Kylie Jones’ Post

This is my absolute favourite time of year, I just love a... Awards season! 🏆 (You thought I was going to say autumn, didn't you?) From a professional POV, nothing gives me a thrill like awards. The past two weeks have seen the shortlist announcements fortunately flood in - not just for us here at Conteur but across our client spectrum - and I LOVE it. It's not just reaping the rewards either - I thrive under the pressure of pulling together a submission; of working with clients, teams and individuals to pull out and highlight the incredible things they are doing every day. So why enter awards? Honestly, I could go on and on, but here are just a few: ▪ They promote employee / client engagement - nothing says you care about and recognise a person's / teams efforts than entering them into an award ▪ Brand awareness and kudos - not only will a shortlisting / award win help you reach an extended, or possibly even new, audience, who DOESN'T want to be know as 'award-winning?' ▪ They offer up an opportunity for reflection - what are you doing? Are you doing it well? What aren't you doing so well? Often, the criteria for an award category can help highlight areas for improvement or just confirm that you're actually already up to scratch ▪ Peer-to-peer recognition - you can say you're great until the cows come home BUT when people in your industry say it about you; that's truly earned PR ▪ Speaking of which, the PR opportunities are endless - shout about it from the rooftops; whether you've been shortlisted or won, maximise that PESO model as much as you can! And if you didn't get shortlisted? That's not a problem either. Ask questions; request feedback and learn from it. There's always next year. Interested in learning more? Have a read here: https://lnkd.in/e7NFzJBc

Are all professional awards really just pay-to-play? I know it's not something new, but it’s a question I find myself asking after several invitations to participate in award programs that, at first glance, look prestigious and flattering. These invites often come with endorsements from high-profile names and promise to amplify personal achievements and support worthy causes like women’s empowerment. But soon after the initial contact, the catch appears: hidden fees, mandatory paid 'PR packages', or tickets to expensive gala events. This practice makes me question the credibility of such awards. Does making a payment undermine the value of winning? Are there any true merit-based awards left that don’t require a financial commitment? I’m interested in hearing from my network. How do you discern genuine recognition from those with strings attached?

How are you recognizing top producers? Award ceremonies hold a significant place in the workplace by fulfilling employees' deeper needs for recognition and validation. The Economist explores the value of industry awards, emphasizing the sense of collective purpose they impart. Check out the article to delve deeper into the importance of recognizing excellence in the workplace: https://lnkd.in/gGKkBi9d

We’re thrilled to announce our nominations for the Freshies 2025 Awards: 🏆 Best Business: Mirror mirror on the wall who is the best business of them all? Resilient, tenacious, positive, kind and all the rest – which business do you think deserves this medal? They must look after their people and give back to charity & the community. 👩💼 Brilliant Boss - Rebecca Hoogerwerf (was Keen) & John Keen Bosses and employers often go under appreciated, so this award is a shout out to all the bosses out there who care for their people, listen, include, and support. Those leaders who earn the trust and respect of their team, inspire and lead from the front.  👨👩👧👦 Fantastic Family From humble beginnings, these wonderful businesses almost feel like an extension of the family that they originated from. Following the positive values & energetic culture that flows down throughout, encapsulating all that work within them. 💡 Marketing Magnifico This award celebrates the business with a marketing approach so outstanding that it feels like an art form. From innovative campaigns to engaging storytelling, they know how to captivate their audience, drive impact, and create meaningful connections. 💪 Most Treasured Team This award goes to the brilliant business that goes above and beyond to engage with and care for their tremendous team members. Those that believe their team are their most prized asset and consistently show their appreciation. 🌟 Exceptional Employee - Josh Keen Without amazing employees most businesses would fail and whilst we must cherish everyone who works for us, we absolutely need to recognise the champions that go above and beyond every single day But we’re not done yet! 🚀 We’re so proud to be recognised, but to make it through to the voting round, we need your help! 🌟 By nominating us, you’ll be supporting everything we stand for – resilience, teamwork, community spirit, and creating positive change. 🗓️ Nominations close on 30th November, so don’t miss your chance to help us take the next step. Every nomination counts! You can nominate here: https://lnkd.in/egpQbfAj In the spirit of community, we’d love for you to nominate other businesses, leaders, and employees who inspire you. Let’s lift each other up and celebrate the incredible people and organisations that make a difference. 💛 #TheFreshies #nominations #RKMS

As a job seeker, I tend to be quite skeptical of companies that place heavy emphasis on showcasing awards and ceremonies without putting in the effort to highlight their core values and the value of their products or services. While accolades can be impressive, I believe they should not overshadow the true drivers of a company’s success—its mission, values, and the tangible benefits its products bring to the market. These are the fundamental aspects that sustain a business and foster long-term growth, far beyond the recognition or accolades it may receive. For me, it's crucial to see a clear alignment between a company’s values, its product offerings, and how these are communicated, as they are the true breadwinners of the company. I believe they have their own reasons to do so as they have been in the industries longer than I do haha. What your opinion on these??

Is your business worth shouting about?

I was once nominated for a prestigious award, but after further investigation, it was expected that I would pay a fee to the organisers of the event in order to be part of it. The business world is inundated with an exessive number of awards, and nominations, each claiming to celebrate corporate excellence and honor top-ranked individuals. While some of these events serve as valuable platforms for networking and knowledge exchange, the sheer volume and often repetitive nature of these award ceremonies have led to a sense of oversaturation and diluted significance. The excessive hype surrounding these events can create a culture of superficial recognition, where merit may sometimes be overshadowed by popularity or the ability to self-promote. How do you distinguish between meaningful opportunities for recognition and those driven primarily by commercial interests?

Have you got an awards strategy? Most companies I know are very reactive when applying for awards within their industry. They are good to have, but companies do not consider them until someone approaches them to submit for a particular award. If they are lucky, they do end up winning that award. But most of the time, the submission does not result in a win. But the fact is that most companies do have great stories that can be used to win these awards. Are you looking to identify the fantastic stories that your business has that can be used to win awards? Reach out to me, and let's find those fantastic stories you can put forward for award nominations. Let's prepare your awards strategy. https://lnkd.in/gvKUWKTv

Are you thinking about entering industry awards in 2025? You should be. But to improve your chances of success, it's important to plan and consider why you are entering awards and where they fit into your wider strategy and goals. - are you trying to raise your profile or client-base in a certain industry? - is the business trying to grow a service or specalism? - do you want to be seen as a great employer? - do you want an opportunity to socialise with the team? - or do you just want to be seen shoulder to shoulder with a peer/competitor? Thinking about this now, will help you to decide which awards to enter and which projects and campaigns would help to achieve your goals.

It's only a week until the PIBAwards are celebrated at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hull - an exciting evening for many employees in the region. People in Business Awards shortlist announced with more nominations than ever! You can find out more on this guest editorial, about who's on that list and additional information in the latest edition of our business publication. https://lnkd.in/e-whJtFP #Hull #yhbusiness #awards #localbusinesses #businessnews