Judging Criteria
Judges will consider the structure, presentation and clarity of each entry. Entries should not exceed 1000 words in total and should relate to work undertaken between August 2020 – November 2021.
ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THE ENTRY FORM WILL REMAIN CONFIDENTIAL TO JUDGES
Initiative Awards
Judges want to recognise initiatives that tackle workplace problems, support staff, promote wellbeing and reward good work that builds strong relationships and employee engagement. The judges will be looking for clear objectives, creative and effective implementation and tangible and demonstrable results in the initiative award categories.
Each entry must include information under the following headings:
• Overview of Initiative
Provide the judges with clarity and context around the initiative you have implemented and who the initiative was designed for e.g., a particular demographic with your business, a team or department etc.
• Objectives & budget (1-10 points)
Tell us what you were looking to achieve from the initiative / scheme / policy or campaign. What issues where you hoping to solve? What budget if any did you allocate to the implementation of the initiative.
• Strategy & implementation (1-10 points)
Provide details on the strategy for the initiative and how this was implemented. Judges will be looking for a clear communication strategy and effective deployment of the initiative.
• Results & evaluation (1-10 points)
Relate these to the objective(s) stated above. What impact did your initiative have on the employees and overall business? Results must be tangible with clear examples and testimonials where possible to support the results. Please provide actual numbers rather than percentages wherever possible.
• Why should you win this award? (1-10 points)
What do you think sets your initiative apart from the other initiatives being judged? Judges will in particular be looking for the thing that makes this initiative different to the others, what is unique?
Any entries that do not include information under all of these headings will be marked down. If appropriate you may include up to three pieces of supporting materials.
VOI / Tool Awards
How do we effectively monitor and report on the impact of company culture on the business, and on the efficiency of initiatives, flexible working and HR influences? Judges want to hear about the tools which are effective in helping transform company culture.
Each entry must include information under the following headings:
• Overview of Tool
Provide a synopsis of what the tool does and how it adds value to the end user.
• Total budget
Detail costs associated with running the tool/technology and how much you intend to or do sell the tool for.
• Existing problems & target audience (1-10 points)
Include details outlining the problems that this tool/technology solves and how if at all these problems were previously dealt with. Detail who the target customers or users of this product are.
• USP & Features (1-10 points)
Outline what is the tool/technology’s unique proposition. Highlight the major features that are unique to the tool which help solve a customer problem or benefit the customer positively.
• Key Metrics (1-10 points)
Detail what key metrics have you used to measure whether this tool/technology is successful? I.e., does it save money, makes things faster, generate more revenue?
• Why should your tool win? (1-10 points)
What single thing about your tool or technology is not done by anyone else? What makes it stand out to be award worthy?
Any entries that do not include information under all of these headings will be marked down. If appropriate, you may include up to three pieces of supporting materials.
We also ask you to send a ‘US Company Culture Awards’ log in to allow judges to be able to test and evaluate your product if they feel necessary.
Please note judging is based on the application form and the judges’ industry knowledge of the tools. They are a highly experienced judging panel with in-depth industry knowledge so the tool log ins requested are for any judges who feel that want to delve deeper into any claims / functionality detailed in the entry.
Please note if you’re unable to provide a login, please contact awards@dontpanicprojects.com.
Development / Training Awards
Exceptional training and development programmes have a huge positive impact on the bottom line. Judges want to hear about structured, implemented and monitored training and development initiatives that form an integral part of the company culture, and that positively impacts on both the retention and addition of new talent.
Each entry must include information under the following headings:
• Overview of Development / Training
Provide the judges with clarity and context around the development / training you have implemented and who the initiative was designed for e.g., a particular demographic with your business, a team or department etc.
• Objectives & budget (1-10 points)
Tell us what you were looking to achieve from the development / training. What issues where you hoping to solve? What budget if any did you allocate to the implementation of the initiative.
• Strategy & implementation (1-10 points)
Provide details on the strategy for the development / training and how this was implemented. Judges will be looking for a clear communication strategy and effective deployment of the training or development programme.
