For those of you hoping to enter this year's Queen's Awards, we have a really useful new blog today from Kate Simpson of Totalpost Services Plc, one of our 2013 winners.
Kate offers some great tips for you to consider as you plan your entry.
We gained a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade in April this year and will be applying again this year.
Our top tips to Queen’s Awards success
As a business that’s been through the process before here are our top tips to Queen’s Awards success: -
1. Check your figures
The awards have strict criteria regarding business figures. Financial details are required for at least 2 years of business (depending on the criteria). Although your submission text makes up for a large part of your entry the figures are very important. As a first point it is worth checking that your figures are strong enough before starting the entry process. It’s worth involving your auditor too as you will need their signature to go against your figures if you get through the first stage.
2. Assign one person to be in charge of your award entry
There’s a lot of information to gather and the input of several different people from across the business will be required. However it is beneficial to appoint one person as your award co-ordinator.
3. Set strict deadlines
The end of September deadline soon comes round, especially when you are busy running your everyday business. Set yourself deadlines and diarise weekly reminders for the last 4 weeks before the deadline.
4. Use the help available and analyse the criteria
There’s lots of advice and guidelines available on the BIS Queen’s Awards website. Use the guidance and entry forms to draw up a list of information that you need to cover before approaching the relevant people in your business to gather the information required.
5. Be clear and concise
Avoid flowery or over complicated language and stick to the point. The judges have hundreds of entries to read every year, by being clear and concise you will ensure that your message stays at the forefront of their mind.
6. Enjoy telling your story
The Queen's Awards are a celebration of success and an excuse to shout about all of your achievements. Enjoy telling your story and outlining your achievements and your enthusiasm will come across in your entry.
7. Start now
It is never too soon to start putting your entry together so start as soon as possible. Ideally write a first draft, don’t look at it for a few days and then come back to it with fresh eyes – this will allow you to be a lot more objective.
8. Don't panic!
Finally don’t get overwhelmed! Entering the awards is free and the benefits of winning are fantastic. Even if you aren’t successful at the first attempt, detailed feedback is provided making it easier to achieve next year.
To read about the benefits that we've gained in our award winning year visit the Totalpost website.
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