Sponsored by:
Award Categories
Nominations are now open! We want to recognise the brilliant work of individuals, teams and organisations across the sector, outstanding people whose endeavours are strengthening our national defence, security and resilience.
Innovation in Defence and Security Technology
Award available for sponsorship
Award Description:
This award celebrates an SME that has delivered genuinely innovative technology, research, or new ways of working that strengthen defence, cyber, intelligence, or security capabilities. The innovation should demonstrate clear originality and measurable benefit.
Who can be nominated?
Any organisation with up to 249 employees.
What counts as Innovation?
Innovation may relate to:
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Science or technology (e.g., new tools, systems, platforms, or technical breakthroughs)
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Operational improvements (e.g., new processes, methods, or ways of working)
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Governance or organisational change
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New approaches to sustainability or funding
The nominee may have:
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Created the innovative idea
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Developed the solution or practice
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Led its implementation within their organisation or sector
The nomination should show how the innovation has delivered meaningful benefits, such as:
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Enhanced defence or security capability
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Reduced environmental impact
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Improved operational efficiency or effectiveness
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Increased financial resilience
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Positive societal or community impact
Outstanding Contribution to National Resilience
Award available for sponsorship
Award Description:
This award recognises an individual whose work has significantly strengthened the UK’s preparedness, continuity, emergency response, or wider societal resilience. Their contribution may relate to any critical sector, including (but not limited to) health, infrastructure, security, local government, voluntary response, or essential services.
Who can be nominated?
An individual working in any organisation, at any level, whose actions have had a meaningful impact on national resilience
What counts as an outstanding contribution?
A nominee should have demonstrated performance that goes beyond the normal expectations of their role.
This may include:
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Delivering exceptional results for their organisation or for a client
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Taking initiative in challenging or high-pressure situations
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Showing leadership, innovation, or dedication that has directly improved resilience outcomes
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Making repeated or sustained contributions that demonstrate excellence over time
The strongest nominations will clearly show how the individual’s actions made a measurable or visible difference to preparedness, continuity, emergency response, or community resilience.
Collaboration of the Year
Award available for sponsorship
Award Description:
This award celebrates an SME that has shown outstanding partnership working, bringing together expertise, innovation, or specialist capability to achieve a measurable, positive impact.
Who can be nominated?
Any individual or team working within an organisation of up to 249 employees.
What counts as collaboration?
A collaborative approach taken by an individual or team within an SME that has led to a significant positive outcome for their organisation, its products, or its services. Collaboration may involve working with other individuals, teams, or external organisations, and can take place within either charitable or commercial initiatives.
Examples of positive outcomes include:
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Enhancing products or services
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Sharing or transferring knowledge, skills, or learning
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Improving efficiency or achieving cost savings
Supply Chain Excellence
Sponsored by: The Development Bank of Wales
Award Description:
This award celebrates an SME that has demonstrated outstanding performance across its supply chain, excelling in quality assurance, security compliance, on time delivery, and resilience, including cyber and export control readiness.
Who can be nominated?
Any individual or team working within an organisation of up to 249 employees.
What counts as supply chain excellence?
An approach, initiative, or sustained practice that has strengthened the SME’s supply chain performance or reliability. This may involve improvements in quality processes, security standards, delivery performance, risk management, compliance with cyber and export control requirements, or other important factors.
Examples of positive outcomes include:
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Enhanced reliability or consistency in delivery
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Strengthened security or compliance processes
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Improved resilience to disruption or risk
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Increased customer confidence or satisfaction
High Growth SME in Defence and Security
Award available for sponsorship
Award Description:
This award acknowledges an SME that has demonstrated exceptional commercial growth and sector impact over the past 12–18 months showing strong scaling capability, market expansion, and leadership within the defence and security ecosystem.
Who can be nominated?
Any SME with up to 249 employees that has experienced significant growth in the last 12–18 months.
What counts as high growth?
Clear evidence of rapid and sustainable commercial progress. This may include revenue growth, new market entry, increased customer base, expanded product or service offerings, or strengthened competitive position.
Examples of positive outcomes include:
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Significant year on year revenue or headcount growth
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Expansion into new markets or customer segments
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Successful scaling of operations, capability, or delivery
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Demonstrable influence or leadership within the sector
Social Value and Community Impact in National Security
Award available for sponsorship
Award Description:
This award recognises an SME or individual that has delivered meaningful and measurable social value aligned with national security objectives contributing to people, communities, or the environment through purposeful initiatives.
Who can be nominated?
Any individual or team within an SME of up to 249 employees.
What counts as social value and community impact?
Activities or programmes that create positive societal outcomes connected to national security priorities. This may include skills development, apprenticeships, support for veterans, environmental sustainability, or community engagement.
Examples of positive outcomes include:
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Creating training, skills, or apprenticeship opportunities
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Supporting veterans’ employment or transition
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Delivering environmental improvements or sustainability initiatives
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Strengthening local communities through outreach or partnerships