Report EDUCATERING EXCELLENCE AWARDS EDUcatering
How to enter the Excellence Awards
t 16 EDUcatering publisher Alan Dewberry
he number and quality of the entries makes the judges’ decisions very tough. If you use the following advice, I am sure it will give you a better chance of winning and help you save time in putting your entry together. Awards are great to take part in, and if you are a winner it can be really good for your business and your career. Good Luck!
MY TOP TIPS: 1. Read the criteria carefully. Each award has specific criteria and these are what the judges use to make their decision on and judge against. Make a separate note of each criteria in the award brief before you start. In your entry, clearly show how you or one of your team has achieved outstanding success in the specific areas identified in the criteria.
June 2013
The EDUcatering Excellence Awards are the highlight of the school catering industry’s year and are highly prized. We often have people asking us why they didn’t reach the shortlist, and it often comes down to the entry. Arnold Fewell, a judge and an EDUcatering Award winner himself, offers his top tips on how to give yourself the best chance of winning an award
2. Meet the criteria and answer any questions posed. You will be surprised by the number of entries that make a point of something but do not relate it back to the criteria. When this happens, judges are very likely to move on to the next entry. Perhaps use sub headings for each criteria and explain what has been done to achieve it underneath.
3. Talk to colleagues. Get advice from other people you know who have won an award. Look at what they did and how they presented their information. Consider any advice they give you and ask lots of open questions so you maximise the information you collect.
4. Tell a story in your entry. Put all the information in a logical order so the entry fl ows well. Do not let your mind or copy wander. Before you start writing, create an outline with different sections and headings, then put notes into each section with the points you want to make.
5. Don’t be shy, share your success! The judges want to hear everything that you have achieved, so tell them. Use numbered bullet points and the longer the list of achievements and the benefi ts to your business the greater your chance of winning. But you must remain honest.
6. Personalise the entry for EDUcatering. There are lots of awards and it is quite common for people to alter one entry for another award. If you do this, ensure you personalise it to EDUcatering and check very carefully you don’t mention a competing award. It does happen.
7. Check all spelling and grammar carefully. Spelling and grammar mistakes indicate a lack of care in the entry and it can be frustrating when sentences don’t make sense. Ensure you ask other people to read your entry carefully so they spot any mistakes. It really makes a difference to the judges’ perception of your entry and it is worth the extra time.
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