Everything you Need to Know

Entries can be made online at www.fifebusinessawards.com

You can now start and save your application by registering with us. To register and start your application click here.

If you have any issues, please contact Victoria at [email protected]

Yes, you can enter more than one category if eligable. The eligibility criteria is listed beside each awards category.

Yes you can!

Nominating is simple, and won’t take any longer than five minutes. All you have to do to nominate is click here enter your name, email and contact number, and the name of the person(s) and business, organisation or charity they represent, along with their email and contact number, and a few details about why you think they deserve an award, and we'll take it from there.

Applications will not be accepted after midnight, on the closing date of 1st November. If evidence of exceptional circumstances is presented, the judges may, at their discretion, accept the entry, but are under no obligation to do so – the judges’ decision is final.

No, you are more than welcome to enter the 2023 awards. Only the information submitted for the 2023 awards will be considered; no reference will be made to any previous shortlisting, and/or awards received.

No. We welcome applications from any business/organisation operating in Fife. All applications will be considered against the same rigorous shortlisting process.

80% of businesses that have entered in the past asked themselves the same question. Despite thinking that, they entered, because either a colleague, partner or friend told them otherwise and encouraged them to do it or they just decided "what the hell!"

They did, and some won, and for everyone who was shortlisted in their category, against many similar businesses, they were overjoyed to have been recognised in that way. Every year, every winner says “I can’t believe we won, I really didn’t think we had a chance.”

The moral of the story! You have absolutely nothing to lose, and everything to gain – What are you waiting for? Enter now.

Yes, help is available. "Virtual In The Know" Workshops, will let you hear from, and talk to, previous winners and some of the judges – all willing to share information, that will help you put together a great application. Information about the first two workshops can be found in the 'Dates for your diary' page.

There are also useful 'Top Tips' below to help you complete your application.

Thanks to our Judges, yes we can - here they are...

Review the award eligibility criteria carefully. Not every organisation can apply for every award.

Read the information on ‘requirements to win’, that lets you know what the judges are looking for.

Don’t worry about grammar.

Use bullet points but avoid jargon and acronyms if you can.

Only the information you put on your application form will be assessed, so don’t use links to other documents/websites to make your case.

Use facts, statistics and examples to strengthen your case but only include what is relevant.

Demonstrate your passion and enthusiasm. Show you really care.

Don’t write an application alone, work collectively with colleagues.

Don't leave it until the last minute, if it is worth doing then it is worth doing properly.

Achievements win, not organisations. If you demonstrate positive outcomes and success, then you CAN WIN A FIFE BUSINESS AWARD.

The Behind the Scenes Visits will take place in the weeks of 15th, 22nd and 29th November. Finalists will be provided with date and time options for this, no later than the 4th November. The visits will take no longer one hour.

Meeting the Panel will take place virtually, in the weeks of 6th and 13th December.

Finalists will be provided with date and time options for the Behind the Scenes Visits and to Meet the Panel, with no less than seven days’ notice.

Please note that date and times are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot be rescheduled.

Of course! We would recommend that there are no more than three people in total. Ahead of the interview you will be expected to provide the names of those attending, and a very brief overview of their involvement in the project.

In addition, and to ensure that there is equal participation when meeting the panel, and to avoid anything important being missed, we would recommend that you discuss and plan individuals roles and agree participation, in advance.

The video piece will be very short - all you'll be asked to speak about is what winning the award would mean to you. Bear in mind that you do not have to be filmed alone, you can bring a colleague – providing they have been involved in the project/businesses nominated.

If you are chosen as a finalist, you will receive key information on what to expect ahead of, and at, the Award Ceremony. This will include filming guidance, in the form of questions specific to your category, ensuring you can prepare your response in advance, and have adequate time to rehearse this and feel comfortable with what you are going to say.

Absolutely not! Each judge is provided with strict guidelines around several things. One of those is that they must declare if they know one or more of the applicants and explain the relationship with that applicant.

If the Chair of the judging panel feels that the judge/applicant relationship would impact the application, whether that be in a positive or negative way, the judge would be exempt from reviewing and meeting the said applicant.

Every application will be reviewed and measured against the criteria specific to the category, regardless of size, position in the industry, previous history with the Fife Business Awards and anything else that would result in an unfair and/or skewed judgement of the applicant.

You will be notified by a member of the team, and provided with the available dates and times for both the Behind the Scenes Visits and the meeting with the Judging Panel.

Meeting with the Panel will take place at an accessible location; it's purpose is to give them the opportunity to get to know more about you and your business. It is not an interview, it is an informal chat.

Following this you will have the opportunity to say a short piece to camera about what it means to you to be chosen as a finalist. Again this is professional, but informal, and you don't have to go it alone, you are welcome to bring colleagues along too.

Next up is the Finalist Reception, being held on Thursday 24th February, then it's the Awards Ceremony on Friday 25th March.

Please note that date and times for the visits and meeting with the panel, are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot be rescheduled.

We provide you with some date and time options, to visit you at your business premises. The purpose of this is to get more of an insight into your business; bring to life elements of your application form, and to give you a further opportunity to highlight key areas of your business that you are particularly proud of.

The visit will take between no longer than an hour, and again, the date and times provided to you are available on a first-come, first-served basis, and cannot be rescheduled.

The Finalist Reception gives you the opportunity to meet and get to know the other finalists in a friendly and informal environment. We’ll provide the fun, fizz and nibbles for you and a guest, and you provide the chat.

This will be a great opportunity to grow your network, share your success stories with like-minded people, and get to know your fellow finalists ahead of the main event.