Is a joint award entry right for you?
August 31, 2026
As summer begins to wind down, now is the perfect time to start preparing for the final quarter of the year. Many of the UK’s leading award programmes are approaching their deadlines, and getting organised now can make the difference between a rushed submission and an award-winning entry.
Here’s our round-up of awards currently accepting submissions, key deadlines approaching over the coming weeks, and opportunities you should be preparing for now.
Awards closing soon
The SME London Business Awards (Deadline: September)
Autumn is the perfect time to prepare your submission for the next cycle of awards. These awards celebrate the success, talent and dedication of small businesses across the capital, with firms of up to 250 employees invited to enter across 21 categories ranging from Best Entrepreneur to Best Young Business Leader.
The Data & Marketing Association Awards (Deadline: 18 September)
The annual competition opens for entries on July 6, 2026, and runs until September 18, 2026, offering categories across direct and data-driven marketing.
The King’s Awards for Enterprise 2027 (Deadline: September)
The 2027 awards programme is now open and accepting applications until September 2026, making this the key submission window to act on. The awards are open to any UK-based business with at least two full-time employees, are free to enter, and cover four categories: Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development, and Promoting Opportunity through Social Mobility.
National Coaching Awards (Deadline: 28 September)
These awards showcase the people making a difference through coaching. They recognise the invaluable role coaches play in building a happier and healthier society.
Awards already open
Pension Age awards (Deadline: 09 October)
The Pensions Age Awards aim to reward both pension schemes and pension providers across the UK that have proved themselves worthy of recognition in these increasingly challenging economic times.
International Brilliance Awards 2027 (Deadline: 5 October)
Covering business, HR, internal communications, marketing, and PR, the Brilliance Awards offer multiple ways to showcase your success. Open to UK and international entrants, all categories share the same deadline, with the ceremony held in January 2027.
The Drum Marketing Awards (Early bird deadline: 10 Dec – Official deadline: 4 March)
These awards celebrate marketing teams that connect, inspire, and deliver tangible results. Whether you’re a global player or a rising star, if your work made waves, this is your moment to be recognized by industry giants.
Northern Digital Awards (Early bird deadline: 24 Sept – Final deadline: 8 Oct)
The Northern Digital Awards celebrate the incredible digital talent across the north of the UK, showcasing the agencies, brands, and teams producing some of the country’s best digital work. Whether you’re a rising star or an established leader, in-house or agency-side, these awards offer valuable industry recognition and trusted third-party endorsement in a highly competitive market.
Business Brilliance Awards (Deadline October 10)
Part of the prestigious International Brilliance Awards™, celebrates the organisations, leaders, and teams driving exceptional business performance worldwide. These awards recognise those who combine strategy, innovation, and purpose to deliver measurable success and sustainable growth.
Awards opening this month
Digital revolution awards (Deadline: December)
These awards celebrate the pioneers in tech by nominating, setting new standards, and driving the digital sector forward. Their London-based ceremony has been hosted by iconic media personalities like Claudia Winkleman, Tom Allen and Romesh Ranganathan.
The Stevies Awards for Women in Business (Deadline 4 December)
Gain international recognition through this award that honours the achievements of women in the workplace. From female entrepreneurs, employees, women-led teams, women-owned and women-run organisations, to employees, these awards celebrate the best of the best.
UK Customer Service Satisfaction Awards (Deadline 17 October)
The UK Customer Satisfaction Awards are a chance to showcase your organisation’s commitment to service excellence and be recognised for your tenacity, creativity and innovation.
When to bring in the experts
The best award entries combine clear storytelling, measurable impact, and well-chosen evidence that answers what judges are looking for. We help you shape compelling submissions, from category selection and strategy to writing and polishing. Book a free discovery call and let’s elevate your words and your wins.
