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Posts by me@paulmc.co

Why most business award entries fail before a judge even reads them

By me@paulmc.co | October 26, 2026 | 0
Rachel Hargrave Unlimited title card: Why most business award entries fail before a judge even reads them

The three structural mistakes that kill otherwise worthy applications – and how to fix them before you submit.

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  • Why most business award entries fail before a judge even reads them

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“ Whilst we've won awards in the past, working at this level with Rach was about stepping out of my comfort zone with someone I trust, and really making award entry a key part of my marketing - not just for this setting but for a new product, the Young Friends Sustainability Framework. Early successes have been great, and I'm really looking forward to building on this. ”
— Louise Lloyd-Evans, Young Friends Kindergarten
“ You don't even have to win. I just had to be in the running. That was enough. ”
— Maria Peggs, Vispera
“ All the above, especially the awards, were only achieved because of how well we worked together. We had total confidence and trust in each other's abilities. Entering and, as Rach says, winning prestigious, credible awards was absolutely key to our success. ”
— Shahid Sheikh OBE, Clifton Packaging
“ Whilst we've won awards in the past, working at this level with Rach was about stepping out of my comfort zone with someone I trust, and really making award entry a key part of my marketing - not just for this setting but for a new product, the Young Friends Sustainability Framework. Early successes have been great, and I'm really looking forward to building on this. ”
— Louise Lloyd-Evans, Young Friends Kindergarten
“ When a potential client asked me why they should work with me rather than another social media agency, I said, ‘Because I'm multi-award-winning’. That external validation of my work, coupled with my confidence, made all the difference - they confirmed the work with me later that same week. That's the difference awards made in my business, and still make to this day. ”
— Karen Cureton, Cureton Consulting
“ Working with Rach is easy. She is incredibly flexible, quickly turning around high-quality work. She wants what we want - the very best entry for each category we enter, and she won't rest until we get there, and our success record has improved dramatically due to this positive, professional arrangement. Rachel understands our values and our drive. ”
— David Hurren, Abbatt Group
“ I wanted Rach to be involved in my new business, having worked with her previously and experienced first-hand the value she brought to building the profile of a multi-award-winning company within the same industry. Rach’s strategic approach, combined with her ability to understand a highly technical and specialised sector, is second to none. She has an incredible ability to draw out important achievements, experiences and information that I had almost forgotten about and turn them into compelling award submissions. The results she has achieved are incredible, and I am extremely pleased to have her as part of my team as we continue to grow Insight Fire Solutions. ”
— Simona Pillay, Insight Fire Solutions
“ When I approached Rach, I was only thinking about our industry awards, but Rach made a compelling case for entering several general business awards. She asked me to think about what potential clients might want to see us being recognised for, and from whom. Her advice was spot on. With a busy awards schedule, Rach keeps us on track and has not only written our award entries, but helped prep us for judging panels. We wouldn't be without her. ”
— Mark Huby, Yorkshire Financial Services Ltd
“ In July 2023, we contacted Rachel to assist us in compiling information required to complete our application for the King's Awards for International Trade. She helped us from beginning to end, from updating the portal with all of the information we supplied and advising us of the best way to present the information, highlighting what we do well as a company, some of which we took for granted. The application for the award can be a lengthy process, but having Rachel work alongside us helped to reduce the workload and simplify the process. We would send her all the required information, and she would piece it all together for our application. I am pleased to say we have been successfully chosen to receive the prestigious King's Awards for International Trade in May 2024. Limpsfield would like to thank Rachel, and I would highly recommend her if you are considering applying for any type of award! ”
— Andrea Stark, Limpsfield
“ Rach is a joy to work with - bossy where she needs to be, but empathetic and enthusiastic in equal measure! Would highly recommend her services! ”
— Penny Noble, formerly of Noble Events

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Awards & Honours Strategist

Helping ambitious entrepreneurs and business owners win the recognition that moves their business forward

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