Time to shineIt’s time to recognise and celebrate the work you do to make a difference through your internal communications.

The Central and North regions have some of the brightest and best in our industry – and our annual awards give you the opportunity to demonstrate how you add value for your organisation or your clients.

It’s time to shine and be recognised for your achievements.

Central & North Awards 2015

IoIC Member Non-Member

Standard entry fee (for entries received on or before 20 Nov 2015 £40 + VAT (£48) £60 + VAT (£72)

Late entry fee (for entries received 21 - 28 Nov 2015) £60 + VAT (£72) £85 + VAT (£102)

Judges Special Critique £30 + VAT (£36) £40 + VAT (£48)

2015 Entry Fees

The IoIC Central & North Awards set out to recognise and celebrate the work you do to drive success in large or small, public or private organisations. Whether that’s internal communications strategy, design or writing skill or brilliant people that bring organisational objectives to life, we want to hear from you! The Awards are split into 20 classes across five categories: Strategy, Skills, People, Print and Electronic/Digital.

Top tips for a winning entry

Why enter?Entering awards isn't just about a pat on the back (although that’s an excellent reason) it's a great way to demonstrate the value you deliver for your clients, companies and colleagues.

And, in this age of measurement and metrics, it's an essential benchmarking exercise. You can also receive valuable feedback from our judges to support continuous improvement, which we know is important to you.

Competition RulesOnly entries produced or delivered predominantly between December 2014 and November 2015 will be eligible.

Judges reserve the right to reallocate entries to a more appropriate class if necessary.

Entries should be produced by or for a company based in the Central or North regions, or for a company where more than 51 per cent of the audience is based in those regions.

Please see IoIC website for full rules: www.ioic.org.uk

How to EnterPlease send two copies of each entry form (see back page) and one set of supporting materials to:

IoIC Central & North Awards, c/o IoIC, Suite G10, Gemini House, Linford Wood, Sunrise Parkway, Milton Keynes MK14 6PW

The Closing Date is Friday 20 November 2015, with fees detailed below.

• Tell the judges a compelling story.

• Identify your audience(s).

• Set out your objectives and achievements.

• Evaluation is key. Make sure it links back to your objectives.

• Demonstrate how your entry added value. We are looking for outcomes as well as outputs.

• We are seeking excellence. Let the judges know what makes your entry stand out, what is different about what you achieved.

• Ask someone else to check your entry before you send it.

• Make your entry exciting. Make sure your passion shines through.

Choose your classesThe IoIC Central & North Awards are split into 20 classes across five categories: Strategy, Skills, People, Print Channels and Digital/Electronic Channels.

StrategyEntries to Strategy classes should explain and provide evidence of the requirement addressed, the target audience(s), goals and objectives, a summary of the entry’s approach, the challenges faced and how success was measured. Supporting information should be limited to 1000 words. Please include examples of the materials produced.

1 Best single campaign

A communication strategy and programme covering a single issue or topic.

2 Best change communication

A communication strategy and programme supporting organisational change including mergers and acquisitions, crises and cultural change.

3 Best multi-channel communication

A communication strategy and programme effectively delivered through a diverse mix of communication channels. Your entry should include the reasons for choosing a multi-channel approach and evidence of its success.

4 Best evaluation and/ or measurement

Development or application of skills, tools and systems to measure outcomes and evaluate on-going communication or specific campaigns, channels or products.

SkillsEntries to Skills classes should include a short biography of the entrant(s). Supporting information should be limited to 500 words. All entries must clearly state the purpose of the communication and how the entry met this.

5 Writing

Exceptional writing that informs, educates, entertains or inspires its audience. Could be a news story or feature, policy / strategy documents, online content or facilitator guides / toolkits. Anything where the writing has played a key part in achieving the internal communication objective.

6 Print design

An exceptional piece of print design that delivers clarity of communication and captures attention and imagination.

7 Electronic & Digital design

An exceptional piece of electronic and/or digital design that delivers clarity of communication and captures attention and imagination.

8 Imagery

Photography, illustration or graphics that have enhanced internal communication effectiveness.

PeopleEntries can be self-nominated and are open to anyone working in-house, for an agency or freelance. It is recommended that entries include a 250-word testimonial from a senior in-house manager or client.

9 Best editor

The entry should contain details of how long the person has been editing publications, either paper or digital. The entry should also contain details of the target audience(s), how that influenced the format, editorial goals and objectives, challenges and measurement. New editors are particularly encouraged to enter.

