Business Awards - Are they worth it?

At this time of year there are a plethora of announcements for Business Awards for "this, that and the other" but is it worth entering?

The answer is simply YES.

Last year I entered the West Berkshire Business Club annual business awards which recognise

• Business achievements in the last year
• Problems and how they have been overcome
• Innovative business practices
• Sales & Marketing Initiatives
• Planning for the future
• Contribution to the local community

....and to my delight and those of my business associates The Virtual Office Secretary was named as runner up.

The whole experience was one of both trepedation and excitement....Once the realisation hit that I had many achievements to shout about and that I was driving a thriving business forward, nothing was going to hold me back.

As runner-up I received a tremendous amount of recognition which has accounted in no small part to the continued growth of my business throughout 2006 and to the greater understanding of precisely what is a Virtual Secretary. I know that my fellow finalists, Four Four Time and the winner NST Direct all benefitted from entering and would share my views.

The best part of the West Berkshire Business Club awards (one of the most hotly contested and prestigious awards in our region) is that the application process is simple. You are not asked for a lengthy diatribe covering 40 pages, you simply need to explain (in no more than 3 pages of A4) why your business should be considered and what your key achievements for the year have been - something all business owners should be able to do very easily and quickly.

Throughout the year we all strive to develop and grow our businesses, and entering business awards of this type offer the perfect opportunity to gain peer and public recognition of your achievements and to raise the profile of your organisation.

Simply entering business awards has powerful advantages. Entering enables you to benchmark yourself against other companies and gives any ambitious business the chance to receive widespread recognition. Imagine the benefits if you become a finalist, runner-up or winner.
And the incentives…

• Invaluable press coverage
• Powerful PR and marketing tool throughout 2007 and beyond
• Recognition throughout West Berkshire (and beyond)
• Chance to show your clients, customers and competitors how good you are
• Boost to staff morale

So next time you are invited to enter, a colleague suggests you enter or you are put forward, don't hesitate, be proud of your achievements and go for it.