ACPR Blog

Entering awards can help you raise your business profile and get free PR. Here’s a great list from Boost Marketing to get you started:

Business Awards
- Comms Business Awards – submission deadline: 31st March
- The UK Excellence Awards (British Quality Foundation) – submission deadline: 31st March
- HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards – submission deadline: Late April
- The International Business Awards – submission deadline: 12th May(late entries 9th June with fee)
- DELL Innovative Small Business Awards – submission deadline: Mid May
- The Trade Association Forum Best Practice Awards – submission deadline: Mid May
- Nectar Business Small Business Awards – submission deadline: Mid May
- The Green Business Awards – submission deadline: 19th May
- Barclays Trading Places Awards – submission deadline: Late May (more…)

Here is a list of awards with upcoming deadlines from Boost Marketing:

Business Awards
- SFEDI UK Enterprise Support Awards – submission deadline: 26th February
- Comms Business Awards – submission deadline: 31st March
- The UK Excellence Awards (British Quality Foundation) – submission deadline: 31st March
- HSBC Start-Up Stars Awards – submission deadline: Late April (more…)

If entering awards is part of your promotion strategy this year, check out this helpful list of awards and deadlines from Boost Marketing.

Business
- Fast Growth Business Awards – submission deadline: 22nd January
- EFQM business excellence awards – submission deadline: 29th January
- Business Continuity Awards – submission deadline: 12th February
- The UK Excellence Awards – submission deadline: 31st March
- The National Business Awards (regional programme) – submission deadline: March
- British Small Business Champions – submission deadline: Late March (more…)

To kick start your business into the New Year, MumsClub has teamed up with Prima Baby, ACPR and The Business Mum’s Journal to offer you all a great new competition to get you thinking creatively about your PR, and the chance to win some fab, “money-can’t-buy” prizes.

PRIZES:

• Editorial in Prima Baby & BabyExpert
• Feature in the next Business Mums Journal
• One-to-one consultation with Antonia Chitty of ACPR (over phone if distance is a problem) to help you improve your own PR.
• Profile on MumsClub
• Profile on Family Friendly Working

PR is a great way to boost your business with minimal expenditure, but you need to put a small amount of time in every week.

The competition will reward your every PR success. We have a points table, so every time you’re mentioned you get points. You can start with one point for a mention in a playgroup newsletter, while top scores got to daytime TV coverage! Build up a portfolio of clippings, video clips, press releases etc to demonstrate what you are achieving. This will look great on your website and help build customer confidence in your business as well as contributing to your chances of winning.

To get more details of how to enter the competition, visit Mumsclub.

If you’re keen to enter awards to help promote your business, check out this list of deadlines from Boost Marketing.

Business Awards
- SFEDI UK Enterprise Support Awards – submission deadline: 15th January
- Fast Growth Business Awards – submission deadline: 22nd January
- EFQM business excellence awards – submission deadline: 29th January
- Business Continuity Awards – submission deadline: 12th February

Business Leader Awards
- Institute of Directors, Director of the Year – submission deadline: 7th December
- Enterprising Young Brits – submission deadline: Late February
- Everywoman in Transport and Logistics Awards – submission deadline: Late February

Corporate Social Responsibility Awards
- Tourism for Tomorrow – submission deadline: 2nd December
- New Energy Awards – submission deadline: 4th December
- National eWell-Being Awards – submission deadline: Autumn/Winter
- Opportunity Now Awards – submission deadline: 10th December
- Sunday Times Best Green Companies Award – Registration deadline: 19th February
- Bank of Scotland Social Entrepreneur Awards – submission deadline: Late February
- EACA Care Awards – submission deadline: Late February

Customer Contact Awards
- Contact Center World Awards – submission deadline: 15th January

ICT Awards
- Financial Sector Technology (FST) Awards – submission deadline: 4th December
- European Seal of e-Excellence (marketing of ICT) – submission deadline: 31st December
- Interactive Media Awards (selected categories) – submission deadline: 31st December

