If you are looking to write a successful Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce award entry for your business but lack the time, check out our simple guide.
Applications have officially opened for a new-look business awards programme from Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce, offering firms across the region the chance to be recognised, not once but twice.
Now branded the Greater Birmingham Business Awards, the new format is designed to be more inclusive for businesses across the entire GBCC network while giving every entrant two shots at recognition from one application.
Under the new model, businesses apply through one of three regional awards programmes, including Birmingham & Sutton Coldfield, Solihull, or Staffordshire Gateway, covering Lichfield & Tamworth, Burton and Cannock Chase.
Gold, silver and bronze winners at these regional levels will be fast-tracked to the shortlist for the Greater Birmingham Business Awards 2027, with no need to complete a second Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce award application. Applications for the regional awards are open and close in January.
At award writing agency Osborn Communications, we do not just share our clients’ news with an array of audiences, we help them make the news by submitting winning entries for business awards.
Why West Midlands businesses should enter
Research into business awards shows that more than 80 per cent of buyers are influenced by suppliers who hold industry accolades, making the quality and precision of your initial entry critical to commercial growth.
While average self-penned entries face steep competition, businesses using professional award writers typically experience success rates upwards of 40 per cent, drastically outperforming the broader industry baseline.
Since September 2021, our track record stands at close to 70 wins and 200 finalist placings. One of those Chamber of Commerce wins was even for our business. We have also been members of Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce since our 2020 launch.
Opportunity for Birmingham businesses
The Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce award events are fantastic opportunities to network, potentially meeting new clients or suppliers at a celebration of success.
Having successfully submitted entries for an array of national, local, industry and individual awards, our expert team know all the ins and outs of the award-writing process.
If you are preparing to enter the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce awards, here are our tips.
1. Get someone motivated to write the entry
Writing with energy, enthusiasm and knowledge is vital. You need to be able to sell your business and its impact and your entry should show passion and detail.
Judges have limited time to review submissions so if focus or time is an issue, consider an expert partner for entries. The return on investment (ROI) from paying for an expert writer to produce your entry plus the accompanying cost of attending can be potentially thousands of pounds of editorial coverage and the new revenues generated from conversations with new customers who convert to spend with you. It is also worth weighing up the time drain of self-submission versus the objective storytelling an external PR agency provides.
2. Make sure you understand the award criteria
As we were all taught in exams: Always read the question. You cannot win the award if you do not meet the criteria, as that will be the focus for the assessment. Break down the application timeline, what evidence to gather now, and how to structure responses before the submission window closes.
Base your submission around each point on the judging criteria. Do not be tempted to focus solely on your strong points or go off on a tangent as you will need to outscore others on as many criteria as possible, using the full word limit. The best way to do this is to get your point across concisely.
3. Be realistic about the deadlines
Establish when the deadline for submission is and work backwards. If you are in a larger organisation do not forget to consider time for business sign off and amendments. Prepare for fact checking and gathering all your evidence plus making time to write the submission itself. If you are going to struggle to submit, you can consider getting outside help.
4. Get the facts right to show your impact
Deconstruct what you have to say which can make your application stand out to local business leaders and judges. Consider emphasising impact, measurable metrics and regional contribution. The judging panel cannot judge what is not written down on paper so used the full word count to tell your story in a clear, concise way.
Think about the business purpose and how this was met, what results were achieved and what your future plans are, as well as defining what makes your story unique in your sector or organisation.
5. Get your numbers right
Use a mix of quantitative data, measures of values or counts in numbers, and qualitative data, mostly comments expressing key ideas or views, to support what you are saying. You may claim your customer service programme is excellent so include a statistic to back it up or ask a customer or supplier to testify. Even better – do both! All of this evidence will strengthen your submission.
Don’t let your success story go unnoticed. Get in touch with our award-writing specialists today to secure your draft before the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce award deadline. As an award-winning PR agency, Osborn Communications can help. Drop us a line to book in a chat.
FAQs
How do I enter the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce awards?
You must firstly apply to your region’s awards through the online portal. Gold, silver and bronze winners will be announced at the regional awards for each category. If you achieve one of these places, you will automatically become a finalist for the Greater Birmingham Business Awards.
Can non-members enter?
Yes. The awards are open to Chamber members and non-members who are based in the Greater Birmingham region. Non-members are encouraged to apply, however you will not be eligible to win the overall Business of the Year.
When is the closing date for the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce awards?
Key dates
Regional awards – applications open: 16 September 2026
Regional awards – applications close: 29 January 2027
Regional awards celebrations: Solihull – 27 May 2027
Birmingham & Sutton Coldfield – 10 June 2027
Staffordshire Gateway – 17 June 2027
Greater Birmingham Business Awards: 7 October 2027