Business

Health and Safety

Designed to recognise and reward health and safety performance within the industry, this award examines a companys current health and safety policies, procedures and performance. The judging criteria consider the organisation of the health and safety strategy, internal communications, risk assessment and continuous improvement measures.

Any company, who is a member of the BPIF, engaged in printing or associated work with the industry is eligible to enter the competition. If a company has a number of plants, any or all of these plants may enter. However, each entry must be on a separate form and must represent a different site or operation. The judges may require additional documentation.
The panel of judges must be permitted to visit the premises, should they wish to make their observation of the works to gain assurance on the information submitted by the employer. This may consist of a site tour and interview employees at various levels. This will only apply to the selected finalists. Following the judging process entrants will be contacted to discuss their entry and provided with feedback.

Policy
What changes have you made in 2008 to your health and safety policy and general arrangements, 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 visiting or temporarily working upon your site, receive practicable and relevant health and safety information and instruction?
What tools do you use to communication health and safety information with persons who may have problems understanding your instructions and safety management arrangements? (eg disability or language barriers)

Risk Management
What organisational and managerial health and safety arrangements do you have for the process of workplace risk assessments and the escalation of any identified significant risks to the senior management team?
What arrangements do you have for the ongoing monitoring and consultation of outstanding action plans?
Give details of any workplace safety checks/ monitoring arrangements your organisation carries out on a regular basis and explain the timing of these checks
What processes do you have to identify a suitable competent contractor for works undertaken upon your site?

Safe Systems of Work and Permits to Work
Attach a copy of two safe systems of work
Give details of any 'isolate and lock off' procedures that are used when carrying out mechanical interventions, and attach a copy of your procedure.
What areas are covered by your permit to work systems and attached a sample permit?

Workplace Transport
Describe the Risk Reduction Programme you have introduced to minimise the risks of vehicle related incidents in your delivery and dispatch areas for the following groups:
Visiting drivers
General staff

Slips Trips and Falls
Outline changes you have made within your workplace to reduce slips, trips and falls and your current monitoring arrangements

Manual Handling
Outline the tools you use to identify musculoskeletal risk to employees.
Please provide two examples of a manual handling risk assessment, each from a different process (print/finishing)
How do you deliver manual handling training to your employees?
List the topics covered in the training session.
What is the frequency of your refresher training?

COSHH
Provide an outline of the arrangements you have in place with regards to the storage, use, transportation/disposal of hazardous substances?
How do you monitor your control measures identified within your COSHH assessments?
Please provide two examples of your COSHH risk assessment, whereby one identifies a requirement to comply within a Workplace Exposure Level (WEL).

All entrants
Briefly explain how you have improved your health and safety management over the past 12 months and where applicable highlight any target areas and how you have overcome their problems. (Maximum 250 words)

Environment

Recognising environmental best practice in the workplace, with particular focus on pro-active management, judges will consider the planning and implementation of environmental policies and the effectiveness of day-to-day controls.
The judges scores will take into account the nature and size of each company entering the awards. A panel of judges - experts in the environmental field - will review the questionnaires. A short-list will be drawn up and the judging panel will visit these companies.
If a company has a number of plants, any or all of these plants may enter. However, each entry must be on a separate form and must represent a different site or operation. The judges may require additional documentation.
The panel of judges must be allowed to visit the premises, should they wish to make their observation of the works environment and interview employees at various levels. This will only apply to short listed companies. Following the judging process entrants will be contacted to discuss their entry and provided with feedback.

Policy
Please attach to the entry form a copy of your Environmental Policy and any environmental accreditations achieved to date. Outline any significant changes made during the last 12 months. For example: Compliance with new legislation, new procedures or methods of communication

Planning
Describe the methods used to identify and prioritise your environmental aspects and impacts. What are your top 3 environmental objectives and targets? Please put them in priority order and explain why.
How do you seek to identify and implement methods of best practice within your environmental management system?
How do you ensure you maintain a culture of continuous improvement with regards to environmental performance?

Environmental Competencies
If you are subject to the Environmental Permitting Regulations for discharges to water or emissions to air, what arrangements have you in place to meet the requirements of the Operator Monitoring Assessment Scheme? OR
If you are not subject to the Environmental Permitting Regulations how do you ensure that your competent person understands what is required of environmental legislation and regulatory requirements? .
What steps have you taken to ensure senior managers understand the requirements of environmental legislation?

Communication
Please supply copies of the minutes/notes from your two most recent environmental committee meetings. How do you communicate the work of the committee to employees and what, if any, feedback arrangements are in place?

Solvent Emissions
How did your company identify whether or not it was subject to the requirements of the Solvent Emissions Directive?
If you are subject to these regulations, which method of compliance have you chosen and how do you ensure compliance? OR
If you are not subject to these regulations how do you reduce fugitive emissions on your site?

Resource Procurement and Utilisation
What arrangements have you in place for minimising your environmental impact with regards to transport of goods?
How do you monitor energy use throughout the site and what arrangements have you in place for reducing energy consumption in future years?
How do you incorporate environmental considerations into your procurement and contracting policies and how are the environmental impact of the goods and services utilised assessed?

Waste
How do you discharge your duty of care for both general and hazardous waste?
Which waste streams do you segregate out and what, if any, new methods for recycling one of the waste streams have you instigated in the last year?

Measuring performance
What if any environmental reports are submitted to board members on a regular basis? Please list and explain why.
Provide details of the systems you have in place for monitoring your companys progress to meeting set targets.

All entrants
Outside of any requirements of legislation what if any environment projects have you implemented in the last 12 months (Maximum 250 words)

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