How do I make a winning awards entry?
Here are ten top tips on how to get your awards entry noticed...
Good photo example 1) Andy Stamford - LABC Non-residential Site Agent of the Year 2019, Northern Region
1) Include detail in your nomination
The good: "xxx essentially ran the scheme as a design and build by taking leadership and enthused the team at the start, with the team working collaboratively to identify issues and present solutions. xxx produced a meeting matrix for the duration of the scheme, issued to the design team and the supply chain.
Meetings were held in the early stages of the scheme on a weekly basis with design team members including onsite clerk of works and building control officer to review the design specification and detailed quality plans. From this, a detailed schedule of deliverables was produced and used throughout the build process for monitoring and recording in collaboration with the clerk of works and building control officer."
The not so good: "He is quite good at his job"
2) Give us a choice of attractive photos & include project plans where necessary
The good: We love to see at least three or four good hi-res photos (32 MB maximum in total), taken in bright daylight if possible. Please include project plans where necessary. All of the photos on this page are good examples, apart from the not so good further down...
Good photo example 2) Manor Farm Cottage, Finalist - Best Extension or Alteration to an Existing Home 2019, West of England
The not so good: Below isn't a real submitted photograph, but believe it or not, we have received worse:
A not very inspiring interior
3) Make the photos relevant
The good: You've submitted a "best conversion" nomination and you give us pictures of the project before it starts and after it's completed.
The not so good: You've submitted a conversion nomination and only sent in the before pic!
4) Write great descriptions
The good: You've told us what work has been done, e.g. "Phase one of the development, which has taken two years to complete, comprises of a new six storey BREEAM office block, 60 bed hotel, restaurant and car park arranged around a new piazza style public square and transport interchange. This is the first phase of a new 200,000 sq. ft. mixed use commercial quarter in the heart of Bury situated on the former bus interchange located directly opposite Bury rail station."
The not so good: "Shop at 1 High Street, Leeds"
Good photo example 3) Alexandra Palace, Winner - Best Small Commercial Building 2019, London
5) Is there enough relevant information?
Knowing what's relevant, never mind finding an adequate number of words to say it with, can be difficult. So we've detailed what we think will help you complete the form and impress our judges! - print off the Judging Criteria to help you fill in the relevant information for each question, or have it open while you're filling in the form.
The good: (This one answers the Performance & Sustainability question): "The nursery building achieved an EPC rating of B/31, exceeding the score expected of a new build. The high levels of thermal insulation possible with timber-framed buildings and modern methods of construction employed by xxx, coupled with excellent air leakage rates and the strong eco credentials of timber construction makes this a highly sustainable building."
The not so good: "It's a white building."
Good photo example 4) The Mill Pool, Winner - Best Small New Housing Development 2019, North West
6) Try using bullets
Try using bullets if you've a lot to say. They're useful for putting your point across clearly and efficiently.
The good: "What makes the partnership so successful is that xxx involve us in projects at feasibility stage which helps us secure projects and influence design for compliance at the very earliest stage. In return xxx benefit from:
- Pre-application and feasibility advice, often providing valuable guidance which can save money and time in delivering projects.
- We offer support to graduates giving friendly advice through a single point of contact.
- We have a professional fully qualified team which delivers a valuable service the client appreciates.
- This team also provides clients with free CPD events that contribute towards professional obligations required by RICS, RIBA, CABE, CIOB.
The not so good: Pre-application and feasibility advice, often providing valuable guidance which can save money and time in delivering projects. We offer support to graduates giving friendly advice through a single point of contact - this allows building control to make strong contacts with the building surveyors at the start of their career, which will hopefully be maintained through their career using LABC services and we have a professional fully qualified team which delivers a valuable service the clients appreciate. This team also provides free CPD events that contribute towards professional development obligations required by RICS, RIBA, CABE, CIOB.
7) Give us the right contact details!
You'd be surprised how many people give us incorrect email addresses, meaning we can't contact you if are lucky enough to be a shortlisted finalist!
8) Take your time
The good:
- Get the details right
- Go back to the form a few times to make sure you've covered everything (hold on to your password for this, or get in touch with us to retrieve it)
- Speak to everyone involved who may be able to help you sell your nomination.
The bad: Submitting a "just OK" submission that may get overlooked.
Good photo example 5) The John Wallis Academy, Finalist - Best Educational Building 2019, South East
9) Tell us what's unique or special
The last question is one of the most important: Why your project/company/colleague should win.
The good: Sell your project/partnership/local builder/construction professional to us. Include the biggest achievements or selling points. Highlight what's special or innovative about your nomination, how important it is, or the scale of the challenges that were overcome.
The bad: Making it sound like the most unremarkable project/partnership/local builder/construction professional that ever was...
10) Make a note of the deadline date
Don't miss the entry deadline! The deadline for all entries is Friday 2 July.