Hints & Tips – How to make a good entry : The European Business Awards

These hints and tips will help you succeed in The European Business Awards…

This document is in two parts:

Part 1 – Preparing Your Submission

Part 2 – Making Your Presentation

Preparing Your Submission

1. No man is an island
Be prepared to ask for help. You’ll need to enlist assistance from your colleagues from across the whole business to effectively complete the entry and stand the best chance of winning

2. Rallying the troops
Work out in advance the help you’ll need, who is going to provide it, and who is going to act as team captain. Divide tasks between individual departments and get people to supply information in the simplest format for you to collate

3. Time waits for no man
Tell everyone that they must complete their tasks by a certain date, and stick to it. For some reason, deadlines have a habit of creeping up on you when you least expect them.

4. Tell it how it is
Tell everyone in your company that you are entering The European Business Awards – they’ll be more willing to get involved. Remember to tell them that all information is confidential, even judges sign non-disclosure agreements!

5. Shout about your success
Don’t be shy – let your passion for the business shine through. And while you are at it, make sure that senior people in your business know the judging date if you get through the short listing

6. The devil is in the detail
Answer all questions as fully as possible and leave nothing out. Firstly read and familiarise yourself with the Award Criteria to understand what the judges will be seeking. Judges are looking for the exceptional, not the ordinary.

7. Prepare for the best
Finalists in The European Business Awards are likely to receive substantial PR coverage so make sure you indicate exactly how you’d like your company name to appear in any resultant coverage

8. Supporting evidence
If your business is very complex or you feel your case would be better supported by some additional samples or materials it’s OK to submit examples. Only send things that directly support your case – the emphasis is on quality not quantity!”

(Remember, samples cannot be returned to you, so don’t send anything expensive or valuable. Also clearly mark any additional information that you send.)

9. Don’t get caught out
Don’t leave it to the last minute. The deadline for entries is immoveable so submit your entry in plenty of time. Collate all the supporting material that you are submitting and give yourself at least a week longer than you thought necessary.

10. Take another look
Make certain that you review the entry before submitting it, be sure to check your spelling – judges do notice and comment, so don’t let spelling spoil your chances in what might be a close run contest

Good Luck!

Making your presentation

If your entry submission is a success and your business is shortlisted as a Ruban d’Honneur recipient, this is what happens next…

1. Check your diaries!
The first thing to do is confirm with your senior executives they are available to attend the judging presentations AND the Awards ceremony. Arrange travel and accommodation to allow plenty of time to take advantage of discounted deals.

2. First come, first served
The European Business Awards allow you select the time of your judging presentation (on a first come, first served basis). You will need to call us and book a timeslot. Please note that once allocated the date and time cannot be changed.

3. Boats, planes and trains
Plan your trip to the judging venue, giving yourself plenty of time to get there. Avoid unnecessary frustrations caused by unforeseen circumstances such as traffic jams, flight delays, taxis that are never around when you need one, and anything else beyond your control.

4. Talking the talk
Rehearse your presentation with your colleagues. As you only have 15 minutes to make your presentation to the judges, a rehearsal will ensure you don’t run over time and will do wonders for your confidence!

5. Bring it to life
The judges will be prepared and will have read through your entry submission prior to your presentation. Each year diamond mines produce tons of spoil and relatively few diamonds, be sure to tell the judges about the diamonds not the spoil heaps!

6. Your 15 minutes of fame
You have 15 minutes to WOW the judges with your presentation. Be sure to focus on the real successes of your organisation which illustrate and support your case. Be concise, precise and to the point, and most of all enjoy yourself!

7. Stand out from the crowd
The same panel will preside over the presentations made by all 10 Ruban d’Honneur recipients in your category… all of these done on the same day. Be memorable. A timely, well-presented story, followed by factual but succinct answers to questions is often the most successful formula.

8. Bells and whistles
You don’t have to bring the latest gizmo the impress the judges. There will be a PC laptop, projector and screen for your use. We recommend you prepare an on-screen presentation in PowerPoint and save it to a USB stick. You may bring your own laptop if you prefer. Please remember if you are using a MAC you will be required to bring your own laptop.

