As we’ve been successful in making the shortlist for the Essex Business Excellence Award for Innovation, we thought we’d share a few of our tips for making sure your award entries really stand out when they’re in front of the judges’ panel. After all, business award wins are great for raising your profile, boosting staff morale, and impressing potential investors.
Start early: There’s nothing worse than putting together a rushed entry because the deadline date is looming – you won’t do your business justice. Research all options locally (often run by regional newspaper groups) and in your industry (associations and the like), plus those run by national magazines and institutions, and schedule them into your marketing calendar. This way you won’t miss any opportunities.
Take your pick: Select your category carefully, and make sure it’s a really good fit with what your company excels at. For example, if your last year of trading has bucked the trend in the recession, choose a growth category, or if you’re leading the field in your industry with a groundbreaking offering, an innovation award might be right up your street.
Put pen to paper: The first rule of award entry writing is to make sure your writing is clear, concise and readable. It’s a good idea to sketch out your answers first, by making notes about the evidence you are putting forward to prove how well your company fulfils the criteria, before you start to put it into full sentences.
Meeting and greeting: Many awards processes include either a face-to-face interview with the judge or judges, or they might visit your premises. Whichever it is, you should prepare well, so make sure you re-read your application and are ready for any further questions. If the judges are coming to you, make sure all staff are aware of the visit and are on their best behaviour!
Shout it from the rooftops: On top of the press coverage that will be obtained by the organisers, you can also go out and get your own publicity – whether you’ve been shortlisted and the ceremony is a little way off or you’ve actually won the award, it’s worth creating a buzz around the news. Let your local papers and industry publications know, highlight the success in your client and/or internal newsletters, and flag it up on your website. Basically, tell everyone!