Marketing Awards
- Revolution Awards – submission deadline: 3rd December
- MediaGuardian Innovation Awards – submission deadline: 4th December
- SABRE Awards – submission deadline: 11th December 2010(Late deadline 22nd January
- Marketing Week Awards – submission deadline: 13th January
- Drum Marketing Awards – submission deadline: Mid January
- Clio Awards – submission deadline: 22nd January
- D&AD Award – submission deadline: 27th January
- Clear Channel Outdoor Planning Awards – submission deadline: 29th January
- Precision Marketing Response Awards – submission deadline: Early February
- Marketing Society Awards for Excellence – submission deadline: 5th February
- Scottish Design Consultancy of the Year – submission deadline: February
- Franchise Marketing Awards – submission deadline: Mid February
- Roses Advertising Awards – submission deadline: Late February
- EDA Awards – submission deadline: 21st February

Training and HR Awards
- IVCA Awards – submission deadline: 4th December
- The Recruiter Awards – submission deadline: 4th December
- National Council for Work Experience Awards – submission deadline: 11th December
- ONREC Awards (Online Recruitment Magazine) – submission deadline: 14th December
- Learning Impact Awards – submission deadline: 31st December
- PPMA Recruitment Awards – submission deadline: Early January
- Employee Benefits Awards – submission deadline: Early January
- Communications in Business (CiB) Awards – submission deadline: Mid January
- City & Guilds Medals for Excellence/Lion Awards – submission deadline: 30th January
- Occupational Health & Safety Awards (RoSPA) – submission deadline: 12th February
- Apprenticeship Awards – submission deadline: Late February
- TARGETjobs National Graduate Recruitment Awards – submission deadline: Late February

Public Sector Awards
- Sustainable schools award – submission deadline: Ongoing
- PPMA Recruitment Awards – submission deadline: 4th January
- MJ Local Government Achievement Awards – submission deadline: 22nd January
- Times Higher Education Leadership and Management – submission deadline: 29th January
- Cliff Nicholson Award – submission deadline: 29th January
- The Education Resources Awards – submission deadline: February
- PPMA HR Awards – submission deadline: 17th February

Industry Specific Awards
- Printing – EFTA Annual Print Awards – submission deadline: 4th December
- Financial Services – FST Awards – submission deadline: 4th December
- Media – MediaGuardian Innovation Awards – submission deadline: 4th December
- Retail – The World Retail Awards – submission deadline: 11th December
- Publishing – Young Publishing Entrepreneur Award – submission deadline: 14th December
- Construction – Do Something Awards – submission deadline: 15th December
- Car Parks – British Parking Awards – submission deadline: 18th December
- Travel & Tourism – Shine Awards – submission deadline: 3rd January
- Charity – BT Community Connections Awards – submission deadline: 5th January
- Construction – The Building Awards – submission deadline: 7th January
- Design – Scottish Design Consultancy of the Year – submission deadline: 14th January
- Publishing & Press – British Press Awards – submission deadline: 16th January
- Pharmaceutical – PF Awards – submission deadline: 25th January
- Digital and Media – Media Magnate Awards – submission deadline: January
- Medical – Optician Awards – submission deadline: 25th January
- Telecoms & Mobile – Mobile News Awards – submission deadline: Late January
- Manufacturing – Manufacturing Excellence Awards – submission deadline: 31st January
- Distribution – World Mail Awards – submission deadline: Nominations in January
- Social Care – Social Care Accolades Awards – submission deadline: February
- Construction – Construction News Quality Awards – submission deadline: 5th February
- Construction – RIBA Awards – submission deadline: 5th February
- Social Care – Community Care: The Excellence network – submission deadline: February
- Design – International Design Awards – submission deadline: Early February
- Transport & Logistics – National Transport Awards – submission deadline: 12th February
- Social Care – Homes and Communities Academy Awards – submission deadline: February
- Procurement – Procurement Leaders Awards – submission deadline: 12th February
- Travel & Tourism – RoSPA MORR? Awards – submission deadline: 12th February
- Printing – FESPA Digital Print Awards – submission deadline: Mid February
- Security – The IFSEC Security Industry Awards – submission deadline: Mid February
- Property – European Property Awards – submission deadline: 15th February
- Fundraising – Professional Fundraising Awards – submission deadline: Mid February
- Digital and Media – The Canaccord Adams Media Awards – submission deadline: February
- Regeneration – Regeneration & Renewal Awards – submission deadline: Late February
- Financial Services – FT Sustainable Banking Awards – submission deadline: 28th February
- Utilities – Water Industry Achievement Awards – submission deadline: Late February
- Food and Drink – FAB Creative Excellence Awards – submission deadline: 28th February

