Hints and Tips

Preparing Your Submission

No person is an island

Be prepared to ask for help. You'll need to enlist assistance from colleagues from across the whole business to effectively complete the entry and stand the best chance of winning.

Rallying the troops

Work out in advance the help you'll need, who is going to provide it, and who is going to act as team captain. Divide tasks between individual departments and get people to supply information in the simplest format for you to collate.

Time waits for no man

Tell everyone that they must complete their tasks by a certain date, and stick to it. For some reason, deadlines have a habit of creeping up on you when you least expect them.

Tell it how it is

Tell everyone in your business that you are entering the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise - they'll be more willing to get involved. Remember to tell them that all information is confidential.

Shout about your success

Don't be shy - let your passion for the business shine through. And while your at it make sure that senior people in your business know when the judging date is if you get through the short listing.

The devil is in the detail

Answer all the questions as fully as possible and leave nothing out. Firstly read and familiarise yourself with the Award Criteria to understand what the judges will be seeking. Judges are looking for the exceptional, not the ordinary.

Prepare for the best

Finalists in the Grampian Awards for Business Enterprise usually receive substantial PR coverage so make sure you indicate exactly how you'd like your business name to appear in any resultant coverage.

Supporting Evidence

If you are successfully short listed to the second round and you feel that your case would be better supported by some additional samples or materials it's OK to submit examples. Only send things that directly support your case -  the emphasis is on quality not quantity.

Don't get caught out

Don't leave it to the last minute. The deadline for entries is immovable so submit your entry in plenty of time.

Take another look

Make certain that you review the entry before submitting it, be sure to check your spelling -  judges do notice and comment, so don't let spelling spoil your chances in what might be a close run contest.