"Promoting the good that businesses do for a better world"

Progress, Not Perfection

Our purpose is to promote the good that businesses do for a better world, focusing on small and medium-sized businesses with a common goal to be a force for good whilst developing a strong and stable economy.

The Good Small Business Awards were established to recognise and celebrate businesses that are proving it is possible to do good and do business well.

Across the UK, small and medium-sized businesses are shaping the future of the economy — not only through innovation and growth, but through the way they treat people, serve their communities, and respond to environmental challenges. These Awards exist to shine a light on those organisations that are choosing to lead with purpose, responsibility, and integrity.

We are not looking for perfection. We recognise that businesses are on a journey — and we celebrate those making meaningful, credible progress in how they operate and grow.

Why the Awards Exist

Business has the power to shape society.

Every decision a business makes — from how it treats its employees, to how it sources materials, to how it serves its customers — creates impact. The question is not whether businesses create impact, but what kind of impact they choose to create.

The Good Small Business Awards recognise those businesses that are making conscious, responsible choices and embedding good practice into how they operate and grow.

What We Mean by “Good Business”

We define “good business” as the integration of:

  • People — fair, inclusive and supportive practices
  • Planet — responsible environmental stewardship
  • Profit — sustainable and resilient business performance
  • Purpose — a clear sense of why the business exists and the contribution it makes

We believe that businesses that align these elements are better equipped to succeed in the long term and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable economy.

Our Focus on SMEs

Small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs) form the backbone of the UK economy. They are often closer to their communities, more agile in their decision-making, and uniquely positioned to embed responsible practices from the ground up.

The Awards are specifically designed for SMEs — recognising that impact should be assessed in proportion to size, resources, and stage of development, not absolute scale.

This ensures a fair and meaningful comparison between businesses operating at different levels.

More Than an Awards Programme

The Good Small Business Awards are not only about recognition.

They are also about:

  • sharing ideas and good practice
  • highlighting practical approaches that others can learn from
  • building a community of businesses committed to doing things differently

By showcasing real examples of responsible business in action, we aim to encourage wider adoption and raise expectations of what good business looks like.

Our Approach

We take a structured and thoughtful approach to judging, focusing on:

  • evidence of embedded practice
  • clarity of purpose
  • meaningful impact
  • alignment between values and actions

We are not looking for perfection. We are looking for businesses that are making genuine, credible progress and demonstrating leadership in their own context.

Looking Ahead

As the Awards continue to grow, our ambition is to:

  • expand regional engagement across the UK
  • deepen collaboration with partners and institutions
  • strengthen the role of business as a force for good

We believe that recognising and supporting responsible businesses is essential to building a more resilient and sustainable future.

Get Involved! Enter the Awards

If your business is embedding good practice and creating positive impact, we encourage you to enter the Awards and share your story.