This Sunday, nominations and entries open for Wigan Business Awards, and we wanted to make it simple for you to get involved. Whether you’re nominating someone else or entering yourself, this post explains what happens next and how to take part.
Since our first event, a lot has changed. Our campaign has won an award, our content has reached hundreds of thousands of people online, and the awards have grown into something much bigger than a single night. The most important part, though, is that we’re independent and we’re building a genuine business community across Wigan borough, one connection at a time.
So, here’s everything you need to know before you nominate or enter.
What opens on Sunday?
Two things open at the same time: nominations and entries. A nomination is where you tell us about a business, person, or team you think deserves recognition. An entry is where a business submits an application for a specific award category. You can do one or both, and you don’t need to overthink it. If someone immediately comes to mind, that’s usually your answer.
Who should you nominate?
You can nominate any business or person doing great work in Wigan borough, and that can look a hundred different ways. It might be a startup finding their feet or a sole trader quietly grafting behind the scenes. It could be a growing team creating local jobs, or a long standing business that still puts people first.If you’ve ever recommended them to someone, spoken highly of them, or thought they deserve a proper shout out, that’s a nomination.
Who should enter?
If you’re based in Wigan borough and you’re proud of what you’ve built, you should seriously consider entering. You don’t need a huge team, you don’t need a fancy marketing budget, and you definitely don’t need to be the biggest name in the room. What matters is what you do, how you do it, and the impact you’re having. If you’ve got a story to tell and you’re willing to put yourself forward, you’re exactly who these awards are for.
What happens after a nomination?
When nominations come in, we review them and make sure they match the right categories. We also contact the nominee to let them know they’ve been put forward, because it’s always a brilliant moment to hear that someone has taken the time to nominate you. We send a branded nomination graphic too, so they can share the good news if they want to. Nominations help us see who the community is backing, and they often give businesses a real confidence boost, because it’s a reminder that people are noticing their hard work. In many cases, a nomination is the nudge someone needs to go on and enter.
What happens after an entry?
Entries are reviewed by our shortlisting panel using clear criteria, and every entry is given proper consideration. Once shortlisting is complete, finalists are announced, and the journey continues from there. If you’ve never entered awards before, don’t worry. We’ve built the process to be straightforward, and we’ll share guidance along the way.
Want help with your entry?
We’re also running free workshops to help businesses write strong applications. They’re practical and friendly, and they’re designed to help you feel more confident about what to include, what to leave out, and how to bring your story to life in a way that judges can really understand.
Before you scroll on
Wigan Business Awards is about more than a trophy. It’s about celebrating the people building Wigan’s economy day by day, shining a light on work that often goes unseen, and creating a community where local businesses support each other properly. If you know someone who deserves recognition, nominate them. If you’ve been thinking about entering but you’ve been waiting for a sign, this is it.
Nominations and entries open this Sunday at midday, so have a think now. Who are you putting forward, and which category are you going for?
Take a look at our categories HERE.