The hyperlinks for these and numerous other awards can be found at http://www.boost-marketing.co.uk/awards/

I won an award this year and it felt great.  But my feelings aside, entering awards can really help your business. I know that external validation can encourage people to trust my advice, buy my books or sign up to my business development programme.  In a recent survey, Boost Marketing found that:

•     85.3% are influenced by awards when buying as a consumer for themselves

•     82.4% are influenced by awards in general when buying products/services for your organisation (more…)

Antonia Chitty has been awarded the “Inspirational Business Mum of the Year” Award at this weekend’s Mumpreneur Conference in Birmingham. She says, “It is great to be recognized for the work I do to help women start and develop their own businesses. Running my own enterprise has made an enormous difference to my life and I’m passionate about inspiring others to succeed. I’m very proud to be the ‘Inspirational Business Mum of the Year’”

The Sussex-based entrepreneur started her PR own business seven years ago after the birth of her daughter so that she could work flexibly.  Since then, Antonia’s business has grown and expanded, as has her family. Antonia runs Family Friendly Working, a site packed with ideas for anyone who wants a flexible way to work which grew out of one of her first books. She has written eight business, health and parenting books. Her latest release is The Mumpreneur Guide, a practical workbook for any woman who wants to start a business that fits in with the family. She is mum to Daisy, 7, Jay, 3 and Kit, 6months.

Entering awards is good for your business, and winning is even better. Check out this list of upcoming awards from Boost Marketing and see if any are right for you.

Business Awards
- Queen’s Awards for Enterprise – submission deadline: 30th October
- The Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work For – registration deadline: 31st October
- European Business Awards – submission deadline: Late October
- Fast Growth Business Awards – submission deadline: 19th December

Business Leader Awards
- Northwest Women in Business Awards – submission deadline: 30th November

Training and HR Awards
- RAD Awards (Recruitment Advertising) – submission deadline: 30th October (more…)

It is great publicity if you are shortlisted for a business award, so it is well worth keeping your eye out for relevant awards to enter for. Boost Marketing offer an awards update service: visit their site to find out more AND get the links to all the following awards.

Business Awards
- International Trade Awards – submission deadlines: August to September
- Growing Business Awards – submission deadline: 18th September
- European Business Awards – submission deadline: 5th October
- Springboard Awards for Excellence – submission deadline: 13th October
- Queen’s Awards for Enterprise – submission deadline: 30th October
- The Sunday Times Top 100 Companies to Work For – nominations: 31st October

Business Leader Awards
- Women of the Future Awards – submission deadline: 4th September
- Northwest Women in Business Awards – submission deadline: 30th November

Training and HR Awards
- PIMR Awards – submission deadline: 1st September
- IT Training Awards (IITT) – submission deadline: 30th September
- RAD Awards (Recruitment Advertising) – submission deadline: 30th October
- MCA Management Awards – submission deadline: 6th November
- The Recruiter Awards – submission deadline: 11th November

Marketing Awards
- The DMA Awards – submission deadline: 11th September
- Green Awards – submission deadline: 18th September
- Design Week Award – submission deadline: 30th September
- MCCA Awards (- submission deadline: Early October
- CIM Marketing Excellence Awards – submission deadline: 16th October
- BESMA Awards) – submission deadline: 1st November
- Workworld Media Awards – submission deadline: 14th November

Customer Contact Awards (Sales, Customer Service and Call Centre)
- ACE Awards (Retail) – submission deadline: Late October
- National Sales Awards – submission deadline: October
- BESMA Awards – submission deadline: 1st November

