Guardian Sustainable Business Awards – Exclusive tips
Collaboration is increasingly being seen to be key to business success, especially in developing sustainable business practices.
The purpose of the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards is to highlight leadership in the field of sustainable business and to share these stories in the hope that others gain inspiration and practical knowledge from reading the case studies on the Best Practice Exchange.
Guardian Sustainable Business created the awards with the belief that there is a small but growing number of far-sighted companies that have recognised the importance of integrating sustainability into the core of their operations to ensure their future success, the quality of last year’s entries show that this is indeed the case.
This year the judging panel will be looking for projects that demonstrate holistic application of sustainability principles. They will be briefed to seek out leading-edge practice; practice that is genuinely pushing the boundaries and driving real change in the way that business approaches sustainability.
Judges will be asking:
Caroline Holtum, head of content for Guardian Sustainable Business (GSB), said “While the awards are an opportunity to celebrate those individuals and companies that are committed to making a positive difference, they are also an excellent way of showcasing best practice that we hope other companies can learn from and follow.”
Don’t miss your chance to inspire others and gain the recognition your team deserves.
Entries close on Friday 3 February 2012.
The purpose of the Guardian Sustainable Business Awards is to highlight leadership in the field of sustainable business and to share these stories in the hope that others gain inspiration and practical knowledge from reading the case studies on the Best Practice Exchange.
Guardian Sustainable Business created the awards with the belief that there is a small but growing number of far-sighted companies that have recognised the importance of integrating sustainability into the core of their operations to ensure their future success, the quality of last year’s entries show that this is indeed the case.
This year the judging panel will be looking for projects that demonstrate holistic application of sustainability principles. They will be briefed to seek out leading-edge practice; practice that is genuinely pushing the boundaries and driving real change in the way that business approaches sustainability.
Judges will be asking:
- Does the project or initiative sit within a comprehensive sustainability strategy that encompasses all of your business' operations?
- Have there been measurable changes as a result of the project or initiative? Where appropriate, can you provide evidence of these changes?
- Could the thinking and processes that underpin the project or initiative be replicated in other businesses?
- Winners of last year’s awards ranged from global corporations, such as Sony and Unilever to the very small, with Islington-based furniture manufacturers, Chest of Drawers winning the Supply Chain award. Others who scooped awards included household names such as Marks & Spencer, and Cafédirect.
Caroline Holtum, head of content for Guardian Sustainable Business (GSB), said “While the awards are an opportunity to celebrate those individuals and companies that are committed to making a positive difference, they are also an excellent way of showcasing best practice that we hope other companies can learn from and follow.”
Don’t miss your chance to inspire others and gain the recognition your team deserves.
Entries close on Friday 3 February 2012.
Top Tips for entering business awards
There is a definite art to crafting a successful award submission. So we’ve produced our Top Five Tips for Awards Success to bear in mind when writing your award submission:
1) Plan ahead
Consider the awards criteria when planning your project. Set clear objectives from the outset, taking baseline measurements so that you can evaluate the positive impact of the project afterwards.
2) Prove you're the best
Always back up your claims with evidence, especially proof of innovation, positive impact on stakeholders, return on investment, strategic success, outperforming the sector, customer focus, leadership and social responsibility.
3) Keep it simple
Focus on what the judges are actually asking for in the judging criteria. Don’t just fill your submission with the contents of existing sales and marketing materials. Make sure the submission is succinct, clear and easy to understand.
4) Emphasise the benefits
Demonstrate how you have achieved clear benefits to the business, its employees, your customers and the general public. Provide compelling before and after data, wherever possible. Statistical evidence is one of the most important factors in all successful awards submissions.
5) Learn from the experience
If you don’t win at the first attempt, learn from the process and try again next time. Use award entry as a tool for assessing and benchmarking your performance. This will help you improve faster than your competitors and increase your chances of winning awards in the future.
1) Plan ahead
Consider the awards criteria when planning your project. Set clear objectives from the outset, taking baseline measurements so that you can evaluate the positive impact of the project afterwards.
2) Prove you're the best
Always back up your claims with evidence, especially proof of innovation, positive impact on stakeholders, return on investment, strategic success, outperforming the sector, customer focus, leadership and social responsibility.
3) Keep it simple
Focus on what the judges are actually asking for in the judging criteria. Don’t just fill your submission with the contents of existing sales and marketing materials. Make sure the submission is succinct, clear and easy to understand.
4) Emphasise the benefits
Demonstrate how you have achieved clear benefits to the business, its employees, your customers and the general public. Provide compelling before and after data, wherever possible. Statistical evidence is one of the most important factors in all successful awards submissions.
5) Learn from the experience
If you don’t win at the first attempt, learn from the process and try again next time. Use award entry as a tool for assessing and benchmarking your performance. This will help you improve faster than your competitors and increase your chances of winning awards in the future.
The benefits of entering business awards
Winning an award can benefit your business in a variety of ways:
Gain competitive advantage
Awards success can give your business an edge over the competition. Indeed, recent surveys have demonstrated that more than 80% of senior business people (and more than 70% of consumers) admit to being influenced by awards when buying products and services. It’s not just winning that matters either – even being shortlisted for a key award can also give you a competitive advantage over other key players in your industry.
Achieve independent validation
You can shout that you're the best until you’re blue in the face, but winning an award enables you to say “don’t just take our word for it”. A business award is a concrete seal of approval that can be used as evidence of quality when pitching for new business or negotiating next year's budgets.
Boost team morale
In these difficult times, winning awards can be a real morale booster for your team. It provides official recognition of their hard work,
which can increase staff motivation and productivity.
And don't just take our word for it...Michael P. Gallager, President of The International Business Awards also emphasises the importance of entering awards in the current climate:
"In tough economic times like these, participating in awards shows is a cost-effective way to thank and honor your valued employees and to build or burnish your brand".
Gain competitive advantage
Awards success can give your business an edge over the competition. Indeed, recent surveys have demonstrated that more than 80% of senior business people (and more than 70% of consumers) admit to being influenced by awards when buying products and services. It’s not just winning that matters either – even being shortlisted for a key award can also give you a competitive advantage over other key players in your industry.
Achieve independent validation
You can shout that you're the best until you’re blue in the face, but winning an award enables you to say “don’t just take our word for it”. A business award is a concrete seal of approval that can be used as evidence of quality when pitching for new business or negotiating next year's budgets.
Boost team morale
In these difficult times, winning awards can be a real morale booster for your team. It provides official recognition of their hard work,
which can increase staff motivation and productivity.
And don't just take our word for it...Michael P. Gallager, President of The International Business Awards also emphasises the importance of entering awards in the current climate:
"In tough economic times like these, participating in awards shows is a cost-effective way to thank and honor your valued employees and to build or burnish your brand".