Getting that email is a genuinely great moment. Whether it landed from the Lloyds Bank British Business Excellence Awards, your local Chamber of Commerce, the British Business Awards, or a sector-specific scheme, being shortlisted for a UK business award is real recognition. Out of however many entries were submitted, judges picked yours.
But once the initial excitement settles, a slightly different question tends to follow: what happens now? Being shortlisted for an award comes with its own checklist, from preparing for the ceremony itself through to deciding how you mark the occasion once the result is in. This guide walks through exactly that, covering everything from business award finalist tips to thinking ahead about your own trophy, whatever the outcome on the night.
What Happens After Being Shortlisted for an Award?
The period between shortlisting and the awards ceremony itself is busier than most people expect. Depending on the scheme, you may be asked to providde additional evidence, attend a judging interview, or submit further information to support your entry. Some UK business awards, including several run under the Awards International umbrella, split scoring between a written submission and a face-to-face presentation on the day of the ceremony itself.
It is worth checking the specific requirements of your scheme early on, since the process varies considerably between, say, the Chamber Business Awards and something more specialised like the UK Business Tech Awards. Diarising key dates, including the ceremony itself, gives you the best chance to prepare properly rather than scrambling at the last minute.
Preparing for the Awards Ceremony
Once your place at the awards ceremony is confirmed, there is a fair bit to organise on your end. Business award ceremony preparation typically includes:
- Confirming attendee numbers, since many ceremonies allow a table or a set number of guest tickets per finalist
- Briefing anyone collecting the award on stage, particularly if a short acceptance speech may be required
- Preparing internal communications, so staff know when and how the result will be shared
- Planning your social media and PR activity around the night, whatever the outcome
If you are wondering what to say in an award acceptance speech, the best ones tend to be short, genuine, and focused on the people behind the achievement rather than a long list of statistics. A brief thank you to the judges, your team, and anyone who supported the entry usually lands far better than a rehearsed pitch.
How to Promote Being a Finalist
You do not need to wait for the result to start getting value from your shortlisting. Promoting being a finalist is good practice regardless of what happens on the night, and many businesses find the finalist status alone brings genuine commercial benefit.
A few practical ideas for announcing your shortlist status:
- Share the news on LinkedIn and other social channels, tagging the awards organiser where appropriate
- Add a finalist badge or mention to your website and email signature
- Let existing clients and partners know, particularly if the award relates directly to the work you do for them
- Brief your sales team, since award recognition can be a useful talking point in pitches and proposals
Leveraging award nominations for PR purposes is a well-established tactic, and most awards organisers are happy for finalists to use their branding within agreed guidelines, so it is worth checking what is permitted before you start sharing widely.
On the Night-What to Expect
UK business awards ceremonies vary in scale, from an intimate regional dinner to a large-scale national event, but the format tends to follow a similar pattern: a drinks reception, a meal, and then the award presentations themselves, often with entertainment woven through the evening.
If you have not attended one of these events before, it helps to know that finalists are rarely told the result in advance, sometimes not even on the night itself in the case of certain awards. Categories are usually read out from the shortlist down to the winner, building anticipation as the room listens for their company name. Bring your phone charged and your camera ready; whatever the result, a photo or two from the night is something most businesses want to share afterwards.
Winning, Highly Commended, or Finalist-Marking the Result
Whatever the outcome, the achievement of reaching the shortlist is worth marking in some way. How you do that depends on the result.
If you win:
Most awards organisers present a trophy or certificate on the night itself, but many businesses choose to commission a second, bespoke piece for display in their office, particularly when the original is on a perpetual basis and needs to be returned or shared between winners year on year. A custom trophy for a business award win gives you something permanent to keep on display.
If you are highly commended or runner-up:
This still represents genuine recognition, and many companies choose to mark it with a smaller crystal award for business achievement, such as a paperweight or desk piece engraved with the award name and category.
If you reach the shortlist but do not place:
Being named a finalist among a competitive field is itself worth recognising internally, particularly for the team who put the entry together. A modest engraved award for business win or keepsake can be a thoughtful way to say thank you to the people involved, even without a formal trophy from the organiser.
Commemorating Your Award Win or Finalist Status
Award organisers typically supply a trophy on the night, but it is increasingly common for businesses to commission their own replica or commemorative piece afterwards. There are a few good reasons for this.
Firstly, many official award trophies are perpetual, meaning they must be returned at the end of the year so the next winner can be engraved. A replica award for a business award win lets you keep a permanent reminder in your office, reception area, or boardroom.
Secondly, a bespoke piece gives you the chance to incorporate your own branding, logo, or company colours into the design, something the official award itself usually cannot offer. A desk award for business achievement engraved with your company name, the award title, and the year makes a lasting and personal keepsake for the founder, MD, or whoever led the entry.
This is also a popular way to recognise the wider team. Smaller engraved pieces, given to everyone who contributed to the winning entry, are a thoughtful way to share the moment beyond just the person who collected the trophy on stage.
Showcasing Your Award Win in the Office
Once you have your award, whether that is the original trophy or a commissioned piece, displaying it well matters more than people often realise. A well-placed award badge and trophy for your website and office signals credibility to visiting clients, prospective hires, and anyone walking through reception.
Consider a dedicated shelf or cabinet near your entrance, particularly if you have picked up multiple accolades over the years. For award trophies made from crystal or glass, good lighting makes a genuine difference; a small spotlight or shelf-mounted light will let the engraving and any 3D detail catch the light properly, rather than sitting in a dim corner unnoticed.
How Laser Crystal Can Help Mark Your Achievement
Whether you have won, been highly commended, or simply reached the shortlist for a UK business award, Laser Crystal can help you mark the occasion with something that reflects the achievement properly. As the UK’s leading manufacturer of 3D laser engraved crystal awards, we work with businesses across the country to create bespoke pieces, from a single commemorative paperweight for the boardroom to a full set of trophies for the whole team.
Our in-house design team will turn your award name, company branding, and any logo into a 3D visual before anything is engraved, so you know exactly how the finished piece will look. There is no minimum order quantity, so whether you need one piece to mark your own win or several for everyone who contributed to the entry, we can help you find the right design and turnaround to suit.
Ready to get started?
Contact the Laser Crystal team for further information, to receive a quote or if you’d like a sample. Alternatively, pop us a call on 01202 675000 and we’ll be happy to chat with you about your colour printing crystal award project!
FAQs
1. What should I do if my business is shortlisted for an award?
Confirm your attendance details early, prepare any additional materials the judges require, and start planning how you will promote the shortlist news, regardless of the eventual result.
2. How do you announce being a finalist?
Most businesses share the news on social media, particularly LinkedIn, alongside a brief note on their website. Always check the awards organiser’s branding guidelines before using their logo.
3. Do you need a trophy if you are a finalist?
Not necessarily, though many finalists choose to commission a smaller commemorative piece to recognise the achievement internally, even without an official prize.
4. How long does it take to get an award trophy made?
This varies by supplier, but bespoke crystal pieces typically take a matter of days from approved design to dispatch, so it is worth enquiring as soon as you have a ceremony date in mind.
5. What do you say in an award acceptance speech?
Keep it brief and sincere. Thank the judges and organisers, credit your team, and avoid turning it into a sales pitch.