Judging Criteria and Process

Judging Criteria

A diverse group of business professionals will be invited to be in the contest’s judging panel.

The judging panel will base their decisions on the following criteria:

• Well-written business plan or application package;
• Feasibility and innovativeness of business concept;
• Strong business viability and overall business strategy;
• Concrete and consistent evidence of good financial practices and the financial strength of the company;
• Solid management team: experience in relative industry and good credibility;
• Logical plan of action to implement business;
• Dedication to workplace health and safety;
• Sustainability where the business is based on significant social and environmental returns.

Judging Process

• Deadline for all submissions is December 16, 2008 at 12:00pm (noon).
• The Judging Panel reserves the right to judge and to evaluate the entries, the function of which is reserved solely for the invited judges.
• The Judging Panel reserves the right to disqualify any Participant if it is determined that the Participant has submitted false information, committed fraud, and/or plagiarism.
• The Judging Panel will shortlist 10 Participants in each category.  All successful Participants that make the top 10 shortlist in each category authorize the Judging Panel to conduct credit and references checks in order to confirm the top 3 award recipients in each category.
• The top three Participants in each category will be ranked first, second and third place.
• Judging and due diligence of the top 3 award recipients will be completed by February 17, 2009. 
• The successful Participants will be notified and an announcement will be posted on the Small Business BC website by February 19, 2008.  The successful Participants will be invited to attend the Small Business BC Awards Ceremony held in Vancouver on March 3, 2009. 
• The Participants understand and agree that the Judging Panel reserves the right to make all final and binding decisions with respect to all aspects of the Contest, and the Participants agree to be bound by all decisions of the Judging Panel. The Judging Panel’s selections are final and are not subject to any review.