Businesses across Wigan and Leigh are being encouraged to submit their nominations for the Wigan Business Awards 2026 before nominations close at midnight on Friday 29 May 2026.
The awards celebrate the businesses, teams and individuals making a real impact across the borough.
From start-ups and small independents to established companies, community champions and sector leaders, the Wigan Business Awards shine a light on the people driving our local economy forward.
With the nomination deadline approaching, now is the time for businesses to put themselves forward, or nominate another business they believe deserves recognition.
Celebrating The Strength of Wigan Businesses
The Wigan Business Awards have become a key date in the local business calendar.
Each year, they bring together organisations from across Wigan, Leigh and the wider borough to celebrate success, build connections and champion local enterprise.
The awards are designed to be inclusive and accessible. Therefore, businesses of all sizes, sectors and stages can take part.
Award categories recognise a wide range of achievements, including growth, innovation, customer service, community impact, leadership, skills, sustainability and more.
Nichola Howard, one of the organisers of the Wigan Business Awards, said:
“Wigan is full of brilliant businesses doing incredible things, and these awards are about giving them the recognition they deserve.
We know how busy business owners are, but entering the awards is a chance to pause, reflect and celebrate what they have achieved.
Whether a business has grown, innovated, supported the community, created jobs or simply kept showing up and delivering great work, we want to hear about it.
The nominations we receive help shine a light on the strength, resilience and talent we have across the borough.”
Don’t Wait To Be Nominated
One of the biggest messages from organisers this year is simple:
You don’t need to wait for someone else to nominate you.
Self-nominations are welcomed and encouraged. After all, nobody knows a business’s journey, challenges and achievements better than the people behind it.
Nichola added:
“Sometimes businesses wait for someone else to nominate them, but we really encourage people to put themselves forward.
Nobody knows your journey, your challenges and your achievements better than you do. If you are proud of what your business has achieved, this is your moment.”
Need Help Writing Your Award Entry?
For businesses that are unsure where to start, the Wigan Business Awards team will also be running two How to Write an Award-Winning Entry workshops.
These sessions are designed to help entrants understand what judges are looking for, how to structure their answers, and how to tell their story clearly with evidence, impact and authenticity.
Workshop dates:
In person: Thursday 21 May, 12.30pm
Online: Thursday 11 June, 7.00pm
The workshops are there to help businesses feel more confident about putting themselves forward.
Key Dates For Wigan Business Awards 2026
Nominations are open now and will close at midnight on Friday 29 May 2026.
The deadline for completed award entries is midnight on Monday 29 June 2026.
Businesses are encouraged to complete their nominations as early as possible to avoid missing the deadline.
Submit Your Nomination
Whether you want to nominate your own business, a colleague, a client, a supplier or another local organisation doing brilliant work, now is the time to act.
Submit a nomination or find out more about the Wigan Business Awards 2026 by clicking here:
