FIPS Business Awards 2025
We are excited to host our first ever FIPS Business Awards for 2025 to recognise the great and inspiring Financial, Insurance and Professional services offered in Suffolk. We invite you to either apply to one of the six award categories detailed below, or nominate a business or individual you feel fit the award category.
Application timeline:
Open on the 23rd July 2025
Close on the 22nd August 2025
Finalists will be announced on the 8th September 2025
The FIPS Award dinner will be hosted on the 23rd October 2025 where the winners will be announced.
To be eligible for an award you must meet the following criteria:
Must be a Suffolk based business/individual (An individual can either be self-employed or an individual/team within an organisation who has demonstrated excellence)
Must be a trading business that operates in one of the following sectors:
Finance (accountancy, business loans & financing, asset finance, wealth management, debt-recovery, invoice discounting)
Insurance (business, professionals, fleet)
Professional Services (Solicitors, specialist services such as wills, probate & trusts, business advice and consultancy)
AWARD CATEGORIES
AWARD CATEGORIES
Inclusivity / Accessibility Award
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Recognising excellence in fostering inclusivity and accessibility in the FIPS sectors, particularly for underrepresented groups (e.g., racial/ethnic minorities, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, neurodivergent people, socioeconomically disadvantaged).
Eligibility: Open to businesses or teams operating within the FIPS sectors in Suffolk.
Judging Criteria: Clarity, impact, innovation, and sustainability of efforts.
Sustainability Award
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To recognise and celebrate FIPS businesses that are taking meaningful, measurable, and innovative steps to embed sustainability into their operations, culture, and client relationships.
This award aims to spotlight those who are not only reducing their own environmental and social impact but also leading by example in their sector - inspiring others to follow suit.
Eligibility: Open to businesses or teams operating within the FIPS sectors in Suffolk
Judging Criteria: Evidence that sustainability is embedded into the firm’s strategy, culture and leadership. Judges will also be looking for action and impact, points will be awarded for practical, measurable actions taken in the past 12-18 months.
Developing the Workforce of the Future Award
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Recognise a business that has provided extensive opportunities for young people to develop their business-related knowledge and skills through work experience and/or apprenticeship opportunities.
Eligibility: Individuals or Business operating within the FIPS sectors in Suffolk
Judging Criteria: Impact, skills development, career development and tailored opportunities.Judges will also be looking for evidence of structure programmes of work experience, upskilling and reskilling, partnerships with
education providers, creating career opportunities, offering mentorship, development and teamwork.
Innovation Award
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This award celebrates a business, team, or individual who has demonstrated outstanding innovation. Whether through new technologies, customer service models, sustainability initiatives, or transformative business practices, the winner will have delivered measurable impact, led change in their sector, and set new standards of excellence.
Eligibility: Business, Team or individual operating within the FIPS sectors in Suffolk.
Judging Criteria: Clear evidence of innovation (product, process, service or strategy), positive impact on business performance or customer experience, contribution to sector-wide advancement or local economic growth, demonstrates scalability.
Leadership Award
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An award for an Individual or a Company within the FIPs sector that has demonstrated superior leadership over the last 12 months; candidates need to have shown strong and effective leadership, with measurable outputs that have had a positive impact on their company or sector.
Eligibility: Individuals or Business operating within the FIPS sectors in Suffolk that can demonstrate superior leadership over the last 12 months.
Judging Criteria: Vision and strategic thinking, integrity and communication, innovation and creativity, collaboration and
teamwork, resilience and adaptability, mentorship and development.
Community Contribution Award
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Recognising ongoing and outstanding contributions to local communities that have left a meaningful and lasting impact.
Eligibility: Open to businesses or teams operating within the FIPS sectors in Suffolk.
Judging Criteria: Social action, philanthropy, community service and impact.
NOMINATIONS
NOMINATIONS
If you would like to nominate a business, team or individual for one of the awards detailed above, you can put them forward by clicking here.
FIPS Dinner Award Night
23rd October 2025, 6-11pm
You can book your place at the awards evening which will be held at Chef White’s at Suffolk New College on the evening of the 23rd October 2025. Full table bookings are welcome but limited to capacity. Let us know early if you’d like to book for the Awards Dinner to avoid disappointment.
Dinner Pricing for a set menu:
£50 individual
£450 for a full table of 10
£225 for a half table of 5
Price Includes: 3 course set meal, and complimentary canapes and drinks upon arrival. Bar access throughout the evening to purchase additional drinks.
For the FIPS Dinner Award Night booking enquiries please contact anette.gilham@ipswich.gov.uk or kate@virtualprestige.co.uk