Awards open for public nomination via:
We are now seeking public nominations for East Belfast's 'Favourites' across a number of categories. Public nominations can be made via Belfast Live from 14th September - 17th October by clicking the 'Nominate Now' buttons below. The top three nominees in each category (with the most nominations), will be announced, along with the other shortlisted finalists, towards the end of November 2023. The winner, with the most nominations, will be announced live at the awards ceremony on Friday 26th January 2024. So, if you are a business or organisation that wishes to be in with a chance of winning, why not nominate yourself or indeed,  spread the word and ask your clients to nominate you. Remember to get as many nominations in as possible between 14th September - 17th October via Belfast Live to be considered as one of ' East Belfast's Favourites'. 
East Belfast School Hero of the Year 2023
We are inviting nominations from the general public to showcase their local ‘School Hero’ in East Belfast. This is an unsung hero who is not in a teaching role, but who works within the education sector and goes above and beyond in their everyday duties to make a positive impact and contribution to the school in which they work, for the benefit of pupils, staff and the wider community. This could include (but not limited to), nominations for administration staff, bus drivers, catering staff, caretakers who work within an education provision in East Belfast.
Favourite Teacher in East Belfast 
Nominations are now open for East Belfast's Favourite Teacher. We are inviting the public 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. Nominations must be for a teacher who provides education (either pre-primary, primary or post-primary) in a school in East Belfast.
Favourite Eatery in East Belfast
Nominations are now open for East Belfast's Favourite Eatery. This includes nominations for establishments (including cafes, bars and restaurants) who are primarily involved in the provision of one or more dining experiences (sit in) within East Belfast and the Greater East Belfast areas.
Favourite Takeaway in East Belfast
Nominations are now open for East Belfast's Favourite Takeaway. This includes nominations for establishments who are primarily involved in the provision of one or more dining experiences (takeaway) within East Belfast and the Greater East Belfast areas.
Favourite Hairdresser/Barber in East Belfast
Nominations are now open for East Belfast's Favourite Hairdresser/Barber. Nominate your favourite hairdresser/barber within the East Belfast and the Greater East Belfast Areas. This includes all businesses in East Belfast that offer services to hair. 
Favourite Beauty Business in East Belfast
Nominations are now open for East Belfast's Favourite Beauty Business. Nominate your favourite beauty business within the East Belfast and the Greater East Belfast  

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. 
The Eastside Award for Sports Initiative of the Year
This award is 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.
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.
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.
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 17th October 2020).
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 17th October 2020) that has led to product or service excellence and sustainable improvements in business performance.
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.
The Eastside Award for Best Company to Work for
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 2020). 
The Eastside Award for Environmental Sustainability
This award is open to individuals or organisations, regardless of size or sector within the East Belfast & Greater East Belfast area that have introduced solutions to improve their own Environmental and or sustainability footprint, or that of their customers.

Awards by nomination:

The Eastside Award for Apprentice of the Year
This award is open to nomination for an Apprentice from any skill or profession who is currently involved in their training programme or has completed their apprenticeship during 2022-23.
The Eastside Award for Young Person of the Year
This award is open to nomination for an outstanding young person (aged 25 or under on 17th October 2023) 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 17th October 2023) 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 26th January 2024.