Health and Safety
This award examines a companys health and safety policies and performance and their efforts to improve them. The judging criteria consider safety policy, communications, risk management, safe systems of work and permits to work, hazardous chemicals, accident investigation, monitoring and supervision and training
Policy
What changes have you made in 2007 to your health and safety policy, if any, and why? (Please attach a copy of your Health and Safety Policy)
Communications
How do you communicate changes in health and safety arrangements including policies and procedures to your employee?
What arrangements have you in place to ensure those persons who may have communication problems have understood your instructions and safety arrangements?
Risk management
What organisational and managerial health and safety arrangements have you in place in order to minimise the risk of a case being brought under the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act coming into force in April 2008 should a fatality occur?
Describe your arrangements for controlling contractors on site
Safe Systems of Work and Permits to Work
Attach a copy of 2 safe systems of work
What areas are covered by your permit to work systems (attach a sample permit)?
Hazardous Chemicals
Attach copies of 3 CoSHH Assessments and a.describe where they are kept and b.for how long they are saved?
Accident Investigation
Describe the method by which you identify the underlying causes of accidents in your workplace? What positive steps have you taken in the last 12 months to reduce your accident rates Please attached an analysis of your accident statistics for the last 2 years
Monitoring and Supervision
What monitoring arrangements have you in place to ensure that you do not exceed any workplace exposure Limits as set out in Materials Safety Data Sheets? Describe how you monitor and supervise compliance with your health and safety policies and procedures?
Training
How do you deliver manual handling training to your employees? a. What groups of workers does this training cover? b. List the topics covered in the training. What induction training do you provide for temporary/agency workers?
Continuous Improvement
Briefly explain how you have improved your health and safety management over the past 12 months (Maximum 250 words)
Environment
The judges will be looking for evidence of a strong pro-active environmental policy to reduce the business impact on the planet now and in the future. Please include your environmental objectives and how you have prioritised the areas for action. Show the steps you are taking to minimise the use of materials and energy, including your carbon footprint, and the steps you are taking to reduce waste and to recycle and responsibly manage those that are created.
Entries should address the following points:
Policy
Please attach a copy of your Environmental Policy. Outline any significant changes that have been made during 2007. For example: Legislation, new procedures or methods of communication. How have the employees been informed of the changes? (Please provide hard copy evidence for example of emails, posters, letters training session etc)
Planning
Please attach a copy of your Environmental action plan, including timescales. What are your current environmental objectives and targets? Please put them in priority order and explain why. How have you identified the environmental aspects that apply to your company?
Organisation & training
Describe your line management chain for the day-to-day management of the environment (Please attach your organisation chart) Have you appointed any individuals to assist your line management in their environment duties, and how do you encourage them to do so? If so, what is his /her background and training? How do you communicate changes in procedures to your employees? What environmental training have managers, including directors, received in the last two years? How are new employees trained in their environmental responsibilities? Please list the key areas your training includes What measures have you put in place to minimise ink and cleaning wastes? How do you minimise air emissions? In particular fugitive emissions
What energy efficiency measures have you put into place? Have you any written environmental emergency plans, and how do you ensure that they work? Please enclose an example.
Communication
What significant improvements in environmental issues have taken place/are planned for 2008/2009? How were these identified and then communicated to employees?
Measuring performance
Provide details of the systems you have in place for monitoring your companys environmental performance How are environmental issues reviewed by your board members?
Carbon Footprint
How do you calculate your carbon footprint
What have you done to reduce it? Have you offset and if so how?
Improved Financial Performance
This award recognises those companies who have achieved a significant improvement in their financial performance year on year, whilst also taking account of the approach taken to solving business problems and the potential for lasting improvement.
The company must demonstrate by reference to Audited Accounts and Management Accounts the areas of financial improvement including Added Value improvement, control of variable and fixed costs and sustained improvements to pre-tax profit, EBITDA and return on capital employed.
The judges will focus in particular on improved shareholder value and net worth, and the extent to which the company has demonstrated that these are sustainable in the medium to long-term.
Please supply financial statements (audited and/or management accounts) for the last three accounting periods including profit and loss statements, balance sheets and cash flows.
Entries should include information on the following:
Market opportunities and market share (new and existing markets) Sales development and growth. Product development and profit contribution (elimination of loss leaders) Control of purchasing and outwork costs (processes and procedures). Overhead controls and containment. Management and cultural changes.
Measurements and controls to monitor financial performance Balance sheet improvements. Cash management improvements. Financial measurements used. Management information systems use. Process improvements made. Communications with stakeholders. Any financial restructuring
E-Business
Using the internet, email and other e-processes to cut costs and turnaround times and to improve levels of service and communication are important in todays business. Your submission should clearly show what the aims of your adoption of e-business were, how they were implemented and what was achieved. In addition to explaining the process please provide, where relevant, the website address and a login to enable the judges to see your system in action. The scope of e-business includes sales and marketing, estimating, quoting and ordering, proofing and approval, production tracking and order processing.