9. Make it fun
Your company is one of the best! You are a Ruban d’Honneur recipient… to win the overall category Award would be icing on the cake. Enjoy your presentation and remember the judges are human too!

10. Tell the world…
… or at least share the honour with everyone in your business. They are all part of your success story after all and a pat on the back goes a long, long way. Being a Ruban d’Honneur recipient in this competition is a BIG DEAL!

Well done and good luck!

The European Business Awards has enjoyed a successful partnership with RSM International since the outset of the programme.

RSM International comprises a worldwide network of professional services firms providing tax, audit, consulting, and specialist advisory services to ambitious growing organisations around the globe.

The group prides itself on the unusually close and enduring relationships it forges with its clients. Clients who choose RSM International are those who look for a combination of real value, true team work, imaginative practical solutions, and excellent service.

“As one of the world’s largest auditing and consulting networks, we are committed to quality and excellence in business. This is reflected by our support of the European Business Awards for the third consecutive year and our sponsorship of the Entrepreneur of the Year Award. We wholeheartedly encourage successful and active European businesses to participate in these awards in order for their achievements and contributions to be appropriately recognised through these awards by businesses and business leaders throughout Europe.”
Jean Stephens, CEO, RSM International

Facts & Figures about RSM International…

RSM International is the seventh largest network of accounting and consulting firms in the world
66 member and correspondent firms in 64 countries
662 offices worldwide
Over 25,000 staff including 2500 partners
Combined fee income of US$3.06 billion

Q&A with Jean Stephens, CEO, RSM Internationl

Why does RSM International sponsor the European Business Awards?
As one of the world’s largest accounting and consulting networks, we are committed to quality and excellence in business – values which are reflected by the European Business Awards. Europe is an important region in the global economy and we continue to grow and strengthen our network to meet the needs of our clients with business interests there. In the past year alone we have appointed new member firms in Italy, Spain, Ukraine and Germany, and formed a development group in Central and Eastern Europe, indicating our commitment to European business.

What is your opinion of the European Business Awards?
We take sponsorship commitments very seriously, and this is the third consecutive year we have sponsored the EBA. We believe in the importance of recognising and commending international business endeavour. The European Business Awards is a prestigious body rewarding high quality companies of all sizes, from all sectors, across Europe.

How important is recognizing and rewarding European business success?
Very important. Quality and success need to be encouraged and rewarded, especially if we are to sustain a vibrant and robust European economy.

What do you see as the key challenges confronting European businesses at the moment?
Although a strong CEO can and should plan for economic cycles, three years ago I doubt any European CEO would have planned for a global economic slowdown triggered by crises in the international credit markets, matched with high inflation due to a surge in the price of oil and food. The biggest challenge for European businesses is to maintain their strategic direction in the face of uncertainty. Market changes might mean challenges have changed and businesses need to realign their priorities and short-term direction.

What do you think will be the future concerns of businesses in Europe?
Emerging economies could be seen as posing a competitive threat to European business, but it is important to recognise that economies like those in the BRIC region can offer growth opportunities to European companies. Of course, business risks can be high there and there is no common approach – businesses must carefully assess the political, cultural and economic features of those countries.

What drives you as head of a multinational organisation?
Success of the global network is the ultimate driving force, and we have been growing and strengthening consistently for some time. Whilst I can help strengthen the network from the centre, RSMi’s people are its most important asset, and the hard work, determination and quality of the member firms ensure our continued success.

What advice would you give to an Award entrant?
Work hard, focus on quality and be the best you can be in your field. A successful award entrant will need to have mastered these skills and be able to clearly show how these will benefit and advance the business community.

Do European businesses set the benchmark for emerging regions?
Europe’s economy has thrived for many years, so in that respect, of course there has been a benchmark set for emerging regions. But these regions operate differently – different cultures, different political systems, different business challenges. Yes, emerging economies will learn from Europe’s precedent, but likewise European companies will need to adjust and learn from them if they are to pursue global growth opportunities.

To find out more about RSM International visit www.rsmi.com