Founding-Year Prestige
Be remembered as a winner of the very first South Wales Awards — a distinction no one who comes after can ever claim.
Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff · Award Launch Ceremony
South Wales
Awards2026-27
Recognising the Businesses, Entrepreneurs and Leaders Shaping South Wales's Future.
This time next year, a business owner will walk on stage to a standing ovation — their team on their feet, their name in lights. There is no reason that story can't be yours.
Free to enter · Takes 10 minutes · No payment, everExplore the 12 categories →
Ceremony
Thu, Oct 29, 2026
Venue
Cardiff City Stadium
Location
Cardiff
Award Themes
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Free to Nominate
Find My Award
Not sure which award fits you?
Answer five quick questions and we will rank every award you are eligible for.
Question 1 of 520%
What best describes you?
Your Awards Journey
From spark to spotlight
A clear, five-step path from discovering your award to standing on the night.
1
Discover your award
Browse categories or take the quick quiz to find your fit.
2
Check eligibility
Confirm the criteria for your shortlist of categories.
3
Prepare your story
Gather a few achievements, numbers and supporting words.
4
Submit your nomination
Enter free in minutes. No payment ever required.
5
Step into the spotlight
Join us on the night to celebrate the finalists and winners.
Your readiness
0% readyTick items as you go — we will track your momentum.
Why Enter
Turn Recognition Into Opportunity
Be Recognised. Be Remembered.
Every business has a story worth celebrating. Our awards shine a spotlight on the organisations, teams and individuals making a real impact across the region. Whether you're an emerging business, an established leader or an innovative disruptor, this is your opportunity to gain the recognition your achievements deserve. An award is more than a trophy on the shelf. It is proof of excellence that compounds — building trust, visibility and momentum long after the night itself.
Build Credibility
Earn independent industry recognition and the customer trust that comes with it.
Increase Visibility
Gain exposure through press coverage, social reach and year-round award promotion.
Celebrate Your Team
Honour the people behind your success and give them a moment they will never forget.
Stand Above Competitors
Differentiate your business and prove your excellence where it matters most.
Attract More Customers
Leverage powerful, third-party social proof that turns interest into commitment.
Accelerate Growth
Open doors to new partnerships, investment, talent and expansion opportunities.
One Vision · One Environment
Distinct Themes. One Vision. Engage with What Matters Most to You.
Women in business and business excellence — distinct areas of focus, united by a single vision. Find the one that aligns with your values and ambitions, and step into a community built for you.
Women in BusinessBusiness Excellence
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of award winners report growth
The Impact of Recognition
Recognition that changes everything
Businesses that win awards gain trust faster, attract more opportunities, and stand out in crowded markets. A single accolade becomes a story you tell for years.
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of buyers say awards increase their trust in a brand
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more media coverage for shortlisted businesses
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stronger recruitment pull as an award-winning employer
Indicative outcomes reported by award-winning businesses and independent industry research.
What recognition unlocks
Media ExposureBrand AwarenessCustomer TrustRecruitment EdgeTeam Morale
12 Award Categories · Free to enter
There's a category with your name on it
From bold start-ups to community champions and the region's best places to work — twelve ways to be recognised. Discover the one (or more) where your business belongs.
Business of the YearNew Business of the YearCustomer Service ExcellenceHospitality & DiningBusiness InnovationCommunity Impact+ 6 more
The Inaugural Year
Be the first names in the story
2026 is year one. The businesses recognised this year are not following in anyone’s footsteps — they are the founding class that the next decade of winners will be measured against.
Set the Standard
As an inaugural winner, your business becomes the benchmark every future entrant aspires to match.
Make Local History
Help launch what will become the region’s defining celebration of business — and be part of it from day one.
Claim Your Place in Year One
Free to enter · Takes 10 minutes · No payment, ever
Free To Enter · 2026-27
Your business deserves the spotlight
Nominations are free and open now. Enter as many categories as you like — there is nothing to lose and a stage to gain.
Free to enter · Takes 10 minutes · No payment, ever
The Journey to the Stage
Six steps from entry to ovation
A clear, considered path — designed so the only hard part is deciding to enter.
01
Nominations Open
Entries and public nominations are open now — completely free to enter.
02
Submit Your Entry
Tell your story across one or more categories. Enter as many as you like.
03
Independent Judging
A panel of independent experts reviews and scores every single entry.
04
Finalists Announced
The highest-scoring businesses are revealed and celebrated as finalists.
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The Awards Gala
An unforgettable evening of celebration at Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales.
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Winners Revealed
Gold winners are crowned live and the Overall Winner is named.
Experience The Awards Ceremony
More than an awards ceremony
An unforgettable evening of celebration, networking and recognition — where the region's most ambitious businesses come together under one roof at a venue to be confirmed in Cardiff, South Wales.
The Showcase
Stage Presentations
Networking
Live Entertainment
The Celebration
Partner With Us
Become a power player
Stand alongside the businesses defining the region's future. Sponsorship puts your brand at the centre of the celebration — and inside the conversation that follows.
What sponsorship unlocks
Brand visibility
Local credibility
VIP networking
Category association
Media exposure
Founding partners get first call on every category.
Founding Partners
Help launch the first chapter
Our inaugural year is an open invitation. Founding partners will be remembered as the organisations that helped create the South Wales’s defining celebration of business.
Founding Partner Status
Be recognised as one of the organisations that launched the South Wales Awards — a legacy that stays with your brand.
Premier Visibility
Year-round exposure across the campaign, the gala and our press and social reach, in front of 600+ ambitious businesses.
Champion Local Business
Show the community you back the people and businesses that make the South Wales thrive.
Align your brand with prestige, reach and community impact from the very beginning.
Become a Founding PartnerQuestions & Answers
Everything you need to know
Still curious? The essentials are below — entering is simpler than you might think.
Any business based in or serving the South Wales, of any size or sector. With a category for every business, there is a place for you — from solo founders to established teams.
Entry is completely free. You can enter as many categories as you like at no cost, so there is nothing standing between your business and the recognition it deserves.
Absolutely. Customers, colleagues and the wider community can nominate any business they believe deserves to be recognised. A nomination is a wonderful way to champion a business you love.
An independent panel assesses excellence, impact, innovation, customer experience and growth — with criteria tailored to each individual category.
Every entry is scored by the judging panel. The highest-scoring businesses in each category are shortlisted as finalists and invited to the Awards Gala.
Winners are revealed live and in person at the Awards Gala at Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales — the highlight of the local business calendar.
Nominations for 2026-27 are open · Free to enter
Your business deserves the spotlight
Behind every successful business is a story of hard work, dedication and ambition. Now is your opportunity to gain the recognition your business deserves.
Save the date · 29 October 2026
Free to enter · Takes 10 minutes · No payment, ever
Be one of the first businesses ever recognised at Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales.