As the Nottingham Baby & Toddler (NBT) Awards continue to grow, we are committed to ensuring the awards remain fair, transparent and inclusive, celebrating the individuals, businesses and organisations making a meaningful difference to babies, toddlers, parents and families across Nottingham and the wider NBT Connect community.

Please read these Terms & Conditions carefully before submitting a nomination or voting.

1. Eligibility

Nominations are open to eligible individuals, class leaders, businesses, independent brands, service providers, charities, community groups and organisations offering activities, products or services for babies and toddlers aged 0–5, their parents and guardians, or the wider baby and toddler community, as specified in each award category.

All nominees must meet the individual eligibility requirements published for their chosen category.

2. Geographical Eligibility

The NBT Awards include main Nottingham awards and surrounding-area awards.

• Main Nottingham awards: Nominees must meet the relevant category criteria and be based in Nottingham within the NG postcode area.

• NBT Connect surrounding-area awards: Eligible nominees must be based in or regularly deliver services within the published NBT Connect surrounding-area eligibility zone, outside the core Nottingham NG postcode catchment.

Eligible surrounding areas include Derby, Belper, Ripley, Ilkeston, Heanor, Alfreton, Loughborough, Shepshed, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Coalville, Castle Donington and neighbouring communities within the published eligibility zone.

Some towns and surrounding communities have overlapping or neighbouring postcode districts. The organisers will use the published geographical eligibility criteria to determine eligibility.

Providers working across multiple areas: Providers delivering services in both Nottingham and the surrounding areas should be nominated for the relevant award based on where the majority of their customers or the families they support are based. Eligibility remains subject to the geographical and category-specific criteria.

The three regional categories are:

• NBT Connect’s Most Loved Baby & Toddler Provider – Surrounding Areas

• NBT Connect’s Most Loved Parent & Family Support Service – Surrounding Areas

• NBT Connect’s Baby & Toddler Community Champion

The Community Champion category recognises eligible individuals contributing to the wider NBT Connect community, including those based in Nottingham and the surrounding-area eligibility zone.

3. Self-Nomination and Multiple Entries

Self-nominations are welcome. You may nominate yourself, your business or a franchise you represent.

Individuals and businesses may be nominated in more than one category, provided they meet the eligibility criteria for each award and comply with the category restrictions below.

• Submit only one nomination per category.

• If you wish to nominate someone in multiple categories, complete a separate nomination for each category.

• Do not include multiple nominees or multiple category entries in a single nomination response. Submissions that do not follow the form instructions may be considered invalid.

4. Category Restrictions

To maintain fairness, a provider cannot be shortlisted in more than one of the following three activity leader categories:

• Nottingham’s Most Loved Activity Leader for Babies (Pre-Walkers)

• Nottingham’s Most Loved Activity Leader for Toddlers & Preschoolers

• Nottingham’s Most Loved Parent Activity Leader

If a provider receives nominations or votes across more than one of these categories, the organisers will determine the single category in which they progress, considering the nomination or voting results and the category that best reflects their primary service.

Providers may still be nominated in other relevant categories, including service provider, community, Rising Star and Shining Star awards, provided they meet the relevant criteria.

5. Rising Star and Shining Star Awards

The Rising Star and Shining Star Awards are decided by the judging panel, rather than through the standard public-voting process.

Individuals or businesses may be considered for these awards through nominations in other categories or by submitting an independent nomination specifically for Rising Star or Shining Star.

• Rising Star Award: Recognises an emerging individual or business demonstrating promise, achievement, growth or a positive early impact within the baby and toddler community.

• Shining Star Award: Recognises an exceptional individual whose achievements, contributions or initiatives have made a meaningful and demonstrable impact on local families or the wider community.

Nominations should include relevant examples of achievements, milestones, projects, initiatives or contributions. All nominees must meet the applicable eligibility criteria.

6. Category Criteria

Before submitting a nomination, please read the individual award descriptions and eligibility requirements carefully. The organisers reserve the right to review nominations and determine whether a nominee meets the criteria for the chosen category.

Where necessary, a nomination may be reassigned to a more appropriate category, subject to the nominee's eligibility.

