These Terms & Conditions apply to all entries submitted to the The Hits Hastings City Celebration Awards 2026 (“the Awards”), organised by the Hastings City Business Association (“HCBA”).

By entering the Awards, all entrants agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.

1. Eligibility

1.1 Entry is open to businesses, organisations, and individuals operating within the Hastings City Business Association Membership Zone and meeting the eligibility requirements of the relevant award category.

1.2 Entrants must provide accurate, complete, and truthful information in their submission.

1.3 The Awards organisers reserve the right to verify any information provided and may request supporting documentation where required.

1.4 Businesses or individuals may enter multiple categories where eligible.

1.5 Judges, and any business or organisation that a judge owns, works for, represents, advises, or has a financial or governance interest in, are not permitted to enter the category that judge is assigned to assess.

1.6 Sponsors may enter award categories provided there is no conflict of interest between the sponsor and the category entered. Sponsor category allocations have been arranged to ensure fairness and independence in the judging process.

2. Judging Process

2.1 All judges are required to declare any actual, potential, or perceived conflicts of interest prior to judging.

2.2 Judges with a declared conflict of interest in a category will not participate in the assessment or discussion of that category.

2.3 The judging panel’s decisions are final and binding.

2.4 No correspondence, discussion, reconsideration, or dispute regarding judging outcomes, finalist selections, scores, or winners will be entered into.

2.5 The organisers reserve the right to move an entry into a more suitable category if deemed appropriate.

2.6 The organisers reserve the right not to present an award in any category if, in the opinion of the judges, the standard of entries does not meet the required criteria.

3. Confidentiality

3.1 All information submitted as part of an entry will be treated as confidential.

3.2 Entry information will only be accessible to:

• HCBA staff;

• HCBA board members directly involved in the Awards process; and

• appointed judges for relevant categories.

3.3 Judges and organisers agree not to disclose confidential business information obtained through the Awards process.

3.4 Entrant information will only be used for the purposes of administering and promoting the Awards unless otherwise agreed by the entrant.

4. Finalists and Winners

4.1 Finalists may be publicly announced prior to the Awards event at the discretion of the organisers.

4.2 Winners will remain confidential until officially announced during the Awards presentation event.

4.3 No winner information will be released prior to the official announcement on the night of the Awards.

4.4 Winners may be requested to participate in promotional activities, photography, interviews, or media coverage relating to the Awards.

5. Entry Requirements

5.1 Entries must be submitted by the advertised closing date.

5.2 Late, incomplete, or ineligible entries will not be accepted.

5.3 Entrants are responsible for ensuring all submission materials are received successfully.

5.4 The organisers reserve the right to disqualify any entry that:

• contains false or misleading information;

• breaches these Terms & Conditions;

• brings the Awards into disrepute; or

• is considered inappropriate or offensive.

6. Use of Materials

6.1 By entering the Awards, entrants grant HCBA permission to use submitted business names, logos, photographs, videos, and non-confidential entry content for Awards-related marketing, publicity, and promotional purposes.

6.2 Copyright of submitted materials remains with the entrant unless otherwise agreed.

7. Event and Award Changes

7.1 The organisers reserve the right to amend award categories, judging panels, event dates, venues, or these Terms & Conditions where necessary.

7.2 The organisers reserve the right to cancel, postpone, or modify the Awards event due to circumstances beyond their reasonable control.

8. Limitation of Liability

8.1 To the fullest extent permitted by law, HCBA and associated organisers, sponsors, and judges will not be liable for:

• technical issues affecting entries;

• loss or damage to submitted materials;

• cancellation or disruption of the Awards event; or

• any indirect or consequential loss arising from participation in the Awards.

9. Acceptance of Terms

9.1 Submission of an entry constitutes acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.

9.2 The organisers reserve the right to interpret and apply these Terms & Conditions at their sole discretion.