Tip 1:

You have until midnight on 31st July 2022 to send in your complete submission – but don’t leave it until the last minute! Use the time well.  You can save and return to your entry to update and amend it any time until the Entry Deadline. Start early and don’t pressure yourself.

Decide which categories to enter. Agents can enter up to 4 categories. Regional categories provide more of a chance of winning, so seriously consider this. They are very valuable for local business – you can enter regional and national categories – you could even win both!

If you are a supplier, carefully consider which category you best fit into; if in doubt, please contact us for guidance.

Tip 2:

You have five key criteria to satisfy the judges, plus a ‘free-form’ field for you to really sell yourself. Make sure your submission covers all the points of the judging criteria.

Each field has a maximum of 500 words. Use this space well – a good entry will use all the space allowed.

Regional categories: focus on your position in that region, your business relationships, special things about operating in your region.

You can also upload supporting documents in almost any format to support each of the five points.

As a tip to uploading your entry, plan your submissions and documents ‘offline’ and then copy and paste into the fields and upload your supporting documents when you and your colleagues are all happy with what makes up your entry. Upload text from a text file with no formatting, preferably.

REMEMBER TO SAVE YOUR ENTRY AS YOU GO! If you don’t the page will time out and you will lose your work.

Tip 3:

Bring on the stats. Judges look for real, honest statistics and figures. Make them clear, relevant, comparative (eg year-on-year growth in sales etc.) Charts and tables are great, especially if they are independently verifiable. You can incorporate these into your 500 word submission field, or as an uploaded document.

Tip 4:

Report your progress – set the scene, eg: when and how you started, where you operate, who you are (part of a larger organisation/independent) who you work with (in conveyancing, referral networks etc), professional bodies, industry qualifications, and your ambitions for the future.

Tip 5:

Celebrate your successes – tell the judges about national and local business awards for your company or your staff and individuals. Also your involvement in community improvements, innovations, local and national recognition.

Tip 6:

Get creative and illustrate your written parts, as appropriate. You can include graphs, photographs, images to support your brand strength and values, your staff and your achievements. It is not compulsory, but it does add colour and sparkle to the written part, when supported by relevant pictures and charts/tables etc. You can upload a document for each field/question you fill in. They don’t have to relate to the field you have filled in.

We need facts and relevant information more than pictures but they do give a real ‘feel’ for your business. It is an opportunity to show the effectiveness of your branding, company image and style.