Receiving a business award is, without doubt, an exciting time in a business’s lifecycle, but they offer more than just recognition for a job well done. The evaluation and application process can shape the future of your company, help set goals, increase visibility on the national and even international stage, as well as help attain and retain the best people. Read on as we delve into the benefits of applying for business awards – a strategic move that can shape your business in lots of impactful ways.
Applying for business awards:
While applying for business awards is definitely an opportunity to move your business forward, it also allows you to look back and celebrate growth and success. Reflecting on your business’s journey is extremely valuable and it’s important to communicate success across your team, recognising both individual and collective effort.
The award application process is also an opportunity to set goals and strategic vision. We recommend you decide in advance which awards you want to enter, download the criteria that sets out what you need to do to submit a winning application, then build your application around the criteria. Many businesses try to shoehorn themselves into award categories, but with strategic vision, careful selection and proactive planning, you can maximise your chance of success.
Here are some ways in which applying for business award can benefit your business:
Improving business practices
Applying for business awards enables businesses to evaluate their current operations, processes and practices. As you prepare your submission, you’ll inevitably analyse your business, potentially identifying inefficiencies and finding opportunities to improve. This analysis leads not only to a more efficient and effective business, but also to a more strategic and targeted application. It may also identify new areas for business expansion and growth.
Actively seeking feedback during the application process from business coaches, peers, mentors or even working with specialist award application writers can also help applicants identify areas for improvement and business growth. The feedback received can lead to constructive changes, giving your application more chance of being successful, as well as making your business more competitive.
Enhancing credibility and reputation
Being nominated, short-listed or winning a business award can have a profound impact on your company’s reputation. They serve as third-party validations of your success by showing that you’re a standout performer in your industry. This recognition builds trust with your clients and partners, increasing your credibility in the eyes of your stakeholders.
Children’s Corner Childcare, an exceptional provider of nursery and childcare services in the Leeds area, was recognised in our annual award ceremony in 2021. Having never applied for a business award before, the team have since applied for, and won, several awards.
Lesley Dawson, founder of this successful business says:
“We were honoured to win the Community Impact award at Bill’s Big Bash in 2021 and again in 2023 as it very much validates, for our business and all our colleagues, what a fantastic job we are all doing.
It’s really special to win the award that shows we are outward-looking and willing to give back to our community and further afield in Malawi.”
Attracting new customers and partners
Business awards are also powerful magnets to attract the attention of potential customers and partners. They signal excellence and can sway purchasing decisions in your favour. When customers and partners see that your business has been recognised for its achievements, it validates that they’re making the right choice by engaging with your company.
Motivating and engaging employees
Employee motivation is one of the cornerstones of a successful business. Recognition through awards is a powerful tool to engage your team. Entering awards fosters a positive company culture and instils pride in employees. The knowledge that their hard work and dedication are not only noticed but celebrated creates a more motivated and enthusiastic workforce.
“Our staff gained confidence knowing their work was nationally recognised as best-in-class. We now see them being even more innovative, knowing the foundation of what we do is solid – bringing about better results for our clients.”
Rory Mason, 21 Degrees Digital
Business awards can also be a powerful tool for attracting new team members. With quality personnel at a premium, businesses must differentiate themselves from their competitors to attract the best talent. Business and industry awards can help do this and, combined with recognising team members for their part in the success of the business, can also help to retain the best talent, increase productivity and profitability.
Differentiating from competitors
In today’s competitive business landscape, setting your company apart from competitors is crucial. Business awards give orgnisations an extra edge. They can be used in marketing and branding efforts as well as to show potential clients why your business is the right choice for them. An easy way to leverage awards for a competitive advantage is to make them visible. This can be done by including information about the awards you’ve won on your website, social media, LinkedIn profiles and in email footers.
Gaining media and industry attention
Winning business awards shines a spotlight on your achievements, attracting media and industry attention. Business success is newsworthy and reach can be extended on a local, national and even international level through media coverage. Journalists and industry publications seek compelling stories, so businesses could leverage this by creating press releases and communicating this to the media to extend their reach.
Business awards can also lead to opportunities through speaking engagements and PR opportunities. Gaining media and industry attention through business awards not only boosts your reputation but also opens doors to further opportunities, solidifying your position as a trusted and influential name in your industry. By leveraging business awards, business owners can become the ‘go to’ authority figure in their industry. The business awards gives credibility and validates authority.
