See this year’s categories and past Winners below…
Companies, partnerships and organisations may enter multiple categories.
Please see our Top Tips on writing a winning nomination.
Bear in mind that our judges are guided to assess nominations on these lines:
- Clear evidence of business/organisation excellence in the period 50%
- Clear evidence of long-term excellence 15%
- Civic/ESG/values 15%
- Quality of Nomination 15%
- Testimonials 5%
Click on a category to learn more
Previous Winners
2024 Winner: EX2 Group
2023 Winner: Coastal Recycling
2022 Winner: Bthechange
2021 Winner: Colab Exeter
2020 Winner: Exeter Respect Festival
2019 Winner: Royal Albert Memorial Musuem & Art Gallery
2018 Winner: Exeter Mathematics School
2017 Winner: Exeter College Think Apprenticeships
Platinum Award
The Platinum Award is given to the crème de la crème, stand-out best category winner on the night chosen by our judges. They’ll be looking for a company that has demonstrated a stellar year with serious impact on the city.
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Previous Winners
2024 Winner: Exeter Library
2023 Winner: Exeter Phoenix
2022 Winner (Arts): Positive Lights Projects
2022 Winner (Creative): Altum Media
2021 Winner (Arts): DanSci Dance Studio
2021 Winner (Creative): Dirty Martini Marketing
2020 Winner (Arts): Exeter Northcott Theatre
2020 Winner (Creative): Buddy Creative
2019 Winner (Arts): Thelma Hulbert Gallery
2019 Winner (Creative): Luminous
2018 Joint Winners (Arts): The Corn Exchange / The Phoenix
2018 (Creative): Yellow Mouse Studios
2017 Winner (Arts): Wandering Tiger
2017 Winner (Creative): Hilton Barnfield Architects
Arts & Creative
From PR agencies and designers to galleries and theatres, this category seeks to recognise what makes Exeter unique, benefitting residents and attracting visitors. Tell us what makes your organisation stand out.
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Previous Winners
2024 Winner: Adopstar
2023 Winner: AB Brand & Marketing Agency
2022 Winner: SETsquared Exeter
2021 Winner: Bluegrass Group
2020 Winner: #NatWestBoost
2019 Winner: Air Marketing Group
2018 Winner: IT Champion
2017 Winner: Exeter College Think Apprenticeships
Business Services
For all companies with a specific B2B offering, selling your goods or services to other businesses. This could be technical support, people-based, a particular item or product-based service. Judges will be looking for demonstrations of excellence, growth, and positive results.
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Previous Winners
2024 Winner: Devon Air Ambulance Trust
2023 Winner: FearLess
2022 Winner: Bthechange
2021 Winner: St Petrock’s
2020 Winner: Jay’s AIM – Helping Young Hearts
2019 Winner: Balloons (Devon)
2018 Joint Winners: City Community Trust / Force Cancer
2017 Winner: Citizens Advice Exeter
Charity
Open to all local independent registered charities. The Judges will not be judging based on the value or personal attachment to a particular cause, but how well the charity serves it. Share fundraising success from the past year, and showcase your cause and the great contribution it makes locally.
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Previous Winners
2024 Winner: Conversation Café by Devon Ukrainian Association
2023 Winner: Exeter Phoenix
2022 Winner: Exeter Works and Youth Hub Devon
2021 Winner: CoLab Exeter
2020 Winner: Exeter Culture – on behalf of the Exeter UNESCO City of Literature Group
2019 Joint Winners: Colab Exeter and Exeter Library
Community
The Community Award highlights the contribution of an organisation or company which has improved Exeter this year. Some new initiative which makes our city better or commitment to helping develop others, or notable charitable work. This is open to ANY company in Exeter.
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Exeter Hero
Do you know an unsung hero who has made a huge impact on Exeter? Perhaps someone who has worked tirelessly to improve the lives of others? Or someone who has moved mountains to bring communities together? This is your chance to sing their praises.
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Previous Winners
2024 Winner (Hair & Beauty): Exthetics
2024 Winner (Health & Wellbeing): Peninsula Dental Social Enterprise
2023 Winner (Hair & Beauty): Male Focus Salon
2023 Winner (Health & Wellbeing): EPIC Solutions
2022 Winner (Hair & Beauty): Coraline Organic Skincare
2022 Winner (Health & Wellbeing): Pete’s Dragons
2021 Winner (Hair & Beauty): Fika Salon
2021 Winner (Health & Wellbeing): Bluebird Care Exeter
2020 Winner (Hair & Beauty): The Hair Boutique
2020 Winner (Health & Wellbeing): Bluebird Care Exeter
2019 Winner (Hair & Beauty): Radiance Medispa
2019 Winner (Health & Wellbeing): Exeter City Community Trust
2018 Winner (Hair & Beauty): Five Cedars
2018 Winner (Health & Wellbeing): Home Instead
2017 Winner (Hair & Beauty): Viva Hair
2017 Winner (Health & Wellbeing): The Filo Project
Health & Beauty
This category is for any organisation which helps people improve their health and wellbeing. This could be anything from dentists to fitness classes, healthcare facilities to hair salons. What makes your offering stand out and why has it worked?