• Results & evaluation (1-10 points)
Relate these to the objective(s) stated above. What impact did your initiative have on the employees and overall business? Results must be tangible with clear examples and testimonials where possible to support the results. Please provide actual numbers rather than percentages wherever possible.
• Why should you win this award? (1-10 points)
What do you think sets your development / training apart from the other programmes being judged? Judges will in particular be looking for the thing that makes this development / training different to the others, what is unique?
Any entries that do not include information under all of these headings will be marked down. If appropriate you may include up to three pieces of supporting materials.
Working Environment Awards
The working environment is an integral part of company culture, it is a space that encompasses the values and beliefs of your organisation. Safe, warm, fun, inclusive – we want to know how your environment came into being, how it has evolved and how it supports the productivity and ethos of your business. If you and your team are working remotely how have you re-created and re-positioned your environment. Judges want to see detail and photographs of the UK’s best workplaces.
Each entry must include information under the following headings:
• Overview
Tell us about your working environment, how does the environment create and encourage a positive culture – please include pictures or floor plans where relevant. Who benefits from this working environment e.g., a team, department, entire business?
• Objectives & budget (1-10 points)
Tell us what you are looking to achieve from your working environment e.g. increased productivity, wellbeing etc. and the budget allocated to implement.
• Results & evaluation (1-10 points)
Please relate these to the objective(s) stated above. What impact does your working environment have on the employees and overall business? Results must be tangible with clear examples and testimonials where possible to support the results. Please provide actual numbers rather than percentages wherever possible.
• Why should your working environment win this award? (1-10 points)
What sets your working environment apart from the other working environments being judged? What makes it unique?
Any entries that do not include information under all of these headings will be marked down. If appropriate you may include up to three pieces of supporting materials.
Individual Awards
Judges will be looking to reward individuals who demonstrate an ongoing and sustained commitment to delivering great company culture.
Each entry must include information under the following headings:
• Overview of the nominee
Include current and previous job roles of the individual along with any additional roles this individual has in relation to your company culture.
• Individual Objectives (1-10 points)
Tell us what the individual has looked to achieve and any targets that have been set in relation to improving or maintaining your company culture. We recommend showing targets as quantifiable metrics e.g., ‘Increase conversions from 150 to 300 a month’ rather than ‘Increase conversions by 10%’.
• Details of any recent achievements (1-10 points)
What makes your nominee stand out? Please include details of any achievements you feel make your nominee award worthy. What are you proud of?
• Details of any challenges faced and how these were overcome (1-10 points)
What challenges were unique to you and how have you overcome them. What was the end result of overcoming these challenges?
• Why should this individual win this award? (1-10 points)
What do you think sets this individual apart from the other individuals being judges?
Any entries that do not include information under all of these headings will be marked down. If appropriate you may include up to three pieces of supporting materials.
Team / Agency Award
Each entry must include information under the following headings:
• Overview of the Agency / Team
Please include numbers, staff turnover, roles etc. Judges will be looking to see your core values.
• Details of team / agency culture initiatives (1-10 points)
E.g., flexible working, holiday schemes, training and development, incentive schemes, rewards packages, CSR and volunteering initiatives. Judges will be looking for details on how the agency / business / team unify their culture to align with the business overall core values.
• Details of any challenges faced and how these were overcome (1-10 points)
What challenges were unique to the agency / team and how have you overcome them. What was the end result of overcoming these challenges?
• Evidence positive impact / results of any initiatives (1-10 points)
E.g., increased productivity, staff retention, staff promotion and development Please relate these to the objective(s) stated above. What impact do your initiatives have on the employees and overall business? Results must be tangible with clear examples and testimonials where possible to support the results. Please provide actual numbers rather than percentages wherever possible.
• Why should you win this award? (1-10 points)
Please detail what you feel makes you stand out amongst others and why you feel your entry is award winning. What makes you unique? What gives you the competitive edge? What makes you the best agency/team to work for?
Any entries that do not include information under all of these headings will be marked down. If appropriate you may include up to three pieces of supporting materials.