Eligibility Criteria
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