The hunt for Britain's best business

13/06/12

Smarta, together with O2, have announced the launch of the 2012 Smarta 100, a celebration of the most exciting small businesses in the UK today.

Is your business on the right track to becoming a fast-growth superstar of the future? Why not raise your profile and reward your business with the recognition it deserves by entering this year's award.

You could win £10,000, if you are the overall winner of 2012 Smarta 100 plus a host of other high value prizes.

There are also six special awards. Winners will each receive a prize worth £1,000:

- Innovation – sponsored by Brother
- Resources – sponsored by Simply Business
- People – sponsored by NatWest
- Marketing – sponsored by Seven Hills
- Technology – sponsored by Intuit
- Social Impact – sponsored by Social Enterprise UK

This year, the Smarta 100 winners will be decided by an all-star line-up of judges including:

Theo Paphitis from Ryman and star of Dragons’ Den
Rowan Gormley, founder of Naked Wines and winner of the Smarta 100 in 2011
Mike Soutar, founder of Shortlist and Stylist magazines
Thea Green MBE, founder of Nails Inc
Andy McLoughlin, founder of British technology success story Huddle
Peter Holbrook, CEO of Social Enterprise UK
Alastair Lukies founder of Monetise
Will King, founder of King of Shaves.

Businesses from across the UK are invited to apply online at www.smarta.com/100 from 11 June. The closing date for applications is 1 September.

The judging panel will then select the Smarta 100 to be announced on 1 October. The overall winner will then be voted for by the public and announced at the awards ceremony on 6 November at Proud 2 at the O2.