SATISFY THE JUDGING CRITERIA

Read the Awards criteria for the particular category you are entering.  Make sure you give clear examples of impact to satisfy each criteria. The judges decision is final so keep them in mind when preparing your entry – grab their attention, attract their interest, make them want to read your material, and ensure your entry knocks their socks off!

So, when entering keep in mind of the criteria.  If you don’t address the judging criteria, the judges just cannot assess your entry and compare it to others in the category, which may mean a lower score.

MEET THE DEADLINE

Don’t put off working on your entry until the day before the deadline!  Be as early as possible with submitting your entry.

GET THE JUDGES’ ATTENTION

Judges will be reviewing several entries. Think of the Dragon’s Den – they often remark on whether they will remember someone’s pitch. Grab their attention early – judges spend many hours reading through entries, often in their own time, so try to capture their interest early on. Including supplemental evidence (such as video, statistics or testimonials) is highly recommended. Be arresting in your approach and use colour, graphics and materials – be creative and make your highlights or key points stand out, easy to understand, memorable and praiseworthy.

COMMERCIALLY SENSITIVE DATA

It may be that you are supplying confidential information. We recommend that you err on the cautious side with any commercially confidential data you are considering including in your entry. If you do include sensitive data as part of your submission, please make clear that this is not to be shared as part of a winner’s case study and/or that the awards coordinator should ensure that any competitors that may be involved in the judging panel do not have visibility of the data. The West London Business Awards is a reputable programme with judges that will not disclose any details of entries to third parties or competitors.

DON’T DO IT ON THE SIDE

Putting together a good award entry takes time, effort and sometimes money (for example, supplementary photography, video or design).Be prepared to allocate all three.  If it’s worth doing, it’s worth doing well.  You are clearly proud of your accomplishment!
Put someone in charge of bringing together your entry.  Give them the information, resources, time and money they need to put together the best entry for your organisation.

DON’T BE AFRAID TO SHOWCASE YOUR PEOPLE

People are great. They have faces, which can bring award entries to life. Staff can embody commitment and excellence. Customers can say why you’re great in a single sentence. Use your own people, and your customers’ people to tell your story.

LOOK AT PREVIOUS WINNERS

Take a look! Why did they win? What did they do that singled them out as the winner in your category? Do you share their innovation, creativity, commitment, excellence, originality? If the judges’ comments about them say they did something really well, and that’s why they won, then make sure you’ve got something similar in your entry.

KEEP IT BRIEF

Judges are usually spending their own time on judging. Remember that, and be considerate of their needs. Be efficient in your use of words and space, and communicate your information quickly and efficiently. And of course, keep your fingers crossed. Good luck!