7. Fairness and Conduct

The NBT Awards aim to recognise genuine contributions and celebrate the community positively.

Any fraudulent activity, manipulation of votes, duplicate voting intended to influence results, or other conduct that compromises the integrity of the awards may result in votes being discounted or nominations and participation being withdrawn.

The organisers reserve the right to investigate suspected misconduct and take appropriate action to protect the fairness of the awards.

8. Voting and Verification

Where public voting applies, email addresses and other relevant information, including IP addresses where collected by the voting platform, may be used for validation, fraud prevention and spot checks.

By voting, you agree to the applicable voting rules and privacy information. Voters may be contacted where necessary to verify a vote or address an issue with their submission.

Votes identified as fraudulent, duplicated or otherwise invalid will not be counted.

Please refer to the voting instructions published for the relevant award stage for details of voting limits and deadlines.

9. Judging and Shortlisting

Once nominations close, entries will be reviewed for eligibility and the results will be assessed in accordance with the process applicable to each award.

For public-voting categories, eligible nominees will progress through the published nomination, shortlisting and voting stages. The Rising Star and Shining Star Awards will be decided by the judging panel.

In the event of a tie, the judging panel will make the final decision where applicable.

Submitting a nomination does not guarantee shortlisting. The organisers reserve the right to withhold or amend a shortlist where eligibility or fairness concerns arise.

10. Shortlisted Nominees and Notification

Shortlisted nominees will be contacted using the details provided in their nomination.

Nominees must respond within the timeframe specified in their notification and confirm any requested information. Failure to respond or comply with the published requirements may result in their shortlist position being withdrawn.

Shortlisted nominees will be invited to participate in promotional activity and, where applicable, the NBT Awards 2027 presentation evening.

11. Shortlist Questionnaire and Promotion

Shortlisted nominees may be asked to complete a questionnaire providing information about their work, achievements, services or contribution to the community.

Responses may be used on the NBT website, social media, email marketing and other awards-related promotional materials. Any use of submitted information will be subject to the applicable privacy information and permissions.

Where a questionnaire is required, it must be completed within the deadline stated in the shortlist notification.

12. Final Results and Winners

For categories involving public voting and judging, results will be determined using the scoring process established for the relevant award stage. The Rising Star and Shining Star Awards will be decided by the judging panel.

Winners and runners-up will be announced at the NBT Awards 2027 presentation evening, unless otherwise communicated by the organisers.

The organisers' decisions are final, subject to any applicable correction of administrative errors. Individual judges' deliberations and detailed scoring breakdowns will not routinely be disclosed.

13. Attendance and Ticketing

There is no charge to submit a nomination or be shortlisted.

Attendance at the NBT Awards 2027 presentation evening is subject to the event's ticketing arrangements. Shortlisted nominees and guests must purchase tickets where required. Any attendance requirements will be communicated to shortlisted nominees.

14. Privacy and Use of Information

Information submitted through nominations, questionnaires and voting will be used for the administration, verification and promotion of the NBT Awards, in accordance with the applicable privacy information.

Please ensure you have permission to share another person's contact details or personal information where required.

For information about how personal data is collected, used and retained, please refer to the relevant privacy notice on the NBT website.

15. Organiser's Rights

The organisers reserve the right to clarify or amend category criteria, eligibility requirements, deadlines and award arrangements where reasonably necessary to protect the integrity and smooth running of the awards.

Any significant changes will be communicated through the NBT website or relevant awards communications.

The organisers also reserve the right to exclude nominations, remove votes or withdraw participation where these Terms & Conditions have not been met.

16. Growth and Development of the Awards

The NBT Awards continue to evolve in response to feedback and the needs of our community. Our ongoing commitments include:

• Strengthening fairness, verification and transparency.

• Reviewing categories to recognise the diversity of the baby and toddler community.

• Working collaboratively with community representatives to improve the awards.

• Increasing visibility for shortlisted nominees through website, email and social media promotion.

• Recognising genuine achievement, community contribution and positive impact.

• Extending recognition to eligible providers and community contributors across the wider NBT Connect surrounding areas.

Questions?

For queries about nominations, eligibility or the awards process, please contact:

nottinghambabytoddlerevent@hotmail.co.uk

​