The 2024 Small Business BC Award season is in full swing, and there’s still plenty of time to get involved. You can nominate yourself for an award and have the chance to get your small business on the big awards stage.
Tip: You can also nominate your favourite small business for an award.
From cash prizes to province-wide recognition of your achievements, small businesses have a lot to gain from participating in the awards. Nominations and voting run until August 16. It only takes a few days to get enough votes and make it to the next round. So, what are you waiting for? Here’s everything you need to know about the Small Business BC Awards and how you can easily nominate yourself:
What are the Small Business BC Awards?
Small Business BC is a non-profit resource centre for small businesses in BC. We provide business education, advisory services, free resources, and more. We exist to elevate every BC business, and the awards are a big part of that mandate.
The Small Business BC Awards is British Columbia’s largest awards competition dedicated to small businesses. Over the past 21 years, more than 6,600 businesses participated in the Awards. T awards can get your small business valuable exposure to a province-wide audience. Many Award nominees and winners have gone on to grow and secure financial support due to the boost the Awards gave to their businesses. Check out one of the amazing video profiles our finalists received last year:
What are the Award Categories?
For 2024, there are four award categories, each with a cash prize of $5,000. Businesses can enter a total of two categories – the Premier’s People’s Choice Award and one of three Business Pitch Categories.
Here’s a brief overview of the award categories:
1. Premier’s People’s Choice Award
Our most popular Award category, the Premier’s People’s Choice Award has just one criteria for winning: Get more votes than any other nominee.
2. Business Impact Award
Our Business Impact Award goes to a business that isn’t just focused on profit margins. Instead, purpose, passion, and a commitment to creating positive change is central to their operations.
3. Best Youth Entrepreneur
Our Best Youth Entrepreneur Award spotlights the next generation of business leaders aged 35 and under who have taken the entrepreneurial plunge at a young age. These game-changers have turned passion into profit through grit, hustle, and ingenuity.
4. E-Commerce Experience Award
Are you offering an awesome online retail experience for your customers? Whether you’re selling gourmet goodies or trendy trinkets, our E-Commerce Experience Award is perfect for your business. This Award goes to the BC small business that’s succeeding online and providing a best-in-class experience for their customers.
How do I nominate myself for the Small Business BC Awards?
It’s easy to nominate yourself for the Small Business BC Awards.
- Step 1: Go to the nominations page
- Step 2: Create an account
- Step 3: Fill out the form
- Step 4: To fill out a 1st Party Nomination Form, you will need to:
- Select which award categories you want to enter
- Share business representative contact details
- Share company details
- Share a brief company description
- Share company social media links
- Step 5: Share your email to receive a link to your nomination page
Once your nomination is published, you’ll have a dedicated page on the SBBC Awards site where you can send your supporters to vote for you. Remember, the deadline for votes is August 16, 2024.
How do I Get Votes?
You may be surprised at how easy it can be to get many votes relatively quickly. All you need to do is encourage your community to vote for you.
Once you complete the nomination process, you will receive a 2024 nominee marketing kit from SBBC.
The kit includes:
- Social media graphics, copy, hashtags, and handles
- E-Newsletter graphics and copy
- Website banner and badge
When you’re sharing, to encourage votes, we recommend including this info in your posts:
- Why you registered and what winning would mean for you
- Website URL to vote for your business
- Hashtag to position the contest: #SBBCAwards
Now that you have some assets and copy ready to share, it’s time to spread the word. Here are some marketing tips to get you started:
- Email Marketing – Share about the contest and your nomination in a newsletter.
- Website – Add a banner or pop-up on your website.
- Blog Post – Write a blog post about entering the contest and what winning would mean for you.
- In-Store Promotion – Place signs in your physical store with QR codes that customers can scan to vote.
- Online Communities: Share your nomination in relevant industry and online communities and forums where you are active.
- Personal Outreach: Send messages to your customers, staff, suppliers, followers, family, and friends to ask for support.
Remember: it’s not too late to enter the awards. There’s still time to nominate yourself and gather votes. In 2023, one of our award winners entered at the last minute and still won, so don’t be discouraged if you have a bit of a later start.
How Can I Nominate a Business?
Nominating a business you love is an easy and meaningful way to show your support.
On the nomination form, you’ll fill out the business name, website, email, and phone number. Then, you’ll select the award categories you are nominating them for. Finally, you’ll share your name and email as a business supporter.
Your work as a supporter is done. The business you want to nominate for the awards will be notified, and they will need to complete a form to finalize their nomination.
Please visit the Awards website for more information about the Small Business BC Awards.
Small Business BC is Here to Help
SBBC is a non-profit resource centre for BC-based small businesses. Whatever your idea of success is, we’re here to provide holistic support and resources at every step of the journey. Check out our range of business webinars, on-demand E-Learning Education, and our Talk to an Expert Advisories, or browse our business articles.
