It’s not just the winners who stand to profit from business awards

If you turn out to be a winner, you may possibly well be asked to be just one of the judges and, when a lot more, you will in all probability really feel flattered. But assume two times right before expressing “yes”. Judging normally takes time: time to study the details pack from every single entrant time to go to the all working day judges’ panel and time to go to the (no cost) evening meal.

If you deal with to steer clear of currently being a decide, you could possibly be asked to be the guest speaker – a further way to get a no cost evening meal! My initially knowledge of the job was challenging and traumatic. With just 24 hours’ notice, I turned up at Mere Golfing and Region Club to play my section in a boisterous North West Entrepreneurs’ Awards evening. 

It could have long gone greater. Just after the 250 attendees sat down, the chair of the association declared: “I’m sorry to give you some genuinely disappointing news. Our incredibly well-known guest speaker, Jaqueline Gold, is unable to be with us tonight thanks to a sudden illness, so we are joined by John Timpson.”

If you agree to be nominated for an award, do your incredibly finest to be there on the significant night. It isn’t fantastic form to get somebody else to choose up the prize on your behalf. Even an acceptance speech on Zoom fails to fulfill the live viewers. There’s little level in currently being the winner if you cannot celebrate there and then due to the fact, unfortunately, the euphoria of that night is swiftly overlooked – your spell as a celebrity rarely lasts very long.

Acquiring professional the highs and lows of the award circuit, I’m delighted they’re again on the agenda. Just after Covid limitations, marketplace awards give a excellent excuse for a little bit of networking and, for the winners, they can be lifetime-shifting.

But I have been given my past trophy getting proudly been given a Life time Achievement Award, I’m clearly yesterday’s gentleman.

Sir John Timpson is chairman of the superior-avenue companies provider, Timpson.

Ship him a question at [email protected] kingdom and study a lot more responses from his Question John column here