“We have won a few awards including the NMT Nursery group of the Year in November 2022, and most recently we won the Family Business Awards for Yorkshire and Humber, Business Service Award. The bonus of winning awards is that we gain great press coverage and it raises our reputation, but it also shows our clients and potential clients that we really do stand out in our sector.”
Lesley Dawson, Children’s Corner Childcare
Networking opportunities
Bill’s Big Bash, June 2023 © Sam Toolsie 2023
Attending award ceremonies and related events offers hugely valuable networking opportunities. These events are not just about celebration and recognition, but also about learning from other businesses, both competitors and other organisations. Collaboration and partnerships with industry leaders also becomes more achievable through this networking.
To make the most of these networking opportunities at business award events, our advice is to obtain a list of attendees in advance, review it carefully and reach out to those whose expertise aligns with your objectives. Connecting with fellow business owners can lead to meaningful relationships and potential collaborations, improving both your awards and business journey. Click here to read about business networking.
Which business awards should I enter?
If you’re thinking of entering some business awards, visit Awards List for dozens of opportunities both nationally and internationally. There are also likely to be some regional or industry-specific awards that you can search and apply for, which will increase your visibility and credibility on a more local level.
Our advice is to enter business awards on a regular basis so that it becomes a habit. Not only can it offer you the tangible benefits we’ve talked about, but it also means reflection and strategic planning become more regular and ingrained activities.
Awards we encourage our clients to enter
As you can see, there are lots of benefits to entering business awards, both at regional and national level.
Regionally, we encourage our clients to enter awards run by newspapers and local business organisations like the Chamber of Commerce. This can increase visibility as well as credibility for businesses that are short-listed, not just for the winners! Not to be left out, at Bill Squires Business Coaching, we also host business awards. Winners are announced at ‘Bill’s Big Bash,’ our annual networking event and celebration of all our client’s successes.
Clients are invited to submit entries in three award categories – Business Growth, Innovation, and Community Impact. It’s at this event that we’re able to recognise and pay tribute to the achievements of our clients and their teams over the previous 12 months.
As part of ActionCOACH, we also encourage clients to enter the BizX awards. BizX is a prestigious business awards ceremony that recognises and rewards the achievements of businesses and business owners from the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Held annually, BizX is ActionCOACH’s annual conference and includes a black-tie award ceremony. There are 19 award categories including Best Retailer, Best Import/Export Company, Best Marketing Campaign, CEO of the Year, Green Company of the Year and more.
In 2024 the event is being staged at ACC Liverpool on 18th and 19th April. The two-day event is a fantastic opportunity to network with other business owners as well as learn from inspiring international speakers and celebrate business success.
In 2023, we took 11 Bill Squires Business Coaching clients to BizX, eight of whom had submitted awards. Of the eight submissions, six were short-listed. Of those finalists – Mix & Twist, Children’s Corner Childcare, Crucial Engineering, two applications from 21 Degrees Digital and Barton Legal – 21 Degrees Digital triumphed, being awarded the BizX 2023 Best Marketing Campaign.
“Winning the BizX Best Marketing Campaign award was certainly a pivotal moment that has propelled us forward as a business. From the moment we got home, the phone started ringing! Cold leads suddenly wanted to work with us again and we now convert more enquiries into business. It really has touched every aspect of our business and has helped us have an incredible 2023.”
Rory Mason, 21 Degrees Digital
Applying for business awards is a strategic move that can transform your business. It provides an opportunity for reflection, self-improvement and recognition of your achievements. The benefits include operational improvements, enhancing credibility, increasing customer attraction, more engaged employees and valuable networking opportunities. Winning awards differentiates your business from your competitors’ and also increases media and industry recognition.
It’s crucial to understand the strategic value of entering business awards. It’s not just about earning trophies; it’s about improving your business practices, building trust and opening doors to new opportunities. To get started, research awards that align with your vision, values and industry. Seek feedback from mentors and colleagues and make it a regular practice to enter awards for consistent opportunities and development.
If you’d like to know more about business award and how they can help your business, or if you’d like some feedback on an application, please get in touch, we’d love to hear from you.
