Have you thought about applying for the UK’s most prestigious business award? I’ve been reading up on previous winners of the Queen's Awards for Enterprise and how proud they were to have won.
Total Post, a global supplier of mailroom equipment, were International Trade Award winners in 2013. Their Managing Director, David Hymers, said: “Since winning the Award, our sales have increased 20% and our staff numbers have gone up by 25%. Winning this Award has given the whole team an extra boost and is leading to more success for us.”
International Trade is just one of the business categories that recognises outstanding achievements by UK businesses. There are two others Innovation and Sustainable Development and The Queens Award for Enterprise Promotion - which is for individuals who’ve played an outstanding role in promoting the growth of business enterprise and/or entrepreneurial skills in others.
You don’t need to be a big company to enter. It’s true a lot of bigger companies have been recognised over the years – but many small companies are also proudly displaying the Queen’s Awards Emblem.
Businesses are assessed against similar sized companies in their sector and market and the eligibility criteria means UK based companies with a minimum of two full time staff can apply. Why not check to see if you’re eligible?
The deadline for entries is 30 September, so with just under a month to go, you can find out what it takes to enter and pick up some useful tips on YouTube here.
My top tips are:
- Start early - excellent preparation is the key to success
- Avoid using jargon; assume the judging panel don’t know anything about your business
- Tell your ‘story.’ This is a competition, so think about what your proudest moments have been during the past three to six years. Have you got a mission statement? If so, include it
- Sell yourself! If you do something for the local community don’t be shy about it
- Have someone else read your entry before you submit it, preferably someone who’s not closely involved in your business, who can give a fresh perspective
- Remember, it’s a competition – not everyone wins but all applicants receive detailed feedback, which can be used to strengthen future entries
So, what are you waiting for?
