? Contact the Awards Team!
Got questions or want to know more about the Coventry & Warwickshire Business and Community Awards 2025?
Get in touch with the Chamber Awards Team:
Call: 024 7665 4321
Email: [email protected]
