How it works

The judging process

The judging process for this year’s NACFB Commercial Lender Awards combines the insight of an expert judging panel with votes from the NACFB broker community.

The panel of industry experts will review all submissions to determine a shortlist in each award category. The panel will be announced shortly.

To ensure impartiality of judging, entrants names and identifying information will be redacted in all categories except Industry Leader of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, and Unsung Hero of the Year.

Shortlisted entrants will be notified (under embargo) by email on Friday 10th October 2025.

Before the shortlist is announced, a panel of NACFB Member brokers will review the proposed shortlist by entrant name only to check that all entrants are eligible to participate.

On Monday 13th October 2025 the full shortlist will be published on this website and NACFB Member brokers will be invited to cast votes for the Patrons and Partners of their choice in each category (where relevant). Voting will remain open for one week, closing at 5pm on Monday 20th October 2025.

The judging panel’s scores will be combined with the Members’ votes to determine the winner and highly commended in each category (where relevant, please see entry criteria terms and conditions below for full details).  

All winners will be revealed at a gala ceremony at the Westminster Park Plaza on Thursday 27th November 2025. You can secure your tickets here.

Key dates

Entry to the NACFB Commercial Lender Awards 2025 is completely free and is open to all NACFB Patron lenders and Partner suppliers. NACFB Member brokers are not eligible to enter but will be invited to vote on the shortlist.

Key dates* for your diary are:

Thursday 7th August
Awards open for entries & tickets on sale

Friday 5th September
Submission deadline at 5pm

Late September
Judging day

Friday 10th October
Shortlisted entrants notified under embargo

Monday 13th October
Voting opens to NACFB Member brokers

Monday 20th October
Voting closes at 5pm

Friday 31st October
Early bird ticket prices for NACFB Patrons/Partners close at 5pm

Thursday 27th November
Winners revealed at the awards ceremony

*Please note, dates may be subject to change.

    • Entry into the NACFB Commercial Lender Awards 2025 is open only to NACFB Patron lenders and Partner suppliers, and their personnel therein.

    • NACFB Member brokers are not eligible to enter any award category.

    • NACFB Patrons and Partners may enter as many award categories as they deem suitable.

    • NACFB Patrons and Partners may submit more than one entry into the following categories: Industry Leader of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, and Unsung Hero of the Year.

    • Separate, unique submissions must be made for each entry.

    • Each entry must relate to activities which have taken place since September 2024 to present.

    • Entries must be made using the online submission form.

    • For each entry, entrants have just 300-words in which to convince the judges that they are worthy winners. Additional submitted evidence will not be accepted; however, the judges reserve the right to request more information.

    • The judging panel comprises experts from recognised industry stakeholders and includes representation from the NACFB Board all of whom will be provided with guidance on how to review submissions individually and fairly.

    • To ensure impartiality of judging, entrants names and identifying information will be redacted in all categories except Industry Leader of the Year, Rising Star of the Year, and Unsung Hero of the Year.

    • The selections of the judging panel will be used to determine the shortlisted entrants in each category.

    • The NACFB and the judging panel reserve the right, without prior consent of the entrant, to move entries into different categories if they feel it is more appropriate.

    • All entry information will be used solely for the purposes of assessing the entries. Potentially sensitive information will not be made public.

    • Before the shortlist is announced, a panel of NACFB Member brokers will review the proposed shortlist by entrant name only to check that all entrants are eligible to participate.

    • Once announced, NACFB Member brokers are invited to vote on the shortlist. To ensure fairness, Member firms are limited to five votes each per category.

    • The winners and highly commended in each category are determined based on the combined results of the judges’ selections and the Member votes.

    • The decisions of the NACFB and the judging panel are final; no correspondence will be entered into and no reasons given for decisions.

    • The deadline for all entries is 5pm on Friday 5th September 2025. Any entries received after this date may not be accepted. The NACFB reserves the right to extend the deadline if necessary.

    • The winners will be announced at the NACFB Commercial Lender Awards 2025 ceremony on Thursday 27th November 2025 at the Westminster Park Plaza hotel, London.

    • The NACFB will provide the winners, runners-up and shortlisted entrants with assets (graphics and wording) to promote their participation.

    • The winners, runners-up and shortlisted entrants may state in advertising and promotional material that they have participated, but they must state the year of participation.