The 2022 Events & Awards That Every Sustainable Business Owner Should Know About

Being a purpose driven business is tough, so why not have an accolade to show off your hard work? Show the world that your company does business for good

Conversely, there is always room for improvement and opportunities for us to educate ourselves further about sustainability.

So we’ve compiled a list of awards that could one day sit in your trophy cabinet, followed by some events taking place across the year which will allow you to expand your knowledge!

Awards

Responsible Business Awards 2022

The award focuses on sustainable businesses that are truly having an impact on business, society and the environment. The award plans to reward businesses that are challenging the status quo and leading to a new, sustainable future. 

This award is aimed at bigger brands - however, Brits do love an underdog! 

The Nitty Gritty: 

Submission dates: Feb 21st - July 29th submission
Winner Announced: Aug 17th 
Ceremony Date: Oct 13th
Price: £399 for 1 category, 2-3 for £599 and 4+ for £899

Categories:

  • Business Transformation Award
  • Product or Service Innovation Award
  • Sustainability Trailblazer Award
  • Partnership of the Year 
  • Net Zero Transition Award
  • Circular Transition Award
  • Reporting and transparency award 
  • SDG Pioneer Award 
  • Social Impact Award 
  • Purpose-Driven Communications Award
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Award
  • The Future Pioneer Award 
  • Biodiversity Champion Award 
  • Social and Human Capital Award 
  • Responsible Business Honouree Award 


Sustainable Business Awards by Blue Patch

Created to recognise high-quality design and genuine, innovative, sustainable approaches to ethical business. 

Now in their 6th year, the awards champion outstanding small brands and SMEs, support the local economy and promote sustainable businesses across the UK and Ireland as well as globally

The Nitty Gritty: 

Submission Date: TBA
Winner Announced: TBA 
Ceremony Date: TBA
Price: Free for Blue Patch Members, £120 for three categories if a non-member.
 

Categories: 

  • Environment Awards
  • Heritage 
  • Circular Economy Award
  • Social Impact
  • Global Impact
  • Female Business Leader
  • New Business
  • Sustainable Innovation
  • People’s Prize 


Marie Claire Sustainability Awards 

Aimed at business with purpose, a sustainable start up shaping their business model to be as ethical as possible, or a company going the extra mile to positively impact our planet.

This award is aimed for business in the fashion, beauty, food & drink, weddings, travel & leisure industries.

The Nitty Gritty: 

Submission Date: Opens in January 
Winner Announced: TBA
Awards Ceremony: July 2022
Price: £250 + vat per category

Categories:  

  • Fashion
  • Beauty 
  • Food & Drink 
  • Travel & Leisure 
  • Motors 
  • Health & Wellness
  • Home 


P.E.A. AWARDS 

Now in its 12th year, the P.E.A. (People. Environment. Achievement.) Awards is the UK’s leading sustainability and climate awards, honouring the individuals and teams behind the products, services and businesses that are changing the face of our planet.

The Nitty Gritty: 

Submission Date: Nominations now open, Close on the 31st August 2022. 
Winner Announced: TBA 
Awards Ceremony: TBA 
Price: Free

Categories:  

  • PEA Drink
  • PEA Greenest Family
  • PEA Influencer
  • PEA Arts 
  • PEA Food 
  • PEA Energy
  • PEA Digital Technology 
  • PEA Electric Vehicle 
  • PEA Money
  • PEA Green Pioneer
  • PEA Nature
  • PEA Health & Wellbeing
  • PEA Vegan 
  • PEA Travel
  • PEA Climate Pioneer
  • PEA Product


Gala Dinner and Awards Ceremony - Festival of Sustainable Businesses

The Awards are designed to champion all things sustainable. The fun doesn’t stop at just an award - there is also a complimentary gala dinner for all finalists too! Enjoy a formal evening in celebration of the organisations leading the way in business sustainability. 

There will also be some world-class speakers joining the evening, providing entertainment and insightful knowledge to those in attendance.

The Nitty Gritty: 

Submission Dates: Now Open For Nominations. Closes 4th April. 
Winner Announced: 16th June 2022
Awards Ceremony: 16th June 2022
Price: Free

Categories: 

  • Sustainable buildings award
  • Communicating the climate and ecological emergency award
  • Reduction of waste and consumption award 
  • Sustainable travel and transport award
  • The natural environment award

Alongside the awards, the Festival Of Sustainable Businesses holds a conference - details of the 2022 event will be announced soo so head to their website and sign up to the newsletter today to ensure you’re the first to hear about it once information is released!


FSB Small Business Awards

Celebrating the achievements and contributions of small businesses and the self-employed across the UK, this is the largest event of its kind in the small business calendar. On top of that, they are free to enter and open to all!

The Nitty Gritty: 

Submission Dates: 25th February - 13th April 2022
Winner Announced: TBA
Awards Ceremony: TBA
Price: Free to nominate, £77 - £864 to attend (prices vary dependent on the type of business you have)

Categories:

  • Community Business of the year
  • Business & Product Innovation award
  • Digital/E-Commerce Business of the year
  • Family business of the year
  • High Growth Business of the year 
  • International business of the year
  • Microbusiness of the year
  • self -employed/sole trader of the year
  • Start-up business of the year
  • environmental/sustainability award 
  • Wellbeing award 
  • Young entrepreneur of the year


UK B&IA Awards

Celebrating innovation in UK business is what the UK B&IA Awards are all about! Highlighting the heroic business professionals of the Covid era; “those who’ve pivoted, pioneered and persevered in an unpredictable age.”

