How to run a successful award programme
Don Hales, Chairman of Awards International has worked on many successful award programmes over the last fifteen years and whilst he maintains that every programme is different and has its own individual characteristics, he sets out below the top ten hints for running a successful awards programme:
- The subject matter must contain a wide community of potential entrants
- The subject matter must be sufficiently interesting to attract high quality sponsors
- Ideally the programme will be endorsed by a respected and relevant professional body who will give the programme credibility
- The event should be supported by a relevant media partner who will provide good coverage of all stages of the programme, from call for entries through to announcement of winners.
- The judging must be seen as being beyond reproach for impartiality and objectivity. The process must be visible.
- Judges should be chosen for their outstanding reputation in the field covered by the awards
- Documentation should be kept to the minimum, compatible with providing sufficient information upon which to make valued judgments and the administration must be as straightforward and uncomplicated as possible
- All entries should receive constructive feedback
- The awards presentation ceremony must reflect the success being recognized
- Maximum effort should be expended on PR to recognise the finalists and winners
And finally, if you really want to have a successful awards event (whether in-house or industry wide):
Call in Awards International Ltd to work as partners on the programme.
