Since its establishment in 1976, The Business Times (BT) has played a pivotal role in shaping Singapore’s business landscape, not only by reporting on it but also by setting benchmarks for excellence through a series of award programmes. Over the decades, BT has launched six signature awards, each reflecting evolving economic priorities—from leadership recognition in the 1980s to startup ambition in the late 2000s, sustainability in 2023, and artificial intelligence beginning in 2024.
The Singapore Business Awards, inaugurated in 1985 with its flagship Businessman of the Year accolade, stands as the nation’s longest-running business award. Presented in partnership with DHL Express Singapore, the programme has since expanded to include categories such as Outstanding Chief Executive of the Year and Young Business Leader of the Year. Its uninterrupted annual presentation, including through the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, underscores its resilience and significance.
In 1995, the Enterprise 50 (E50) Awards were introduced to recognise the 50 most enterprising privately held companies contributing to Singapore’s economic growth domestically and internationally. Co-organised by BT and KPMG Singapore, with OCBC serving as the principal sponsor since 2006, E50 has become a respected benchmark for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It has honoured over 700 companies, more than 140 of which have since gone public. The awards serve not only to celebrate achievement but also to reflect shifting economic trends, emphasizing adaptability, innovation, and ambitions beyond Singapore.
Elaine Heng, head of global commercial banking at OCBC, highlighted the partnership’s depth, noting that their role extends beyond sponsorship to actively supporting SMEs as they scale regionally and internationally. She cited Pollisum Group, the 2025 E50 second-place winner, as a prime example. Founded over 40 years ago as a crane repair business, Pollisum has diversified into areas including maritime logistics and steel fabrication, with a fleet that has grown substantially to support major infrastructure projects such as the Thomson-East Coast Line and Changi Airport Terminal 5.
The Singapore Corporate Awards (SCA), launched in 2005, focus on recognising outstanding corporate governance among companies listed on the Singapore Exchange. Jointly organised by BT, the Singapore Institute of Directors, and the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, and supported by the Singapore Exchange and the Accounting and Corporate Regulatory Authority, SCA includes categories like Best Managed Board and Best Annual Report. The introduction of the Corporate Excellence & Resilience Award during the Covid-19 pandemic acknowledged companies that displayed exceptional governance under crisis.
Fann Kor, chief executive officer of the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, emphasized that the awards encourage a deeper evaluation beyond financial performance or polished presentations. “Judges look beyond design and presentation,” Kor noted. “They ask whether the company has been genuinely transparent, whether difficult issues have been addressed clearly, and whether the report helps stakeholders understand how management thinks about the business.” This focus on judgment, transparency, and leadership through both stable and challenging periods has been central to the awards' ongoing relevance.
Collectively, these award programmes, supported by a consortium of partners including DHL, KPMG, OCBC, UOB, the Singapore Institute of Directors, the Institute of Singapore Chartered Accountants, and the Singapore University of Technology and Design, have not only recognised thousands of businesses and leaders but also chronicled the transformation of Singapore’s business sector over nearly five decades.