10 In-house team of the year

The judges will look for evidence of how the team has made a strategic difference to their organisation and how the impact of its work was measured.

11 Agency team of the year

The entry should contain a description of the agency, the challenges posed by clients, an explanation of how the agency adds value to its clients (e.g. coaching, creativity, support, best practice, evaluation, etc) and a summary of how the agency has contributed to its clients’ success.

12 Freelancer/interim of the year

Judges are looking for a mix of great tactics and strategic input. The entry should contain a brief biography of the entrant, how long they have been freelance/interim, the challenges posed by clients, and an explanation of how the entrant adds value to their clients (e.g. coaching, creativity, support, best practice, evaluation, etc).

Print All entries should show an understanding of the audience and the issues facing them and demonstrate how this influenced the choice of channel. Please provide two copies of your entry, which must be dated between December 2014 and November

2015. The entry should show how you have measured effectiveness. Supporting information should be limited to 500 words.

13 Magazine

Likely to have a pictorial cover and include news and/or features. Could be an ongoing magazine or a new or re-launched one.

14 Newspaper / Newsletter

Likely to have a mix of news and pictures on the front page. Could be an ongoing newspaper/ newsletter or a new or re-launched one.

15 Special publications

Either a special edition of a regular publication or a one-off publication. This category includes publications that capture what your organisation has achieved e.g. an annual review or report.

16 Stakeholder publications

Publications for closed audiences such as members, franchisees, residents or people who have signed up to receive them. You should explain the nature of your audience in your entry. Publications that are available to the general public are not eligible.

Electronic & DigitalJudges require sight of the strategy and materials to support and reflect the organisation’s use of new channels to communicate with employees or stakeholders. Please provide a link or disc. Hard copy print-outs are not acceptable.

17 Video/audio

18 Electronic media/newsletter

19 Website/intranet

20 Best use of social media

The Tom Dawson AwardAs well as the 20 classes listed above, there is also the Tom Dawson Award, a special award made to the publication that, in the opinion of the judges, is the best of all the print channel class winners. You cannot enter this class, the award is made at the discretion of the judges.

For full rules see www.ioic.org.uk

Join us to pick up your award at the IoIC Central & North Awards Dinner on Friday 26 February 2016.

IoIC Central & North Awards Dinner26th February 2016

The event is taking place at the Leicester Marriott Hotel. For venue details see: http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/emalm-leicester-marriott-hotel/

Tickets will be £80 plus VAT for IoIC members and £100 plus VAT for non-members.

Bookings can be made by email to Brenda Scott (brenda@ioic.org.uk). Places are limited and will be allocated strictly on a first come, first served basis. We have been known to sell out so please hurry!

IoIC Central Region Annual SeminarThis year we’ll be running a packed half-day seminar on 26 February 2016, immediately before the Awards.

Speakers will include some of the country’s leading internal communication

and employee engagement experts, who will be sharing their experience and expertise to challenge and inform.

The seminar is always well-attended by many of the region’s established and up and coming communicators, so there’ll be plenty of opportunity for you to network with your fellow communication practitioners, share challenges and solutions and to contribute to top class debate about the burning internal communication issues of the day.

Save the date and look out for further information coming soon!

If you’d like to know more, please get in touch with Rich Baker, IoIC Central Region Director at rich.baker@andpartnership.com or 07545 128164.

Enter your work for an IoIC Central & North Award of Excellence

www.ioic.org.uk Designed and produced by dogeatcog: www.dogeatcog.co.uk

Name of organisation entering

Contact name

Email address

Address

Contact telephone number

Title of entry

Who is it produced for?

Who is it produced by?

Class entered

Critique required? Yes No

IoIC member? Yes No

Cheque enclosed to the value of £

If you are lucky enough to win, please provide the details you would like to appear on the certificate:

Title of entry

Who is it produced for?

Who is it produced by?

IoIC Member Non-Member

Standard entry fee (for entries received on or before 21 Nov 2015) £40 + VAT (£48) £60 + VAT (£72)

Late entry fee (for entries received from 22 – 28 Nov 2015) £60 + VAT (£72) £85 + VAT (£102)

Additional fee for judge’s critique £30 + VAT (£36) £40 + VAT (£48)

Please provide two copies of this entry form for each class entered.

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