FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

KEY INFORMATION

When is the deadline for entries to the HR Excellence Awards 2023?

Deadline to submit the entries is on Monday, 31 July 2023 at 5PM.

When will the shortlist be announced?

The 2023 shortlist will be revealed in October.
We will share any relevant information and updates on our website and social media as the date approaches.

When and where will the awards ceremony take place?

The HR Excellence awards ceremony will take place on Tuesday, 5 December 2023 at The Brewery in London.

Table bookings will be available once the shortlist has been announced.

What are the awards ceremony timings?

18:30 VIP drinks reception
18:45 Drinks reception
19:30 Dinner
21:15 Awards ceremony
22:30 After party
01:00 Carriages

** Please note these timings are subject to change

AWARD ENTRY FAQs

What is the entry document?

Your entry document consists of a 2,000-word essay outlining your entry.
Please refer to the ‘Entry criteria’ tab, which provides helpful tips on the entry process.

How much does it cost to enter?

The cost of entry in any category is £390.00 plus VAT.
Entries to 'Future Leader of the Year' are free.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer any discounts for multiple entries as we strive to ensure a fair and transparent selection process for all participants.
Please note that we have not increased the prices for this year's award entries.

How many entries can I submit?

There is no limit on the number of entries you may submit. However, you should avoid duplicating entries across multiple categories, tailoring the entry specifically to the criteria of the category you are entering.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer any discounts for multiple entries as we strive to ensure a fair and transparent selection process for all participants.
Please note that we have not increased the prices for this year's award entries.

May I submit on behalf of a client?

Yes, although their permission must be obtained and evidence of this shown.
You will be asked to provide contact details of a senior person at the organisation. Please note that we may or may not contact the individual in question.
Successful entries are those that effectively convey the core of their story and clearly demonstrate the impact of their HR strategy.
If you are submitting an entry on behalf of a client as a supplier, we kindly request that the entry be written from the perspective of the client's HR team.
Furthermore, we encourage you to obtain as much involvement as possible from the client's HR team in order to ensure that the submission accurately reflects their HR practices and initiatives.

Can I enter if I am an international company?

If you are a multinational organisation with a presence in the UK you are welcome to enter any category.

Can I enter the HR director of the year?

You cannot self-nominate for this category – nominations are welcomed from the CEO, peers, and colleagues.

This award is judged by HR magazine’s editorial team.

Can I enter the Best People-Focused CEO?

The best people-focused CEO category is open to the chief executives of UK based organisations.
You cannot self-nominate for this category – nominations are welcomed from the HR director, peers and colleagues.

This award is judged by HR magazine’s editorial team.

What is the difference between the entry document and supporting material?

The main component of your entry is the 2000-word essay document. It is important that all essential information listed in the category criteria is included in the main body of the entry document rather than solely in the supporting materials. This ensures that the judges are able to fully evaluate the submission against the established criteria and provide a comprehensive assessment.

Supporting material is optional and may be submitted in addition to the entry document.
It should be used to illustrate/demonstrate what is in the entry document.

Supporting material may include, but is not limited to:

photographs
company logo
testimonials
graphs/data
PDF documents
video (can be hyperlinked in the essay document)

Whilst we value and appreciate supporting material that can aid the judges in their evaluation process, we kindly request that such documents be limited to a reasonable amount.
Please note that each file upload field can upload a single file that is worth up to 40MB.

What is your cancellation policy?

Please note that entries may be withdrawn prior to the closing date. However, we regret to inform you that entry fees are non-refundable once the submission process is complete.

For table and seat bookings at the awards ceremony, written cancellations received on or before October 24th, 2023 will be accepted and a refund of 90% of the booking fee will be provided.
Please note that after this date, refunds will no longer be available.
Please click here to read our terms and conditions in full.

What happens after I have submitted my entries?

After submitting your entries, our awards team will process them for judging.
The judging process typically takes place at the end of September, and the shortlist will be announced after the judging has been completed.

When are the winners announced?

The winners are announced at the ceremony on Tuesday 5 December 2023 at The Brewery.
Attending the HR Excellence Awards can be a valuable experience for your organization, offering opportunities for recognition, networking, benchmarking, motivation, and learning.
Please keep this date free in your diary.

Who are the judges?

The HR Excellence Awards will be evaluated by a distinguished panel of judges comprising some of the most accomplished HR directors from renowned organizations across the UK.

I have an initiative that I could enter into Best ESG strategy, but it could fit another category too, what should I do?

The Best ESG Strategy Award will recognise initiatives that not only positively impact an organisation's wider community but also effectively align with the organisation's HR, commercial or strategic objectives. As such, we recommend submitting your entry under the ESG category, although you may consider submitting it under other relevant categories as well.
Please do contact us if you would like further advice on this.

I work for a company outside the UK, can I enter the awards?

If you are submitting an entry on behalf of a UK-based company or collaborating directly with a UK-based company, your entry will be deemed eligible for consideration.

What are the main characteristics you see in a winning entry?