Corporate Social Responsibility Awards
- The National Energy Efficiency Awards – submission deadline: 1st September
- Green Awards – submission deadline: 18th September
- Social Enterprise Awards – submission deadline: 28th September
- National eWell-Being Awards – submission deadline: Late Summer
- BCE Environmental Leadership Awards – submission deadline: 5th October
- DEBI Sustainable Products & Services – submission deadline: Early October
- BURA Awards Community Inspired Regeneration – submission deadline: October
- Community Partnerships Awards – submission deadline: 23rd October
- The Sustainable Communities Awards – submission deadline: Late October
- The Water Efficiency Awards – submission deadline: Late October
- Queen’s Awards for Enterprise – submission deadline: 30th October
- St Andrews Prize for the Environment – submission deadline: 31st October
- Low Carbon performance Awards – submission deadline: 30th November

IT Awards
- WM ICT Cluster Excellence Awards – submission deadline: 28th September
- e-Government National Awards – submission deadline: 1st October
- National eWell-Being Awards – submission deadline: Late Summer
- EMEA and Inavation Awards – submission deadline: 23rd November
- PC Retail Awards – submission deadline: 26th November
- CW Best Places to Work in IT Awards – submission deadline: 28th November
- Open Source Business Awards – submission deadline: 30th November

Construction and Architecture Awards
- The Builders Merchants Awards – submission deadline: 4th September
- Architectural Review Awards – submission deadline: 8th September
- The British Expertise Awards – submission deadline: 30th September
- Specialists Awards – submission deadline: 7th November
- Quality in Construction Awards) – submission deadline: November

Public Sector Awards
- The LGC Awards – submission deadline: 13th November

Industry Sector-Specific Awards
- Journalism – The Paul Foot Award – submission deadline: 1st September
- Procurement – National Go Awards – submission deadline: Early September
- Financial Services – Gold Standard Awards – submission deadline: 4th September
- Legal Services – The British Legal Awards – submission deadline: 9th September
- Logistics – FFB Export Awards – submission deadline: Early September
- Financial Services – IPE Awards 2008 – submission deadline: 11th September
- Utilities – Utilities Industry Achievement Awards – submission deadline: 11th September
- Financial Services – MGF Awards – submission deadline: Late September
- Health – GSK Impact Awards – submission deadline: 25th September
- Logistics – London Transport Awards – submission deadline: 25th September
- Public Sector – e-Government National Awards – submission deadline: 1st October
- Education – Education Business Awards – submission deadline: 2nd October
- Financial Services – The Card Awards – submission deadline: 8th October
- Financial Services – Mortgage Strategy Awards – submission deadline: Early October
- Logistics – Rail Business Awards – submission deadline: 9th October
- Manufacturing – Best of British Industry Awards – submission deadline: Mid October
- Utilities – NJUG Awards – submission deadline: 14th October
- Design – Spark Awards – submission deadline: Phase 1 15th October
- Education – Academic Enterprise Awards – submission deadline: 16th October
- Design – Datacentre Awards – submission deadline: 30th October
- Travel & Tourism – Shine Awards – submission deadline: 31st October
- Retail – First Drapers Etail Awards – submission deadline: 7th November
- Design – International Design Awards – submission deadline: 7th November
- Travel & Tourism – Globe Travel Awards – submission deadline: November
- Energy – Rosenblatt new energy awards – submission deadline: Early November
- Financial Services – Compliance Awards – submission deadline: 9th November
- Financial Services – LGC Finance Award – submission deadline: 13th November
- Retail – Retail Week Awards – submission deadline: 14th November
- Food and Drink – Seafood Awards 2009 – submission deadline: 14th November
- Health – Health Business Awards – submission deadline: 16th November
- Local Services – ATCM Awards – submission deadline: 28th November
- Property – BCO Awards – submission deadline: 28th November
- Mobile Tech. – Global Mobile Awards – submission deadline: 28th November
- Legal services – Legal Business Awards – submission deadline: 28th November
- Financial Services – The UK Pensions Awards – submission deadline: 28th November
- Financial Services – Corporate Adviser Awards – submission deadline: Late November
- Housing – Gold Award – submission deadline: Late November