All nominees must accept their nomination and complete the submission form by 11:59pm, September 13, 2024. All businesses must be registered in Nova Scotia.

NEW BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active business located or operating in HRM. The majority of the business must have provincial ownership and headquarters must be located provincially. 
  • Nominees must have been in business less than two years as of August 31, 2024.  
  • Nominees cannot be an expansion of an existing business, name change or new location of an existing organization. 
  • Please note: Not for Profits/Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.

SMALL BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active business located or operating in HRM. The majority of the business must have provincial ownership and headquarters must be located provincially. 
  • Nominees must be an independently owned and operated business with a total number of full-time employees not exceeding 25.  
  • Business must be owner operated for a minimum of two years, as of August 31, 2024. 
  • Please note: Not for Profits/Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.  

EXPORT BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active office in HRM.   
  • Nominees must be headquartered in Nova Scotia.  
  • A minimum of 40% of customers, partners or revenues must come from markets outside of Nova Scotia. 
  • Please note that Not for Profits/Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.  

INNOVATIVE BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active business located or operating in HRM. The majority of the business must have provincial ownership and headquarters must be located provincially. 
  • Nominees must have introduced an innovative product, service, internal process, etc. on or before August 31, 2023 or be operating in a mode where innovation is built into the culture of the company.
  • Please note that Not for Profits/Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.
  • Nominees should demonstrate a progressive perspective regarding diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion.

NOT-FOR-PROFIT OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active not-for-profit located and operating in HRM.
  • Minimum 51% of activities and funds must be raised and spent in HRM. 
  • Nominees must work to achieve social and/or cultural and economic outcomes, as well as to generate sufficient cash flow to continue to support their causes. 

Please note that Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.

BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active business located or operating in HRM.  
  • Nominees must have been in business more than two years as of August 31, 2024.  
  • Nominees must have a total number of full-time employees exceeding 25.  
  • Please note: Not for Profits/Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category. 
  • Nominees must demonstrate a commitment to supporting diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion.
  • Nominees must have a workforce that reflects the diversity of the people they serve.

BUSINESS LEADER OF THE YEAR

  • Nominees must have an active participation in a business located or operating in HRM. The majority of the business must have provincial ownership and headquarters must be located provincially. 
  • Please note: Individuals currently working for Crown Corporations/100% government-funded organizations are not eligible for this category.  
  • Nominees must demonstrate traits of inclusive leadership and a commitment to supporting diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion in the workplace.

Finalist Restrictions:

  • Finalists that have won in the last five years cannot return to that category
  • Finalists that have participated for two consecutive years cannot return in any category for 2 two years