As a catering business in London, is it really worth entering awards?

As a small business owner, the allure of prestigious awards can be both exciting and daunting, especially with the London catering scene being highly competative. There are definitely both pros and cons to it, and we’ve experienced both ends of the spectrum.

Winning a prestigious hospitality award can give your catering business a positive reputation, providing industry approval and creating press hype, all of which ultimately promote your brand. With the right award, the positive impact can be huge – as we’ve personally learned!

However, it is also worth noting the significant financial investment entering an award entails. Not only this, but it also requires a great deal of time and effort to take part in and fill out the applications. There’s also no guarantee you’ll benefit from any of your hard work. It becomes challenging when you’re competing against larger corporate companies in the same field, as it doesn’t allow much chance for smaller, independent businesses to shine, given their limited financial resources.

While entering expensive awards can have valuable benefits for small businesses, it’s essential to weigh the costs against the potential rewards carefully. Choose the award body carefully – what will you get from entering, and is it worth the time and effort? Look at the type of businesses that win – do small businesses get a look-in? Consider the reputation of the award as well.

As a business, we’ve seen both the perks and downsides of entering various hospitality awards. What is your opinion on them?