The Smarta
100 together with O2 - the No.1 awards programme for small
businesses - is now open for entries, with a £10,000 first
prize up for grabs.
This year's search is underway to find the UK's 100 most
exciting, innovative, unique and disruptive small businesses.
We'll be scouring the country to uncover the stars of
enterprising Britain and recognise the companies other business
awards ignore.
Be they home business heroes, eBay entrepreneurs or soletraders
soldiering on through the double dip, The Smarta 100 champions the
small businesses at the heart of the UK economy.
Dragons' Den's Theo Paphitis, who will head-up the Smarta 100
judging panel, marked the launch of this year's awards by
saying:
"I admire people with the passion and energy to build their own
businesses and can't wait to discover the many enterprising
firms that are set to be the big businesses of tomorrow."
Fellow Dragon Deborah Meaden added: "Now, more than ever before,
we should be celebrating the best new British businesses and the
people behind them - and that's exactly what The Smarta 100,
together with O2, does."
"Last year we handed out awards to 100 ambitious individuals
who'd dared to act on their ideas and had grown brilliantly
creative, innovative and disruptive businesses - the search is now
on for the next 100."
O2 Business Director Ben Dowd added: "The Smarta 100 is an
excellent opportunity to showcase the brilliant British businesses
revitalising the national economy through their ambition and
innovation - we're delighted to support the awards."
In total, 100 businesses will be awarded Smarta 100 winner
status before the public votes for the overall Smarta 100 Business
of the Year, with the winner recieving a cheque for £10,000
courtesy of O2.
In addition, there will be six Special Awards for:
- Best use of Technology, sponsored by Intuit
- Best People Business, sponsored by NatWest
- Best use of Resources, sponsored by Simply Business
- Best use of Innovation, sponsored by Smarta Business
Builder
- Best use of Marketing, sponsored by SevenHills
- Biggest Social Impact, sponsored by Social Enterprise UK
This year's Smarta 100 will be chosen by a heavyweight
entrepreneurial judging panel. Joining Theo are last year's overall
winner Rowan Gormley, founder of Naked Wines; nails inc founder
Thea Green; Shortlist Media's Mike Soutar; Monitise's Alastair
Lukies; King of Shaves founder Will King; Huddle co-founder Andy
McLoughlin; O2 Business Director Ben Dowd; NatWest's Ian Walters;
and Smarta's very own Shaa Wasmund.
The overall winner will be announced at a glitzy awards ceremony
at London's O2 Arena in November,
As if that weren't enough, as part of this year's programme,
Smarta and O2 is also proud to present the Smarta 100 Academy
together with O2.
As series of interactive speaker events, the Smarta 100 Academy
aims to support existing Smarta 100 winner and encourage more
people to emulate their success by starting their businesses.
Offering four exclusive, free-to-attend events, addressing key
businesses issues, the Smarta 100 Academy will host a learning
programme packed with practical advice, lessons and real life case
studies delivered by establishing entrepreneurs, industry experts
and previous Smarta winners.
To enter this year's Smarta 100 together with O2, and to find
out more about the Smarta 100 Academy, visit: www.smarta.com/100
Businesses have until midnight on 1 September to
apply.