Awards application pack 2018

14th June 2018

14th June 2018 Ardoe House House Hotel Ardoe Hotel&&Spa Spa

Application Pack Application Pack

About

FAQ’s

The annual ‘Life with Style Awards’

How much does it cost to enter?

How easy is it to enter?

Nothing.

Some awards can be challenging and time-consuming to enter, however, the Life With Style Awards are straightforward and flexible - there’s no excuse not to get involved!

We are so proud of this part of Scotland, our very own neighbourhood in which business and pleasure combine to make Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire an exciting place to live and work.

These Awards reflect the fantastic variety of entrepreneurs and innovative local businesses in this neck of the woods, and recognise the people that make them tick.

These awards provide external validation and recognition in competitive environment and gain credibility in the eyes of current and potential customers.

Even in tough times success should be celebrated.

It doesn’t matter whether you’re a new business or an established one, everyone is judged on the content of the submission.

Why should I enter?

Your credibility is a significant factor in customers choosing whether they want to buy from you. Winning awards helps hugely with this but so does being shortlisted.

How can I promote myself?

Spread the word that you have been shortlisted on social media. Don’t be shy.

Stand up and tell people at networking events. It is a great thing to be noticed for, so make sure that people know. Be proud!

Can I enter more than one category?

Yes to a maximum of three but do not repeat an answer from one category to another.

What will it give me?

By entering this year you could turn yourself from simply a business into an ‘award-winning’ business, or even a ‘multi-award’ winning business.

What if I don’t win?

Even if you don’t win, entering can help with teambuilding and help employees feel valued and recognised for their collective efforts. Entering the awards will improve brand awareness, provide great PR opportunities and can help you to win new business and new customers.

What are the benefits of winning?

A victory is a big confidence booster; an award win highlights your expertise. You have a trophy to display and logos to use.

Use them to differentiate and make you stand out.

Meet The Judges Ken Massie

Cheryl Smith

Jackie Allen

Based in Aberdeen, Ken is VisitScotland’s Head of Strategic Partnerships, managing a national team focused on the sustainable growth of the Scottish visitor economy. A former Managing Director of Northsound Radio and local charities’ trustee, Ken is a strong advocate for all that Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire has to offer whether to live, visit, work or study.

Cheryl has been Marketing Manager at Bon Accord since 2007, prior to which she gained destination marketing experience at Visit Scotland and Glamis Castle.

Throughout her time at Bon Accord Cheryl has worked with City centre partners in developing events and initiatives to encourage more visits to Aberdeen. She is a champion for the success of the City centre and the importance of offering different reasons to visit for the city to thrive.

Jackie Allen has an extensive knowledge of the retail sector having established and operated the popular fashion boutique The B’s Knees in Oldmeldrum and Inverurie for 25 years before becoming an independent business and marketing consultant in 2012, specialising in retail and hospitality.

Lynn Harwood Lynn joined the airport management team in 2008, having previously worked in Oil & Gas and the Charity sector. As Route Development Manager, it allows her to enjoy many relationships with local stakeholders. She is passionate about the local area and the transformation happening around the region and has a vested interest in the success of local business as she feels it is key to realising the potential of Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, as one of the places people want to invest, live and visit for many years to come.

James Knowles James is a retired local government official with considerable experience and knowledge of the area and the food sector.

He currently is involved in mentoring, business development, and volunteering.

Mary Holland Mary joined Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce in 2013 as the Membership Network Manager who looks after the Food & Drink, Tourism, Skills, Retail and Culture members. Mary has lived in Aberdeen for the last 30 years and is passionate about connecting people across the region. She has experience of working in key roles within the private, public and voluntary sector across the region and beyond.

James Grassick-Storrie James has been with the John Lewis Partnership for over 17 years. He is part of the senior team who lead the Aberdeen branch in delivering the goals of the co-owned business.

Karen Cross Karen gained a design degree at Heriot Watt University before working as a designer for fashion brands in London.

She is currently the Academic Strategic Lead for Marketing and Fashion Management at the School of Creative and Cultural Business, Robert Gordon University, and is the Course Leader for both the BA (Hons) and MSc Fashion Management courses.

Karen Molloy Karen is co-founder of a successful company, Thorpe Molloy Recruitment, she understands the challenges faced

by SMEs. In addition to her own business commitments, Karen regularly works with local third sector organisations and is an active charity fund-raiser.

Categories Local Retailer of the Year Award

The Creative Award

The Community Award

Open to all fashion and non-fashion retailers.

All boutique and specialist independent stores are eligible.

Open to individuals or organisations that demonstrate exceptional flair in a creative environment, such as photography, arts, crafts and interior design.

