Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a standard template for an entry?

Yes, there are 5 questions to answer for each category. This helps entrants focus on what the judges are looking for and how to demonstrate achievements clearly against the category descriptions and the judging criteria. It also helps out judges consider entries side by side.

Can I put extra material in an appendix?

Yes, you can upload a maximum of 3 documents for judges to consider alongside your entry. We recommend considering the value of supporting material; judges should be able to understand and evaluate your submission based on the 5 answers given in your entry, and additional material is unlikely to increase the chances of being shortlisted.

How important are testimonials?

Good testimonials are a very important part of an entry and can be of enormous value to judges in assessing the impact of your achievements.

The best testimonials by far are those which are woven into the narrative, particularly when they are linked to a case study. We’ve had some outstanding examples of this over the years where we get a real sense of what was actually done for the client and how much it was appreciated.

Is it essential to include case studies?

There is no need to load up your entry with lots of examples. It is far better to give three or four examples of work which your firm has done and which give us a real insight into the challenges you faced, the work that was done, and the outcome. And don’t think that examples always have to show the most complex and difficult work you have done. Some of the best examples over the years have been on relatively straightforward mainstream issues, where the firm has been able to demonstrate high quality service which has really been appreciated by the client.

Do I need lots of facts and figures?

Some facts and figures are very useful. Information about turnover, staff numbers and client retention can be useful in helping to paint the picture of the business. But there is no need to go overboard with this. Big and complex tables of numbers don’t always help, and it is far better to draw out the key figures in a narrative.

Can my firm enter for more than one category?

Absolutely. If you have teams working in the appropriate categories by all means put in entries for each category.

However, each entry must be quite distinct and tailored for the specific category. Judges are wary of similar entries being made for different categories and will be looking for evidence that thought and care has been applied in deciding which categories to enter and why.

If your firm is going to put in multiple entries, we strongly recommend that they are written independently from scratch by separate teams. If you have any doubts about what the appropriate category for an entry is then please get in touch with us via the website.

What ‘tone’ should I aim for in my entry?

Entrants, quite rightly, want to paint a positive picture of what they achieved, but often the best entries are those which give insights into problems which were faced or things that didn’t go as well as expected.

Over the years we’ve seen some very powerful entries which were honest about these issues, and which showed how a firm became stronger as a result of tackling then. An awards entry is unlikely to be the place where you bare your soul, but some sense that things are not always perfect can add real character to an entry. A professional and authentic tone will help judges connect with the story you want to tell.

What should I avoid?

Avoid mention or criticism of your competitors; it is much better to be positive about your own achievements. Explaining how you compete in your chosen market place and offer a different approach to the competition is a quite different matter and successful entries will often make a feature of this.

Try not to use cliches or phrases such ‘we go the extra mile for our clients’. These represent very positive virtues and will be engrained in the ethos of many firms. But an entry will be much stronger when these attributes come through in the narrative, case studies and examples rather than by using bland, widely used terms.

Can I include confidential information?

All of the judges sign confidentiality undertakings and processes are in place to ensure that only the judges plus an administrator have access to award entries. Any printed copies of entries are destroyed after the judging and access to the electronic versions of the entries is closed down. If you would prefer not to name clients in your case studies that is perfectly acceptable you could use phrases such as a ‘major high-street bank’ or ‘a well-known serial entrepreneur’ where appropriate. You will not be disadvantaged by not using client names.

Sometimes entries have a mixture of public domain and private information. Entries often annotate the latter by phrases such as ‘commercially sensitive’ or ‘confidential’. Feel free to use this approach if you wish.

One of the judges works for my firm/works for a competitor firm. Can I still enter?

Yes, and we have strong policies in place to deal with conflicts of interest. A judge who is associated in any way with a particular firm will not see the entries in the category which that firm has entered and will leave the room while that category is being discussed. Judges are acutely conscious of the need to avoid conflicts of interests and are always vigilant in drawing my attention to any potential conflicts.

What else do I need to know?

Do check the spelling and grammar in your entry!

If you are going to include links to articles or videos in your entry make sure that they work.

Make sure you enter the right category – contact us if you have any questions.

Don’t exceed the word limit – we don’t reject entries if they are three words too long, but entries which are obviously far too long tend to get a poor response from the judges. The word limit should be enough for a strong entry.

Do try to get your entries in on time. We don’t like to turn entries away, but judges need time to read them properly and very late entries sometimes just can’t be accommodated.

Do ask somebody who has not been involved with the entry to read your proposed submission before it is finalised. Very often they can point out things which are unclear, or suggest additions or omissions.

Enjoy the process! It is a good way for a firm or team to take stock of where it has got to and what it has achieved.

Share success. If you are shortlisted, make sure that all the members of your team get the credit in your internal communications. Being part of a winning team is such a morale booster.