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Previous Winners
2024 Winner: Luxury Coastal
2023 Winner: Markets In Exeter
2022 Winner: Bear Town
2021 Winner: The Bear Trail
2020 Winner: Event Exeter
2019 Winner: Royal Albert Memorial Musuem & Art Gallery
2018 Winner: The Bear Trail
2017 Winner: THE PIG-at Combe
Leisure & Tourism
This category is all about enjoyment in the city: venues, accommodation, events, activities or visitor attractions, whether for tourists or residents. How does your offering make Exeter better? How have your visitor statistics improved in the past year? Did visitors have a great time and can you share their feedback?
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Previous Winners
2024 Winner (Legal): Stephens Scown Solicitors
2024 Winner (Financial): Old Mill
2023 Joint Winners (Legal): Community Law Clinic at University of Exeter and Stephens Scown Solicitors
2022 Winner (Legal & Financial): Premier Financial Planning
2021 Joint Winners (Legal & Financial): The Family Law Company / GX Accountancy
2020 Winner (Legal & Financial): Bishop Fleming
2019 Winner (Legal & Financial): The Exeter
2017 Winner (Legal & Financial): The Family Law Company
Legal & Financial
This category is open to all financial and legal companies in the area, from accountants and insurance experts to solicitors and lawyers. Demonstrate how your company has excelled in the past year.
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Previous Winners
2024 Winner: Luxury Coastal
2023 Winner: Markets In Exeter
2022 Winner: Bear Town
2021 Winner: The Bear Trail
2020 Winner: Event Exeter
2019 Winner: Royal Albert Memorial Musuem & Art Gallery
2018 Winner: The Bear Trail
2017 Winner: THE PIG-at Combe
New Business
The New Business category is for any business which has started after January 2024.
What gap in the market does your business fill? How have customers responded? What can you tell us about your wins so far. Celebrate your success and raise your profile.
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Previous Winners
2023 Winner: Vickery Holman
2022 Winner: KTA Architects
2021 Winner: Grenadier
2020 Joint Winners: Hilton Barnfield Architects and DHUD & Mi-space UK
2019 Winner: Exeter Science Park
2018 Winner: Clear Property
2017 Winner: Exeter Science Park
Property
If you’re making a big difference to the property sector locally, this one’s for you. From estate agents and letting agents to developers, architects, construction/building companies and surveyors, tell our judges about your success in shaping Exeter’s thriving built environment and how we use it.
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Previous Winners
2024 Winner (Bar): Barnova
2024 Winner (Restaurant): Exe Restaurant & Bar
2023 Winner (Bar): Margoux Restaurant & Wine Bar
2023 Winner (Restaurant): Harry’s Restaurant
2022 Winner (Bar): Barnova, The Christmas Market Bars
2022 Winner (Restaurant): Eat the Bird
2021 Joint Winners (Bar): On the Waterfront / Pink Moon
2021 Winner (Restaurant): Stage
2020 Winner (Bar): The Oddfellows
2020 Winner (Restaurant): The Cadeleigh Arms
2019 Winner (Bar): Lloyds Lounge
2019 Winner (Restaurant): MEAT59
2018 Winner (Bar): The Oddfellows Christmas Bar
2018 Winner (Restaurant): Rendezvous
2017 Winner (Bar): Doctor Ink’s Curiosities
2017 Joint Winners (Restaurant): Rendezvous / River Exe Cafe
Restaurant /Pub
What makes your restaurant or pub stand out from the crowd? Whether you run a fine dining restaurant or a cosy pub, share with the judges what has made the past year successful for your venue, what new initiatives have worked well, how you attract repeat custom from locals and give a memorable experience to visitors.
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Previous Winners
2024 Winner: Greendale Farm Shop
2023 Winner: Bernaville Nurseries
2022 Winner: Eco Baby Box
2021 Winner: The Recycled Candle Company
2020 Winner: Momma Trucker Skates
2019 Winner: Nourish of Topsham
2018 Winner: The Grocer on the Green
2017 Winner: St Leonard’s Flowers
Retail
If your store has had a great year of trading and customer satisfaction, nominate it for a Exeter Living Award which you could soon have to display in your shop window.
Please note: to qualify as Best Retailer, nominees need to have a physical shop presence in the area, though clearly can cite online sales too.
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Previous Winners
2024 Winner: EX2 Group
2023 Winner: Coastal Recycling
2022 Winner: Ebb Tides Seaweeds
Sustainability
This is open to any Exeter company or organisation which has been demonstrably thoughtful in the year about its approach to sustainability – supply chain, transport, products, energy: anything. Do you have a new or enhanced initiative? Which practices make your organisation stand out? How have you been changing your business?
Sponsored by:
Previous Winners
2024 Winner: EX2 Group
2023 Winner: Coastal Recycling
2022 Winner: Ebb Tides Seaweeds
Technology & Innovation
This is open to all companies centred on technology and innovation: developers, fintech, biotech, healthtech, app builders, product development, online platforms, designers, tech retailers. Digital focus? Nominate!
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Young Business Person (under 30)
This Award is open to anyone 30 or under who is making waves in the city. Budding entrepreneur? Media star? Financial whizz? The judges will be looking for a rising star who has vision and drive in abundance! This person could be working in any sector.
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