It’s official - the Queen’s Awards team have survived another competition deadline!*
The 2014 competition opened on 21 April and closed at midnight last night.
We were busiest in September answering your emails and telephone calls - so busy we recruited Emily as an extra addition to our team. Much of what we do involves hand holding and offering reassurance to people who have spent many hours working on their application. We feel your pain.
Many of your questions were technical and we continually updated our internal FAQs and shared them amongst the team. Most of yesterday was spent explaining that due to heavy traffic the website was running a bit slow and to keep trying if you didn’t get online straight away.
On a personal note this has been my first year in the team and although Kat was present for last year’s competition she had only just joined the team at that point. I think I speak for both of us when I say it’s amazing how much knowledge Linda and Kerry have when it comes to answering the more unusual or complex questions.
This year’s top 3 questions:
- What time is the deadline on 30 September?
- Is there any chance of extending the deadline?
- Can I submit my form as a PDF attachment?
The answers; ‘Midnight’, ‘No’ and ‘No’, (‘very sorry!’)
What happens next?
By the end of November/early December entrants will find out whether they have been shortlisted or not. If you have been shortlisted you are not allowed to advertise or broadcast this and ‘the wait’ is extended for another few months. Those on the shortlist will be asked to submit an independent auditor’s certificate confirming the figures included in their entry.
If you find out you are unsuccessful all is not lost! You will be receiving some very detailed feedback from the judges suggesting ways to improve your entry for future competitions and also useful feedback about your business and ways to improve company performance.
What happens next at the Queen’s Awards Office?
We are meeting for ‘light refreshments’ and a ‘wash up’ on Wednesday. This will be an opportunity to share views and discuss ways to improve the process for next year, taking your feedback on board.
Back in the office we are now liaising with the panels who will be judging our four different categories. Each panel discuss entries individually and then submit a recommended list to the Prime Minister’s Advisory Committee for approval.
If you did enter, Good Luck from all at the Queen’s Awards Office!
(Linda, Kat, Kerry, Kieran, Emily and Sean)
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