For detailed information on each category's criteria, kindly refer to the categories page.
Additionally, the HR Excellence website provides links to previous winners that may be of interest to you.

Are there any new categories this year?

This year there are two new categories: Best ESG Strategy and HR Consultancy of the Year.

My project could fit into two categories, how do I decide which to enter it into?

The criteria on the categories page specifies and advises which category to enter. However, you can enter both categories if you feel your entry is relevant to both.

Why is there a cost associated with entering the awards?

The HR Excellence Awards are widely recognised as one of the most prestigious events in the industry. Therefore, we anticipate receiving entries of the highest caliber and have set a corresponding price point.
Our sponsors and HR Magazine have enabled us to offer a reduced fee, which we are pleased to extend to all participants.

Who are the judges? And how are they chosen?

Our judging panel consist of prominent industry experts who are selected based on their extensive experience in the HR field. The panel comprises professionals from a diverse range of sectors, including public, private and non-profit organisations.

How do you prevent bias in the judging process?

Preventing bias in the judging process is crucial to ensure a fair and equitable evaluation of all entries.
The judges must sign an NDA.
Here are some of the strategies we use to minimise bias:

Anonymous judging to help eliminate any unconscious bias
Diverse judging panel to ensure a broad range of perspectives
Clear criteria to help judges assess entries on their merits rather than personal preferences
Training and guidance on how to recognise and avoid bias in the judging process
Review process to ensure fair and consistent judging

By implementing these strategies, the assessment process is conducted in a fair and objective manner, ensuring that all entries are evaluated on their merits.

Which supporting evidence will best support my submission?

Incorporating metrics and data as supporting documents can significantly enhance the effectiveness of your entry.

When it comes to selecting the most effective metrics and data to support your submission, it's important to consider the specific goals and criteria of the submission you are making.

Here are a few general tips that can help you identify and present relevant metrics and data:

1. Focus on measurable outcomes: Identify specific metrics that are directly related to the outcomes or achievements you are trying to demonstrate. This can include metrics such as reduced employee turnover or higher productivity levels.

2. Use credible sources: Ensure that the data you use is from reputable sources and can be verified. This can include data from official reports, industry benchmarks, or third-party surveys.

3. Provide context: It's important to provide context for the metrics you are presenting, including any external factors that may have influenced the results. This can help the judges better understand the significance of the data.

4. Visualize the data: Consider using graphs, charts, or other visual aids to help present the data in a clear and easy-to-understand format.

5. Quantify impact: Whenever possible, try to quantify the impact of your achievements using the metrics and data you have presented. This can help the judges better understand the tangible benefits of your work.

Overall, the key is to select metrics and data that are most relevant to the goals and criteria of the submission, and to present them in a clear and compelling way.

AWARDS CEREMONY FAQs

What are the benefits of attending the HR Excellence award ceremony?

Attending the HR Excellence Awards can offer several benefits for your organization.
Here are a few reasons why your organization should consider attending:

1. Recognition: Winning or even being a finalist for an HR Excellence Award can bring significant recognition and prestige to your organization. This can help you attract top talent, enhance your brand reputation, and increase your visibility within your industry.

2. Networking: Attending the awards ceremony or other events associated with the awards can offer opportunities to network with other HR professionals, industry experts, and potential partners. This can help you learn from others, exchange ideas, and make valuable connections.

3. Benchmarking: The awards can provide a benchmark for your organization's HR practices and performance. Even if you don't win, you can learn from the winning organizations and apply some of their best practices to improve your own HR function.

4. Motivation: Applying for and attending the awards can be a motivating experience for your HR team. It can provide recognition and validation for their hard work, inspire them to continue striving for excellence, and increase their job satisfaction.

5. Learning: Attending the awards ceremony or other events can provide opportunities to learn about the latest trends, best practices, and innovations in the HR industry. This can help you stay up-to-date with the latest developments in your field and bring new ideas and approaches back to your organization.

6. Making memories:
The HR Excellence Awards present a unique opportunity to acknowledge the hard work of you and your team, and to show support for your HR department. We invite you to join us for a memorable evening that includes a drinks reception, a sumptuous three-course meal, celebrity entertainment, the awards ceremony, and an after-party to dance the night away."

Overall, attending the HR Excellence Awards can be a valuable experience for your organization, offering opportunities for recognition, networking, benchmarking, motivation, learning and above all immensely enjoyable experience.

Do shortlisted organisations receive free or discounted tickets to the awards ceremony?

Regrettably, we are unable to provide free or discounted tickets to shortlisted companies.

Will there be any filming or photography taking place at the awards ceremony?

Please be advised that photographs and video will be taken at this event.

By participating in this event, you acknowledge and grant the event organizers full rights to use the resulting images and any reproductions or adaptations of the images for visual presentation, social media, or marketing purposes related to the event or future events organized by Mark Allen Group.

By entering the event premises, you waive any rights you may have to any claims for payment or royalties in connection with the use of these materials.

What is the dress code?

The dress code is black tie attire for men and evening or cocktail dresses for women.

FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Information

Legal information

Contact information

Entries will open in