Entries should address the following points:
How have you used e-business solutions in relation to the following areas and what were the benefits to your company and your customers: Give an overview of the technologies that enable your solutions Who supplied your solutions? (company, contact and website) Who implemented your solutions? (company, contact and website Who supports your solutions? What was the total cost of implementation? Describe the planning process involved in adopting this technology What is unique and/or innovative about your approach? Provide one example that illustrates your success so far What have you learned? What would you do differently next time? What are your plans for the future? How could your solutions be useful to other similar organisations?
People Management
The judges will be looking for evidence that you have improved your business through engaging your staff and how your organisation benefited from developing and engaging them. Entries are particularly welcomed from small firms without specialist HR departments who can demonstrate that they have actively managed staff and implemented HR policies & procedures to maximise business performance. The scope of the award covers both single projects with a specific aim and ongoing strategies and people policies. Please provide details of the company culture and the processes taken to attract, develop and retain staff.
Entries should address the following points:
Managing people
Who inputs to the management of people within your company? How does the company ensure that its recruitment processes are fair and effective? What steps does the company take to ensure that its personnel are suitably trained to meet the companys skill requirements? How does the company ensure it meets its obligations under employment legislation?
Planning
Describe a recent people management initiative that you want considered for entry What were the key objectives of this initiative? What was the challenge you faced and how was it identified? What factors were considered in developing the initiative? How did you assess the resources required to undertake this initiative?
Implementation
Did you engage your staff in this initiative and if so, how? What was the budget, if any, you allocated for this initiative? What business tools did you use to implement this initiative?How long did the initiative take to complete?
Outcome
What was the outcome? (Please provide examples, facts and any statistics to quantify your outcome) How did you measure the outcome and what was the result? (Please give examples) Are there any other aspects of people management within your company you wish to bring to the judges attention?
What plans do you have to use the knowledge you have gained from this initiative to further develop excellence in managing people in your company?
Marketing
Conveying the competitive advantage working with your company can bring to clients is crucial for success. This award celebrates the implementation of successful marketing strategies and one-off marketing campaigns. The judges will be looking for evidence of the success of your marketing activities and of the efforts to develop marketing expertise within the business.
Entries should address the following points:
Personnel
Who inputs to the marketing activity within the company? Which employees have marketing related qualifications? (Please state which qualifications) Is there any form of training/personal development that the company invests in to improve its marketing activity? (Please describe). What marketing resources are available within the company?
Planning
Describe/attach a recent marketing strategy/campaign that you wish to be considered for entry. What were the key objectives of the strategy/campaign? What factors were considered in creating the strategy / campaign? What resources were utilised? Who was the target market and how were they identified? How did you assess the requirements of the target market when creating the strategy / campaign? What promotional methods and techniques were deployed? What was the budget and how as it determined?
Implementation
What was the implementation timescale? How did you position your organisation? What was the marketing budget in relation to the strategy/campaign? What tools did you use to implement the strategy/campaign? How long did the strategy/campaign take to complete?
Outcome
What was the outcome? Please make sure you provide examples, facts and statistics (including response rates and conversion rates where available) to quantify your outcome. How did you measure the outcomes (including financial results)? Please give examples. How do you gather feedback from the target audience? Are there any other aspects you wish to draw to the attention of the judges? What plans do you have to use the knowledge gained from your strategy/campaign in future marketing activity?
Lean Manufacturing
The judges will be looking for evidence that the company and its customers have benefited through the reduction of waste and effort using lean techniques. Your submission should include examples of lean production projects implemented in your business that show the involvement of staff at all levels. There should also be evidence of a culture of continuous improvement.
Entries should address the following points:
Objectives
How are the companys business objectives cascaded throughout the organization and when and how they are reviewed?
Key performance indicators (KPIs)
Describe the main operational measures that exist in the organization. Please provide examples. How are these measures shared amongst management and amongst the workforce? How does your company use KPIs to support review of performance against plan? (Please provide evidence)
Customer satisfaction
What does your company do to capture customer complaints? How have your systems and processes developed since initiation? Please provide specific examples. How is other customer feedback sought? What mechanisms do you deploy to manage and respond to any customer feedback? Please describe in detail how these processes work and provide appropriate examples
Communications
How does management communicate with the workforce; describe both the formal and informal processes used? Is local area news and information displayed in the plant and regularly updated for the workforce? Describe how, when and where this works in your company
Work flow
Are there designated and labeled inventory locations (including work in progress)? Describe how status is shown and how next processes are defined? What visual management systems are used in different parts of the company and what benefits arise from their use?
Process & equipment control
How are make-ready times measured and reviewed? Where standard operating procedures have been developed, please describe what form they take and how are they displayed at point of use? How are breakdowns recorded and analysed? Please include detail on any systems in place relating to requests for maintenance
Production planning & cost control
What measures exist for on-time delivery in full performance? Describe how these are monitored and controlled Describe in detail any waste reduction initiatives undertaken, how they were done and what results were achieved
Customer Service
Show how your dedication to meeting customers requirements has benefited your own business. The judges will be looking for evidence of how your customer service activities have enhanced client relationships and the impact that has had on your business through measures such as customer satisfaction surveys, customer retention figures and if applicable increased sales and profitability through customer service activities.
