The Eastside Awards is an exciting initiative aimed at highlighting and celebrating all that is good about East Belfast, whilst showcasing the contributions being made to the economic, social and community development of the area (which will include everything up to the Holywood Exchange roundabout, Dundonald, East side of Ravenhill Road to its Saintfield Road junction, Gilnahirk, Hillfoot and Titanic Quarter). 

 Winners will be crowned at the Eastside Awards Gala Dinner on Friday 29th April 2022 at Hastings Stormont Hotel. ​

2021 Category Overview & Sponsors

Awards by nomination via :
 Favourite Teacher in East Belfast 
Nominations were open via Belfast Live to nominate a teacher who, in their knowledge, has made a positive contribution to a school experience and to the provision of Education in East Belfast. 
Favourite Takeaway in East Belfast
Nominations were open via Belfast Live for ‘favourite takeaway’. This included nominations for establishments who are primarily involved in the promotion and provision of one or more dining experiences (takeaway) within East Belfast and the Greater East Belfast areas.
Favourite Eatery (Café/Restaurant) in East Belfast
Nominations were open via Belfast Live for 'favourite Café/Eatery'. This included nominations for establishments that are primarily involved in the promotion and provision of one or more dining experiences (sit in) within East Belfast and the Greater East Belfast areas.
Favourite Hairdresser/Barber in East Belfast
Nominations were open via Belfast Live for ‘favourite hairdresser/barber’ within the East Belfast and the Greater East Belfast areas. This included all businesses in East Belfast that offer services to hair. 
Favourite Beauty Business in East Belfast
Nominations were open via Belfast Live for ‘favourite beauty business’ within the East Belfast and the Greater East Belfast areas. This included all businesses in East Belfast that offer services to health, beauty & complementary services and tanning. 

Awards by application:

The Eastside Award for Contribution to the Arts 
This award is open to individuals or groups involved in the promotion and provision of the Arts in the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area that contribute to greater involvement in Arts related activities. This includes any or all activities or innovations undertaken to keep people involved during the Covid period.
The Eastside Award for Sports Initiative of the Year
This award was open to individuals or organisations involved in the promotion and provision of a sports initiative (in the past three years) that contributes to greater involvement and engagement in sporting activities in the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area. This includes any or all activities or innovations undertaken to keep people involved during the Covid period.
The Eastside Award for Excellence in Health & Wellbeing
This award is open to organisations in all sectors and all sizes within the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area that can demonstrate their commitment to and the provision of services or initiatives which make a positive contribution to the health and wellbeing of people working or living in the East Belfast area. This includes any or all activities or innovations undertaken to keep people involved during the Covid period.
The Eastside Award for Tourism Experience of the Year
This Award is open to individuals, groups or businesses (of all sizes and sectors) that are providing and promoting a Tourist offering in the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area. Entrants are encouraged to describe the Tourism offering in terms of what it is and the overall aims and objectives of the offering. This includes any or all activities or innovations undertaken to keep people involved during the Covid period.
The Eastside Award for Business Start-Up​
This Award is open to individuals, businesses or social enterprises from or within East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area which have been trading for no more than three years (commenced business after 13th October 2018.) This includes any or all activities or innovations undertaken to keep people involved during the Covid period.
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The Eastside Award for Business Growth
This Award is open to SME businesses or social enterprises operating within the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area that are able to demonstrate growth in the areas of business performance and employment over the past 3 years (since 13th October 2018) that has led to product or service excellence and sustainable improvements in business performance. This includes any or all activities or innovations undertaken to keep people involved during the Covid period.
The Eastside Award for Community Impact
This award is open to organisations that can demonstrate a contribution to:
  1. a local community or;
  2. across a number of communities in East Belfast & Greater East Belfast areas
in relation to a specific community project that demonstrates community engagement, provision of services and community impact.
 Entrants are encouraged to describe the Community Project in terms of identifying the need and how they have brought the project through to completion and or sustainability. This includes any or all activities or innovations undertaken to keep people involved during the Covid period.
The Eastside Award for Employer of the Year
This award is open to organisations in all sectors and all sizes within the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area that can demonstrate their commitment to and the provision of a positive working environment for their employees. Entrants are encouraged to tell us the overall aims of the organisation and how it has performed over the past 3 years (since Oct 2018). This includes any or all activities or innovations undertaken to keep people involved during the Covid period.

Awards by nomination:

The Eastside Award for Young Person of the Year
This award is open to nomination for a young person (aged 25 or under on 13th Oct 2021) from East Belfast and the Greater east Belfast areas. 
The Eastside Award for Volunteer of the Year
This award is open to nomination for a volunteer who has demonstrated a commitment (of not less than 2 years on 13th October 2021) to an organisation or cause which contributes to the life of East Belfast or Greater East Belfast area.

Awards by selection:

The Eastside Award for Outstanding Contribution
​The award for Outstanding Contribution will be selected by the steering committee and presented at the awards gala dinner on Friday 25th February 2022...