Open to all third sector organisations.

Excellence in Beauty Provision Award Open to beauty businesses.

Best Food & Drink Awards [3 Categories] Restaurants & Bistros

This category is suitable for any establishment, which serves food in a more formal setting.

Coffee Shops & Cafés

This category is for any establishment, which serves food in a more casual style.

Local Flavours

This is open to any independent food or drinks provider, e.g. breweries, distilleries, farm shops, outside caterers and specialist independents.

Best Accommodation Award Open to large or small independents, chain and hotel groups, and serviced apartments, B&B’s, self-catering establishments and exclusive use venues.

Best New Business Award Open to new businesses that have launched since 1st January 2017.

Best Bar Award Open to all bars and late night drinks destinations including hotel bars.

Best Social Media

Excellence in Hairdressing Award

Engagement Award

Open to hair salons and individual hairdressers.

Open to all organisations and individuals that can demonstrate exceptional results through any social media channels including You Tube, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn and blogging sites.

Health & Wellbeing Award Open to clinics and establishments that provide professional services in the areas of dentistry, opticians and auditory enhancements. Also included in this category are aesthetic clinics and businesses that provide instruction on diet and nutrition.

Fitness Award Open to businesses in the fitness sector that are involved in promoting health, fitness or well being in any way.

Trend Readers’ Award Open to all businesses in the North-east of Scotland.

This award can be promoted in house to customers and clients. Trend readers can vote for their favourite business online.

Lasting Contribution to the North-east’s Lifestyle Scene Award Open to any organisation that has made a significant impact on the North-east’s lifestyle scene.

Entry Questions

Please provide a synopsis of the business/organisation?

Max 500 words (20% of overall scoring)

The synopsis should give an all round summary of what the business/ organisation does and its background. Areas that could be included are:

• Who started it and why?

• What are the products/services?

• Who its customers are.

• What its achieved to date, what its future aspirations are.

What achievement/s in the business are you most proud of and why?

Max 1000 words (45% of the overall score)

This should focus on either solely one achievement or if there are more over the past 3 years please highlight them. Areas of achievement that could be included are:

• Expansion and employing more staff

• Overcoming adversity and perhaps diversifying in

current local market conditions i.e. new services

provided or new investment, refurbishment etc.

• Client and customer relationship management.

• Customer service.

• Staff engagement.

• Relevant award wins/nominations (previous 3 years).

What makes your business individual or distinctive within its sector and with its clients, and gives it the ‘WOW’ factor?

Max 500 words (35% of overall score)

This answer should be used to demonstrate why you stand out as a business and what makes you a worthy winner. In answering this question consider the following:

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What makes your business unique.

Highlight any business improvements you have introduced.

Investment in people.

How you keep ahead of your competitors.

How you approach quality.

Why you should win this award.

NB for all questions please provide the appropriate evidence to support your answers in the form of imagery, testimonials or certificates.

Rules — — —

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Hints & Tips All questions must be answered fully.

All applications must be supplied electronically.

Supporting evidence must be supplied in the form of video links or web links, jpegs and word docs.

If applying for more than one category, a separate application should be submitted and tailored for each, do not repeat an answer from another or previous entry.

All responses must be numbered according to each question.

Where the question says ‘provide evidence’ this must be given, either within the text or as supporting evidence.

All answers must be within the word count limit.

10% discretion applies.

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One representative from each business short

listed must be able to attend the finalists evening on Wednesday 23rd May.

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A maximum of three categories can be entered.

Closing date for entries is Wednesday 28th March 2018 at 12noon.

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The Judges’ decision is final.

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Use the word count effectively.

Keep your content current and relevant.

Be specific and provide credible examples.

Ensure key elements of the criteria are answered in your submission.

Shout loud and clear about your achievements and supply clear evidence.

Only include supporting evidence that adds to and enhances your entry.

Give facts and evidence that will grab the judges attention.

Don’t leave it to the last minute. You can dip in and out of your submission.

Allow yourself time consider your answers and overall submission properly.

Think carefully about your competition and what genuinely differentiates you.

Don’t lift your submission from your sales and marketing materials - answer the questions with answers that are succinct, clear and easy to read.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help - if someone you know has experience of submitting a winning entry before, ask if they could offer you advice.

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You need to be in it to win it!

How To Apply Registration

Application(s)

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Register your company for the Life With Style Awards online by clicking the ‘Register’ link, on the Trend Homepage.

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Fill in the form details including the categories you are interested in applying for. Please also inform us on how many categories you intend to enter (maximum of three).

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Fill in the rest of the details and click submit. You only need to register once regardless of how many applications you intend to enter.

