ideasUK Idea of the Year Competition 2008

It is time once again to submit your ideas to the ideasUK Idea of the Year Competition. ENTRIES MUST BE SUBMITTED BY 30 APRIL 2008.

There is no entry fee. A condition of entry is that shortlisted finalists are required to attend Conference on 12th & 13th November 2008, and finalist’s organisations are required to provide a display giving details of the idea at the Annual Conference.

All entries will be assessed by an independent panel of judges who will shortlist between 20-30 ideas and these suggestors will have an opportunity at the conference to discuss their idea with the judges during an informal session of no more than fifteen minutes. No audio-visual presentations are permitted. The cost of a Finalist attending Conference for two days is £550. This includes accommodation and all meals.

In addition to the Idea of the Year winners will be selected in seven specific categories. Technology; Organisational; Customer Services; Environmental; Financial and Accounting; Productivity and Health and Safety. There will also be the opportunity to win a sector award. This is an award made by the judges for an idea within each sector, i.e. private sector, public sector and international sector which has not been awarded either a specific category or the overall award.

Each category and sector winner, and the overall winner, will be presented with a trophy to be retained by their organisation and an individual trophy for the winners (one trophy per category/sector). Trophies will be presented at the Awards Dinner, 13th November 2008.

Participation in this competition has many benefits; providing additional recognition for your suggestors; highlighting the benefits to your organisation of involving employees; assisting with marketing your programme and enhancing management support.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain by participating in this competition. To enter simply select the best ideas that have been implemented within your organisation.

Any number of ideas can be submitted so copy the enclosed forms and use them for multiple entries. (Create your own form as a table in a word processing document if you wish, just ensure all headings are the same and in the same order as the enclosed).

You may select the category in which you wish your idea to be considered or leave it to the judges to select. The judges will undertake final assessment and categorisation.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to include as much supporting documentation as possible to enable the judges to fully understand the benefits of the idea to your organisation.

If you require any advice or guidance on the competition, please contact us. Tel: 0870 90 21 658
Email: info@ideasuk.com

Overall Winner – The ideasUK Idea of the Year Trophy. The idea considered to be the best of all shortlisted entries.

Additional Trophy Categories

Technology Trophy - Sponsored by Boots. Ideas which make an improvement by a manufacturing, engineering, construction or technical solution.

Organisational Trophy - Sponsored by BAE Systems CNIR. Ideas which improve the way in which work is planned and implemented.

Customer Services Trophy - Sponsored by Legal and General. Ideas for improving services to customers.

Environmental Trophy - Sponsored by Pfizer. Ideas which utilise energy and other resources in an environmentally efficient manner.

Financial and Accounting Trophy - Sponsored by Lloyds TSB. Ideas for improving an organisations financial efficiency.

Productivity Trophy - Sponsored by The Institute of Management Services. Ideas which raise the general awareness and importance of productivity within the organisation.

Health and Safety Trophy - Sponsored by GlaxoSmithKline. Ideas which improve the health and safety of products, services or the workplace. 

Sector Trophies - In recognition of excellent ideas which have not been awarded a specific category or the Idea of the Year.

Public Sector Trophy - Sponsored by District of Easington/East Durham Homes.

Private Sector Trophy - Sponsored by British Gas

International Trophy - Sponsored by Dubai Ports Customs and Free Zone Corporation

Presentation of ideas is of crucial importance: Remember presentation is part of the judging criteria. Clear, simple and well presented submissions assist the judges to assess the quality of ideas.

A good idea, poorly presented, may be difficult to judge. Ideas must be clearly set out, in the required format, with evidence of the benefits to the organisation. Technical terminology should be avoided as far as possible or a glossary of specialist terminology attached.

All ideas are eligible: The ideas must have been implemented and delivered benefit, tangible or intangible, to your organisation.

Any number of ideas can be entered: There is no limit on the number of ideas an organisational member of ideasUK can submit. 

Categorisation: There are seven categories in which trophies can be won. You may select the category in which you wish your idea to be considered or leave it to the judges to determine the most suitable category.

Opportunity to promote your scheme: Shortlisted finalist’s ideas are promoted with displays at the annual conference, promoting both your scheme and organisation.

ideasUK will provide display boards for suggestors material on request. These displays are not part of the judging criteria.

Provides recognition for your employees: Winning ideas have been featured in the national press and on television. This is an excellent way to recognise your employees and publicly acknowledge the role they play within your organisation.

Open to all organisational members of ideasUK. An entry form is enclosed. You can create your own form if you wish provided it follows the format of the enclosed entry form. We can also email a form template to you.

Entries are judged by an independent panel of judges whose decision is final (no correspondence will be entered into). All entries must be in the approved format.