As well as celebrating and promoting the businesses that have showcased impressive innovation and enterprise in the UK, the ceremony also identifies best practice(s) across all entrants; sharing lessons we can all learn for the future.

The Nitty Gritty: 

Submission Dates: 17th September - 17th December 2021 
Winner Announced: 3rd & 9th February 2022 (Live Online)
Awards Ceremony: 3rd & 9th February 2022 (Live Online)
Price: £249 - £599+ (nomination price)

Categories:

  • Best New Business
  • Best New Business - Marketing and Professional Services
  • Best Business Response to COVID-19
  • Best Business Response to COVID-19 - Medium and Large Company
  • Best Business Response to COVID-19 - Micro and Small Businesses
  • Best Green Business
  • Best Family Business
  • Best Website & App
  • Best Use of Technology (B2B)
  • Best Use of Technology (B2C)
  • Best Customer Experience
  • Best Employer
  • Best Consumer Delivery Service
  • Innovation Categories
  • Best Online Business
  • Health and Wellbeing
  • Best Workplace
  • Best Product Development Innovation
  • Best Product Development Innovation - SaaS
  • Customer Experience Innovation
  • Business Model Innovation
  • Sustainability Innovation
  • Innovation Leader of the Year
  • Innovation Team of the Year


Events

Sustainability LIVE

Venue: London’s Tobacco Dock

Dates: February 23rd - 24th, 2022

Price: Day Pass - £195. Two Day Pass - £295

Sustainability LIVE focuses on creating actionable change and real-world partnerships, with the conference agenda including several stages of talks by global industry leaders; centred around a fully catered networking area. The event will include Keynote Speakers, Live Roundtables with Q&As, a Networking Lunch, Inspirational Presentations & Speakers as well as a Sponsor / Attendee VIP After Party!


edie Sustainability Leaders Forum

Venue: Business Design Centre London (and Online)

Dates: 8th - 9th March 2022

Price: £149 - £1,049 (dependent on ticket option)

The multi-award-winning Sustainability Leaders Forum is back, bigger and better for 2022!

The goal of the event is to bring together business leaders, sustainability practitioners, policymakers, investors and NGOs around a common goal: turning the ambitions of COP26 into meaningful climate action and truly transform business, for good.

Over three days in London and online, you will be connected with peers through expertly facilitated networking sessions; inspired by powerful keynote talks from global industry leaders; immersed in a series of themed plenary discussions and dynamic best-practice presentations; and challenged to think differently in our interactive panel debates and co-creative workshops.


Reset Connect 

Venue: ExCel London

Dates: 28th - 29th June 2022

Price: £200 - £1,200 (dependent on ticket option)

Reset Connect London 2022 will be the UK’s largest sustainability ecosystem and green investment gathering.

It attracts policy makers, government leaders, large corporations, technology providers, purpose-led brands and entrepreneurs to network, find sustainable, low-carbon solutions and providers and explore opportunities for funding through institutional & impact investors, private equity & venture capital, and the financial adviser community.                  

The networking opportunities here are HUGE - with other businesses and more that are all invested in the sustainability ecosystem!


The Good Business Festival

Venue: Liverpool (various venues)

Dates: 22nd - 24th March 2022

Price: Tickets require a donation of at least £1 

SO much more than a business festival.

From major global brands to local Liverpool businesses, The Good Business Festival showcases powerful ideas from some of the sharpest minds on the planet!

Taking place across a variety of venues in Liverpool, there will be a host of speakers leading knowledge sessions and workshops, plus the opportunity to network with like-minded businesses, enabling everyone who attends to unite together with one common goal - helping to ensure that your company is future-proofed.


Impact Summit

Venue: TBA

Dates: May 2022

Price: £249 - £599 (dependent on ticket option)

Impact Summit is Europe’s leading purpose-led business event - an annual gathering for those who dream of a thriving global economy that puts people and planet at its very heart.

From entrepreneurs, to executives, to educators, the Impact Summit provides a platform to the people shaking things up, changing the status quo, and using purpose-driven business models as a means of tackling global challenges.


Meaning Conference 

Venue: Brighton

Dates: TBA

Price: TBA

Currently on a “Covid time out” according to their website, we still wanted to mention Meaning as we’re hoping it will make an appearance in the 2022 calendar and if not - it’s one to note down for years ahead!

Meaning is an event that explores what it means to live, work and organise with integrity and purpose - with an aim to connect and inspire the people who believe in better business.

With core themes including the future of work, planet positive business, disruptive innovation and modern leadership - there’s something here for everyone! Head to their website and sign up to the mailing list today to ensure you’re the first to hear about their next event as and when it’s announced.

Please Note: all information, including dates and prices, that are listed above are correct at the time of writing. Some prices may be subject to VAT.


For information about the events that The Better Business Network hosts, please head to our LinkedIn Page.