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A confirmation message will be displayed and an e-mail summary will arrive shortly. Both will include a link to create your User Log-in to proceed to the application stage. The log-in allows you to save and return to your application to complete it at your leisure.

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We advise you to start preparing your applications

on a word processor early to allow for a stress free application. Extensions will not be given.

This User Log-in link will not be displayed on the Trend website, we advise that you bookmark it to ensure it is not lost/forgotten.

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For security and speed we advise you to prepare and save your application with a word processing tool to allow for spelling/grammar checking, an easy transfer to the application form via copy and paste and also as a back-up.

Using your User Log-in access the application form.

Similar to the registration process, begin filling in the application form with your company details and category of interest. Please keep in mind if you are applying for more than one category; a separate application must be created for each one.

Once you have filled out the details and questions, you will also have the chance to upload any materials supporting your application such as pictures and videos. Up to ten uploads are allowed per application with a maximum size of 2MB per upload.

All files/images should be labelled clearly to ensure it matches the application. Accepted File Formats: pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, csv, txt, rtf, zip, jpg, jpeg, png. Video links should be uploaded to a video hosting service; Youtube, Vimeo etc. and the link should be pasted into a word document attached with the application.

Once you are satisfied with your application, you can click the submit button to complete the application. Please note all submissions are final and cannot be amended.

Trend Readers’ award Trend readers can now nominate their favourite North-east business for this years Trend Readers’ Award! The only category of the Life With Style Awards completely up to YOU!

Open to all businesses in the North-east of Scotland, this award can be promoted in-house to clients and supporters, get trending on social media, or mention in your advertising - do whatever you can to generate as many votes as possible!

Get your friends, family and clients to email their nomination with the subject title Trend Readers Award to:

readersaward@trendmagazine.co.uk Get emailing!

To: readersaward@trendmagazine.co.uk Subject: Trend Readers Award

I am voting for Trend Magazine because they are the only local guide to a modern life in Aberdeen.

Rules

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1 email = 1 vote.

Maximum of 5 votes per username.

Multiple emails will not count.

Feel free to answer why you are voting for the company.

Spamming will not be tolerated. Emails under suspicion will be removed from the total vote, and may result in the nominee being disqualified.

Email

Tickets & Packages Table Sponsor Table of 12

Table & Award Sponsor £900

Award Sponsor • Sponsorship of Award • Branding on Award, Event • Literature, in Trend Magazine, online and on all relevant social media posts.

£250

Table of 12 Sponsorship of Award Branding on Award, Event Literature, in Trend Magazine, online and on all relevant social media posts.

£1050

Flash Advertising On the screens at the Awards Ceremony

Ticket Price Standard Single Ticket

• • • •

£75

£100

All costs are subject to VAT. Bespoke packages are available please call 01224 596223 to enquire.

Testimonials I highly recommend entering the Trend awards, it made me look more closely at every aspect of what I was delivering to my clients & the wider community. Which can only be good for anyone’s business? Although I have won national awards, to be recognised at a local level is really special. The Trend awards evening is inspiring, seeing so many businesses in the city and shire being recognised for our commitment to amazing services.

Fifth Dimension were delighted to receive a Highly Commended Award at the Trend Awards in 2017. Not only was the evening a great night out, it was an important celebration of all the amazing things going on in and around Aberdeen. We have since received many congratulations from others who have read about our success - showing just how much profile these awards generate.

This was our first ever Trend’s Life With Style Awards and, from start to finish, the process was smooth, efficient and enjoyable.

A user-friendly application system backed up by friendly support encouraged us to enter and we would highly recommend it to others thinking about giving it a go. Winning our category and having a brilliant time at the awards dinner was the icing on the cake!

The Life with Style Awards was a wonderful experience. Winning the Health and Wellbeing Award was amazing and very meaningful because it was recognition of our achievements and we felt very honoured to have won. The entry process was simple and straightforward, part of the process involved sitting and talking with the judges and this really helped support our entry, it’s a nice human touch as we think it’s important for the judges to be able to see and feel the enthusiasm behind the written entry. The awards night was brilliant, a really fun and glamorous affair very professionally planned and executed.

Donna Gray

Jeff Burns & Ivor Smith

Helen McLoughlin

Dr Lisa Currie

Small Prints Photography

Fifth Dimension

Aberdeen Altens Hotel

The Orthodontic Clinic

MAIN sponsors

Photography Sponsor

Audio Visual Sponsor

Chocolate Sponsor

Jewellery Sponsor

Car Sponsor

Venue Sponsor

Category sponsors

For information on entry requirements, tickets and sponsorship packages please email events@trendmagazine.co.uk or call 01224 596223.

Room Decoration Sponsor