Vanity Awards: harmless ego boost or costly mistake?
October 6, 2026
The clocks have gone back, the leaves are crunching underfoot, and the scent of woodsmoke is in the air. November is here, and with Bonfire Night just around the corner, there’s no better time to light up your awards strategy. While everyone else is wrapping up in scarves and hunting for sparklers, this is the month to get your entries ready and make sure your hard work doesn’t fizzle out.
This month’s round-up is packed with deadlines worth chasing, from industry heavyweights to rising stars in the awards calendar. Whether you’re after a trophy for the shelf or a little extra glow for your brand, there’s something here for you.
Awards closing soon:
EDIE Awards 2026 (Deadline 7 November)
The EDIE Awards are where sustainability leaders get their moment. Covering ESG, the circular economy, innovation, biodiversity and beyond, they recognise the organisations, projects and people making a measurable difference. Open to every sector, they’re a credible way to show your green credentials are the real deal.
Gatwick Diamond Business Awards (Deadline 13 November)
The Gatwick Diamond Business Awards honour the standout businesses and people powering the Gatwick Diamond economy. With categories covering innovation, customer service, environmental performance and overall business excellence, they’re a great chance for established businesses to build their reputation and show off what they’ve achieved.
BIG Innovation Awards (Deadline 27 November)
Run by the Business Intelligence Group, the BIG Innovation Awards celebrate the organisations, products and people making a meaningful impact through new ideas. That could be a product, service, process or approach, but there’s a catch: you have to prove it works. Show what changed, the problem you solved and the measurable results you’ve delivered.
RealDeals Private Equity Awards (Deadline 27 November)
The Real Deals Private Equity Awards have spent over 26 years celebrating achievement across the European private equity industry. They’re open to GPs and fund managers of every size, lenders involved in acquisition financing, and the legal, financial and specialist advisers working on private equity transactions. Each year, close to 1,000 people from across the sector gather at the ceremony to see the year’s best recognised.
Awards now open:
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 with this award, which honours the achievements of women in the workplace. From female entrepreneurs and employees to women-led teams, women-owned and women-run organisations, and employees, these awards celebrate the best of the best.
UK Pensions Awards (Deadline: January 2027)
They shine a light on excellence, recognising the advisers, providers and investment managers who deliver the highest standards of innovation, performance and service to occupational pension schemes and their members, and who have done the most to raise those standards over the past year.
Awards coming soon:
Best SME Awards: Entries open 17 November (Deadline: January 2027)
The Best SME Awards recognise the efforts and achievements of SMEs across all sectors. Their no-voting system and panel of professionals ensure awards are given for quality, not popularity.
PLC Awards: Entries open 30 November (Deadline 22 January 2027)
The PLC Awards offer a wide array of categories for companies of all sizes to allow for recognition of great achievements in the past year.
When to bring in the experts
Not sure where to start when it comes to entering awards? Our award consultancy service can help you find the right categories, shape your story, and make your entry stand out from the crowd. Get in touch and let’s get your November off with a bang.
