Jim Walsh

Over the past twenty five years or so Walsh Public Relations has been heavily involved in awards events. They have included all types of business awards from security to agriculture to building/construction, childrens art competitions and community awards. We have not just handled the PR or media relations but have managed award programmes from beginning to end, from the judging system to seeking entrants to staging the awards presentations.

No matter what the award, business, social, cultural or community-based, making the effort to put together an entry submission is not easy. But if you win an award the pride in winning more than makes up for that.

Getting people or companies to enter can be hard work. “It takes up too much time,  there is too much paperwork, we’ll never win, sure we know who is going to win anyway, it’s a foregone conclusion, the big companies always win”, all regular refrains. And often just excuses for not making the effort, not having enough confidence in the people or the business or fear of been seen as second best.

So why should any organisation or individual enter for an award. Obviously to win. But what does it mean to win? It means that within your sphere of business or among your peers someone considers you to be worthy of recognition. Time and time again over the years I have seen this reflected in the enthusiasm and pride of people and organisations who have won an award.

Because winning an award

*  gives the people working in an organisation a tremendous boost of confidence

*  even knowing that the management of an organisation have enough faith in the

    people to put the organisation forward is a highly motivating thing to do

*  awards are also a great way to show customers and peers that the

   organisation is a force to be reckoned with

*  and they can be a great business marketing tool.

It may take an effort but the staff motivation, the incentive and boost to morale as well as the opportunity to generate positive PR make it welll worth it.