And the winner is… YOU for entering awards.

Upturn has just been nominated for one of the major gongs at the SE100 scheme for the top social enterprise pioneers.

This after winning a British Muslim Award. Then, there was the Social Enterprise Place honour and the… oh dear, let us stop boasting and instead get a bigger mantlepiece!

Our partners and friends haven’t done badly, either. Visiting Angels have winged their way to national ceremonies twice recently, mixing with stars such as Rylan Clark and Josie Gibson, for their enterprising approach to social care.

But as famous football manager Brian Clough once described them, are, “your medals, your caps, your honours, your pots and your pans” really worth it?

Very definitely.

Win-win-win!

Sadly, we now live in a world where doing good is not enough. You have to be seen to do good, also. And nothing does that better than success in an awards scheme.

The first thing it brings you is independent validation for your efforts. No wonder so many big brands begin their PR, with “winners of…” “recognised by…” or best of all, “multi-award winning” (judged great by lots of different people!). Publicise it in your local paper – and why wouldn’t you? - and your reputation is then enhanced by the community. Case in point is Nelson and Colne College’s recent nomination for a Pendle Business Award. This is a fiercely proud community, and they have just immersed themselves into it and waved its flag on a wider platform.

All of which is good for morale. Awards ceremonies in themselves are an outing (usually also for your best bib and tucker) for employees who’ve worked hard. Winning fills them with pride, retains their loyalty and keeps your organisation marching forwards. It also makes them aspire, for success leads to people wanting more and more.

The ceremony itself means you meet so many others in your field and get an insight into their best practice. We are looking forward to hooking up with the likes of The Big Issue and Social Ark. I wonder how many competitors have become collaborators because of an awards event?

Too busy to be bothered?

Given these benefits, why don’t more social enterprises apply for recognition? There seems to be a shyness around celebrating success – peculiarly British – for one. What you do, should be enough – they say. But unfortunately, it isn’t. And while you are standing back hiding your lamp under a bushel, someone far less deserving is taking the plaudits.

The second reason is in my mind, unfathomable. “I didn’t have time.” If you are helping to transform troubled lives as we are at Upturn, make time. The honour is as much for those you help as you. Enough rubbish is said and written about our young people these days, for example. Counter this negativity with positive case studies. I once produced for one for a Yorkshire based student who once won an award at Parliament and she responded with, “nobody has ever said “well done” to me, before.”

See you on the podium.

Of course, by offering this advice, I do realise I have now increased the competition for forthcoming awards!  But hey, there is room for us all. From professional bodies to charitable and voluntary sector organisations, international bodies, and trade publications (best of the lot, you also get coverage in them!) people are wanting to extenuate your positive work. And it’s great for business, morale and in Upturn’s case society, to know there’s someone out there who cares.

Pete Gibson

Comms and PR Lead 

Upturn