Award Categories

Rising Star (Most Promising Young Person)

This award recognises someone who is excelling in their chosen career, making a valuable contribution to their employer or the economy and is achieving above and beyond expectations at a young age.

The judges are looking for someone who has demonstrated exemplary performance and who stands out from their peers. This can be demonstrated through their technical, commercial, or practical abilities, client/customer care or focus, recognition of their work for clients, customers or their employer and engaging and responding to demands faced by their clients or customers and the profession/sector they work in.

Please note there are a number of specific professional categories (including Legal and Finance) as well as the rising star when making an application.

Agent of Change

Hope and unity are what this award embodies. This award recognises individuals/teams who have worked to tackle challenges which will have a lasting impact in their community and/or sector. This could be through an innovative project or initiative that has driven positive change.

The judges will look to hear how efforts have helped to address the subject through empowerment, education, reflection and celebration. Topics can include but are not limited to sustainability, climate change, disaster responses, human rights, championing inclusionary practices and wellbeing.

Marketing and Creative Professional of the Year

This award recognises an individual who has excelled in marketing, communications, or a creative field. A winning candidate would be an individual who through creative, technical and/or commercial ability has excelled this year as a creative or marketing professional. Entrants are invited from across the creative sectors.

Entrants in marketing roles could demonstrate their work through campaign promotion, designing and executing a marketing strategy or transforming/enhancing a brand.

The individual nominated will have to demonstrate to the judges how their technical, commercial or practical abilities have supported a step change in this process, how they have incorporated their clients' perspectives into their work and, where possible, demonstrated impact.

Entrants in creative/design roles can demonstrate their work on major creative projects, highlighting their identity and individualism through their portfolio. Examples can include understanding and responding to client briefs, impacting a sector and/or making a mark in Greater Manchester.

*For this category a portfolio to support your application can be emailed after submission, with this noted in your application text.

Outstanding Apprentice

Breaking into a sector is never easy and this award will recognise an incredible apprentice who has gone above and beyond, setting the standard in their industry. Through inspirational qualities and a commitment to personal development, they will have demonstrated an outstanding contribution to their workplace.

The judges are looking for an exemplary apprentice who has achieved a high level of progression, successfully applied their learning in the workplace and can demonstrate management or leadership capabilities. The nominee must either be currently undertaking an apprenticeship or have completed one within the last 12 months.

Legal Professional of the Year

This award recognises a truly exceptional individual’s contribution to the legal profession in the last 18 months. Nominees can be paralegals, trainee solicitors, legal executives, or qualified solicitors.

The judges are looking for someone who has demonstrated exemplary performance in their field of expertise, standing out from their peers. This can be demonstrated through their technical legal ability, client care/focus, pro bono work, recognition of their work on major cases, projects or investigations and engaging and responding to demands faced by clients and the legal profession.

Hospitality and Events Professional

This award honours exceptional individuals across Greater Manchester who have demonstrated outstanding achievements in the hospitality and events sector. Nominees should exhibit excellence in areas like leadership, innovation in events or their organisation, professional excellence, customer service, and community impact.

The winner of this award will have great stakeholder relationship skills, take an active role in the events and hospitality community, bring a positive energy to their role, and be committed to continued growth in their field. Nominees will be evaluated based on their achievements over the past 18 months, with consideration given to measurable outcomes and testimonials as provided.

Recruitment Professional of the Year

The winner of this award will have demonstrated outstanding achievements in talent acquisition and recruitment in Greater Manchester. Nominees should exhibit excellence in sourcing and placing candidates, innovative recruitment strategies, leadership within their organisation, and a positive impact on clients and candidates alike.

Judges will be looking for consistent high performance in recruitment activities, expertise in matching candidates with appropriate roles, positive feedback and measurable outcomes reflecting strong relationships with clients and candidates, innovation and creativity as well as positive contributions to their team or business.

Education Professional of the Year

The winner of this award will have made a significant impact within the education sector across Greater Manchester in the last 18 months. Whether working in early years, primary, secondary, further education, higher education, or informal learning environments, this category celebrates professionals who are shaping the future through dedication, innovation, and a commitment to student success.

Nominees should demonstrate to the judges their impact on learners, colleagues, or the wider educational community as well as contributions to inclusivity, accessibility, or community engagement within education.

The Judges would like to see innovative approaches to teaching, learning, or educational leadership and evidence of professional growth and a commitment to continuous improvement.

This category is open to educators, administrators, support staff, and other professionals working within the education sector who have shown outstanding dedication and achievement in their roles.

Tech Professional of the Year

This award recognises an outstanding individual aged 18–40 working in the technology sector across the Greater Manchester Region. Whether they are driving innovation, developing impactful digital solutions, or championing diversity in tech, this category celebrates professionals making a significant mark in their field.

Judges will be looking for applicants who demonstrate impact in their role or organisation through innovation, leadership, or technical excellence as well as a clear passion for technology and its potential to drive positive change in society and evidence of continuous learning and a commitment to staying at the forefront of technological advancements.

Judges will also take into account contributions to the wider tech community, such as mentoring, community engagement, or advocacy for underrepresented groups.

This category is open to professionals across all areas of technology, including but not limited to software development, data analysis, cybersecurity, IT infrastructure, and digital project management.

Northern Impact Regional Award

This award honours an exceptional individual or team whose work has created meaningful, lasting change across the wider North West region. Whether through a grassroots initiative, innovative project, or sustained advocacy, this category celebrates those who are tackling pressing challenges and driving positive transformation beyond Greater Manchester.

Judges will be looking for:

Clear evidence of impact—social, environmental, or economic—within communities or sectors across the North West.
Initiatives that promote empowerment, education, inclusion, or sustainability.
Creative approaches to addressing regional issues, such as climate action, health equity, community resilience, or social justice.
A commitment to collaboration, reflection, and long-term change.

The winner (or winners) will be leading change that uplifts communities and inspires hope across the North West.

Business Development and Entrepreneurship Professional of the Year

The winner of this award will have made an outstanding contribution to the Greater Manchester region. This can be demonstrated through technical, commercial or practical accomplishments, client/customer care and/or focus and engaging and responding to demands faced by their clients/customers and their profession/sector.

If you are nominating as an individual, you will have driven your organisation forward, through new business acquired and/or developing relationships with key clients. The individual nominated should demonstrate to the judges how their personal attributes influence and develop client relationships. This can include, but is not limited to, bringing clients from outside of the North West into Greater Manchester.

If nominating as an organisation/initiative it will be a recent (< 3 years) initiative that has capitalised on an opportunity to develop a new venture, process, or service. The judges are looking for an individual or team that has achieved the above through hard work, dedication, and determination.

Enter the Awards Here