HullBID Awards will celebrate the best of city centre businesses in style

HullBID has begun the countdown to its annual awards with a full house of sponsors eager to recognise and reward their city centre colleagues for another year of hard work and outstanding achievement.

A dedicated area of the HullBID website is live now for businesses to submit their entries and, although the closing date isn’t until Tuesday 20 January, 2026, the BID team are expecting a rush of interest.

Kathryn Shillito, HullBID Executive Director, said: "From humble beginnings in 2014 with a simple ceremony at Hull Truck Theatre, the HullBID Awards have grown in kudos and reputation. 

“Numbers of entries and guests at the glittering celebration night have increased every year. In 2025 we welcomed more than 340 people to a spectacular gala dinner and, with strong interest already, we’re expecting an event bigger turnout for 2026.”

The awards night will take place at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel on Friday 27 February, 2026. Awards will be presented in 10 categories and entries can be submitted online through the HullBID website. BID members will also receive an email with a link to the entry form to all members. Paper copies are available on request. Businesses can challenge for as many categories as they wish providing a separate form is completed for each entry.

An independent panel of judges will meet on Monday 26 January, 2026 to review all the entries and draw up the awards shortlists. The finalists will be notified on Tuesday 27 January.

All the shortlisted businesses will receive some complimentary tickets to the dinner, which is HullBID’s biggest networking event of the year and will include a three-course meal and entertainment. Additional tickets will be available for purchase and details will be posted on the HullBID website.

Kathryn added: “We’re already blown away by the response to the awards, with sponsors snapping up opportunities in record time. As a not for profit organisation, any financial support we receive is directly ploughed back into making the HullBID Awards one of the biggest and most exciting nights of the year in the regional business community, and we are grateful to all the businesses which have stepped up to shine a light on city centre businesses.”

Businesses are invited to submit their entries in the following categories:

• Innovation award - sponsored by AaGlobal Language Services

• Best place to work award - sponsored by St Stephens

• Longevity award - sponsored by Hayes Travel 

• Contribution to the community award - sponsored by the Office of the Police & Crime Commissioner (OPCC)

• The best in food and drink award - sponsored by Hull Trains

• Most stylish / welcoming premises award - sponsored by Hull City Council

• Customer service excellence award - sponsored by HSBC

• Commitment to health and wellbeing award - sponsored by Segal’s Jewellers

• Outstanding employee or team - sponsored by East Yorkshire Buses 

• Outstanding contribution award - sponsored by KFM Recruitment

Full details of how to enter can be found on the HullBID website at https://hullbidevents.co.uk/bidawards/