Top tips for submitting your PFS Awards entry

Why enter?

There are many valuable benefits to being associated with entering and winning awards:

• Validates your hard work
• Strengthens client relationships
• Increases your credibility
• Boosts team morale
• Attracts new talent
• Benchmarks your firm
• Success can be a valuable marketing tool

Top tip #1: Check the entry requirements and don’t leave it to the last minute!

Many entries fail to satisfy the entry criteria, meaning that they cannot be shortlisted, so before deciding whether to prepare an entry, make sure you check what is required. Allow plenty of time to collate supporting materials, draft your entry, refine it and review everything before you press ‘submit’.

Top tip #2: Talk positively in your entry about what you have achieved and back up your assertions.

It’s really important to make your entry stand out, so have a think about your biggest achievements. Is there anything you’ve perhaps done differently to your competitors? By the time the judges see your entry they may have seen dozens of others. Can you ensure that yours highlights your firm’s personality and grabs their attention? Demonstrating the drive, energy and passion that has helped you reach your biggest achievements will boost your entry.

Top tip #3: Consider the supporting evidence you may need to submit (sometimes it takes time to gather)

Consider what you could cite as evidence that you satisfy each of the necessary criteria in turn. Try to keep the main content of your entry quite high level and avoid going into too much detail unless this is specifically requested. You can always supply more detail in supporting attachments, which should help you meet the criteria of the specific category you are entering.

Could your entry benefit from the inclusion of simple charts, lists or numerical evidence? One common mistake is thinking that ‘more is better’ and supplying too much unfocused supporting data, so make sure it is necessary and relevant. How you evidence your claims will depend on what you are looking to prove. You could reference survey results, statistics, third-party confirmation, client feedback or your own financial data. Try to signpost the content of your supporting material by referencing key elements or summarising what it shows so the judges know what it contains.

Top tip #4: Consider asking clients for a testimonial (where this lends weight to your entry)

Has your work had an outstanding impact on any of your clients? Shout about this. Current and recent testimonials are more compelling than those dated a year or more earlier.

Top tip #5: Decide who will be responsible for creating your entry and make sure you get a 2nd or 3rd pair of eyes to check it

You might choose to invest in a professional copywriter to help ensure your entry has maximum impact. If your writing skills are a bit rough around the edges, hire someone to help. If you ask colleagues to help, ensure they cross-reference your entry against the criteria set-out for each award – you don’t want to miss a key bit of information!

Top tip #6: Start your entry, hit save and return to complete it in stages

When you start your entry the platform allows you to save in stages as you go. This means you can complete each part in your own time. There is no need to do everything in one go. Take your time, answer each question and edit it as required before pressing submit.

Here’s a summary of our top tips for an award-winning entry:

1. Check the entry requirements and don’t leave it to the last minute!
2. Talk positively in your entry about what you have achieved and back up your assertions.
3. Consider the supporting evidence you may need to submit (sometimes it takes time to gather)
4. Consider asking clients for a testimonial (where this lends weight to your entry).
5. Decide who will be responsible for creating your entry and make sure you get a 2nd or 3rd pair of eyes to check it.
6. Complete your entry in stages, and take your time with each question.

Ready to get started? Check out the award categories and start your entry here.