2021 Award Category Guide

We have put together these examples of different themed category sets that you may find motivating for your business to enter.

Sustainability Categories

Extending on social good and sustainability categories is our commitment to award conscious business.

• Circular Pioneer Award
• You have Ethics Award
• Work Sweet Work Award
• Going Green Award
• B-Good Award

Growth Categories

This selection of categories you could consider as part of your growth stage.

• Hammer Award
• Out of the Garage Award
• Unexpected Twist Award
• I Wish I’d Done That Award
• Big Noise Award
• Indi Award
• Baton Award
• Creative Genius Award
• Underground Award
• Exit Planet Award
• Inside Out Award
• Defiant Ones Award

Creative Categories

A small selection to reward the best idea to the masses.

• Big Noise Award
• Creative Genius Award
• Inception Award

Emerging Stars Categories

For those who are behind the scenes, starting up and under 30.

• Do You Know Who I Am Award
• Underground Award
• Prodigy Award

Excellence Categories

Top categories that award success.

• Defiant Ones Award
• The Hall of Fame Award
• Inside Out Award
• Hammer Award
• I Wish I’d Done That Award

Ecosystem Categories

Great companies create great ecosystems, leaving no one behind.

• Super Connector Award
• Do You Know Who I Am Award
• Indi Award
• Baton Award
• Work Sweet Work Award

Milestone Categories

Do you feel you’ve reached a moment for which you should be recognised?

• Hammer Award
• Out of the Garage Award
• Super Connector Award
• Baton Award
• Inception Award
• Inside Out Award
• Defiant Ones Award
• Exit Planet Award
• Circular Pioneer Award
• Unexpected Twist Award

Culture Categories

Is your company culture worth showing off?

• Work Sweet Work
• You have Ethics Award
• Unexpected Twist Award
• B-Good Award
• Inside Out Award

Company Categories

These are a variety of company awards that can suit almost any initiative and stage of your growth.

• Hammer Award
• Out of the Garage Award
• Unexpected Twist Award
• I Wish I’d Done That Award
• Big Noise Award
• B-Good Award
• Indi Award
• Underground Award
• Exit Planet Award
• Circular Pioneer Award
• You have Ethics Award
• Work Sweet Work Award
• Going Green Award
• Defiant Ones Award

Individual Categories

Our individual categories help in personal development.

• The Hall of Fame Award
• Super Connector Award
• Prodigy Award
• Do You Know Who I Am Award
• Baton Award
• Creative Genius Award
• Inception Award
• Inside Out Award

While our award categories have funky names, Pause Awards, in plain language, honours business achievements through various stages of growth. So here are our ten new categories for this year that we think are super important, and unforgivingly essential.

Creative Genius Award (new)

For smart execution

This award recognises a person that created and implemented smart and sustainable creative or business strategies in the market.

Underground Award (new)

For early-stage mavericks

This award recognises an early-stage startup that has done well in its first two years. Incubator and Accelerator startups are mostly welcome to apply as well as anyone else that is just starting up.

Exit Planet Award (new)

For the best exit

This award celebrates the company’s final frontier, the exit or IPO and the new beginning. These milestones are worth more than just a gong.

Inception Award (new)

For visionary thinkers

This award recognises a person that came up with a transformative idea that can change the world for the better. No implementation is required; this is just an idea challenge!

Inside Out Award (new)

For unlocking hidden potential

This award recognises a person that unlocks innovation potential inside the company to deliver new value and change the world.

Circular Pioneer Award (new)

For making a difference

This award category recognises a company pioneering its circular efforts that demonstrate tangible projects by keeping materials in use for longer.

You have Ethics Award (new)

For the right values in life and business

This award category recognises a company promoting accountability, good governance, leadership in Corporate Social Responsibility and solving societal problems.

Work Sweet Work Award (new)

For a great workplace culture

This award recognises a company that has managed to improve or attain outstanding employee engagement, retention and satisfaction.

Going Green Award (new)

For delivering impact and scale (new)

This award recognises a company actively leading and delivering impact and scale through sustainable efforts in clean energy, climate change, healthy environment, social and economic justice.

Defiant Ones Award (new)

For new tech breakthroughs

This award recognises a company that defines the future of the industry they play in, such as tech breakthroughs that had a significant impact on customers in how they use it and how it improves their lives.

Where most other international awards shows have a plethora of sub-categories, we try to keep it simple at Pause Awards.

Instead of ‘Best of…’, our categories are for specific business achievements.

Hammer Award

For nailing it

This award recognises a company’s success on its own terms in the market. You are simply hammering away your success and leaving everyone behind.

Out of the Garage Award

For scaling globally

This award recognises a company’s global growth, expansion, and success. You can apply if you have taken a product globally or opened an office in another country.

Super Connector Award

For being the community champ

This award recognises a person for their significant contribution to the success of their clients or the community.

Prodigy Award

For being exceptional

This award recognises a young person (under 30) with exceptional qualities or abilities. Think of it as a young achiever.

Unexpected Twist Award

For a great pivot

This award recognises a person or company that has taken an unexpected pivot in their business or career. If you have a great COVID twist, let us know.

I Wish I’d Done That Award

For sheer brilliance

This award recognises a company’s simple and clever idea in a niche market that everyone else wishes they had done instead. 

Do You Know Who I Am Award

For the silent achiever

This award recognises a person that has been responsible for their company’s success behind the scenes.

Big Noise Award 

For media cut through

This award recognises a company that has delivered clever marketing tactics. 

B-Good Award

For a good business

This award recognises a company that has done well for the community and the world through its commercial practice. “It’s not how good you are; it’s how good you want to be,” said Paul Arden once.

Indi Award

For new and First Peoples

This award recognises a successful company with founders from Indigenous or ethnic heritage that has gained success in the market.

Baton Award

For the life-long mentor

This award recognises an experienced and trusted advisor or a mentor who elevated and provided guidance, motivation and emotional support to your career.

The Hall of Fame

For future builders

This award recognises a game-changer who paved the way by breaking new grounds and inventing new categories.