Entries should address the following points:
Personnel
Who inputs to customer service activity within the company? Which employees have customer service related qualifications or experience? (Please state which qualifications) Is there any form of training in which the company invests to improve its customer service activity? (Please describe) What resources are available within the company to maintain and improve customer service activities?
Planning
Describe/attach a recent customer strategy/initiative that you wish to be considered for entry. What were the key objectives of the strategy/initiative? What was the challenge faced and how was it identified? What factors were considered in developing the strategy/initiative? How did you assess the resources required when creating the strategy/initiative?
Implementation
What processes were adopted (include information on the extent to which use was made of CRM and account management)? What systems were utilised to assess levels of customer satisfaction? What communication methods were used? How was data on service levels gathered? What was the customer service budget in relation to the strategy/initiative? What tools did you use to implement the strategy/initiative? How long did the strategy/initiative take to complete?
Outcome
What was the outcome? Please make sure you provide examples, facts and statistics to quantify your outcome. How did you measure the outcome? Please give examples. Are there any other aspects you wish to draw to the attention of the judges? What plans do you have to use the knowledge gained from your strategy/initiative in future customer service activity?
Global Business
This award is for UK-based companies that have business overseas. Examples include export sales from the UK, setting up overseas operations, the franchising of their business model to foreign firms and developing commercial relationships with overseas organisations. The judges will be looking at how the strategy was developed and implemented and what the results were including sales and profits and the value and sustainability of the business. Entries should provide details of any export initiatives, joint ventures, agencies or distributor networks that may have been established, with full details of revenues generated internationally.
Global Business
This award is for UK-based companies that have business overseas. Examples include export sales from the UK, setting up overseas operations, the franchising of their business model to foreign firms and developing commercial relationships with overseas organisations. The judges will be looking at how the strategy was developed and implemented and what the results were including sales and profits and the value and sustainability of the business.
Corporate Social Responsibility
This award celebrates those businesses that put something back into society and community and recognise their responsibilities beyond the business imperatives of growth and profitability. Examples include projects that support the local community or educational initiatives but are not limited to those. The judges will look for evidence of how the business has engaged with the wider community beyond its investors, staff and customers and the benefits that has brought to all stakeholders.
Entries should address the following points:
Personnel
Who inputs to the CSR activity within the company? Which employees have customer service related qualifications or experience? (Please state which qualifications) Is there any form of training/personal development that the company invests in to improve its CSR activity? (Please describe) What resources are available within the company to maintain and improve CSR activity?
Planning
Describe/attach your CSR strategy/activities. What were the key objectives of the strategy/initiative? What was the challenge faced and how was it identified? What factors were considered in developing the strategy/initiative? How did you assess the resources required when creating the strategy/initiative?
Implementation
How did you engage with those involved? (Employees, local authorities, government and other organisations) What was the CSR budget in relation to the strategy/initiative? What tools did you use to implement the strategy/initiative? How long did the strategy/initiative take to complete? Is it ongoing?
Outcome
What was the outcome? Please make sure you provide examples, facts and statistics to quantify your outcome. Please identify benefits to recipients as well as the company. How did you measure the outcome? Please give examples. Are there any other aspects you wish to draw to the attention of the judges? What plans do you have to use the knowledge gained from your strategy/initiative in future CSR activity?
Application of Digital Technology
Digital technology is an enabler of new applications. The scope of this award is broad covering the use of digital technology throughout the supply chain rather than just the print process, although use of any sort of digital print is eligible. Applications that make use of email, SMS and the web alongside print are also suitable for this award. The judges will be considering how the application has benefited you and your clients businesses including improved brand awareness, higher profits and sales, reduced wastage, higher quality and lower costs. Although a great deal of attention on digital has been on marketing applications, any use of a digital technology that solves a business issue for the client is eligible.
Entries should describe how your company created value for a specific customer (or customers), and how the unique benefits of digital applications have been promoted to them. Please include copies of any materials referred to, together with a written statement from the customers concerned which proves how costs have been reduced, impact and effectiveness has been improved and how a best practice approach has been implemented.
Company of the Year (100 employees or more)
This Award is about all-round performance. The judges will be looking at the firms business performance and profitablility. While the facts and figures in the report & accounts are important, an explanation of the story behind the numbers and the challenges faced and opportunities exploited will show what makes the winner stand out.
The judges will need evidence of:
Leadership and vision
Culture of excellence
Training & development
Market leadership and sector profile
Customer satisfaction
Operational efficiency
Financial performance
Innovation
Attention to quality, safety, environmental and community responsibilities
Company of the Year (Less than 100 employees )
This Award is about all-round performance. The judges will be looking at the firms business performance and profitablility. While the facts and figures in the report & accounts are important, an explanation of the story behind the numbers and the challenges faced and opportunities exploited will show what makes the winner stand out.
The judges will need evidence of:
Leadership and vision
Culture of excellence
Training & development
Market leadership and sector profile
Customer satisfaction
Operational efficiency
Financial performance
Innovation
Attention to quality, safety, environmental and community responsibilities
