2010 Alarm Annual Awards FAQ

 

You’ve achieved great things and you think you could be eligible for an Alarm Award...but how to go about winning one? Your first step is to read the following advice, compiled by experienced Awards judges and the scheme’s organisers, to help you submit an exemplary entry

 

Q1. I always mean to apply but then run out of time. How can I ensure I meet the deadline?

Q2. How do I apply?

Q3. I am not sure what category my entry best fits

Q4. I am interested in applying for the Risk Manager of the Year Award. What form should my application take?

Q5. I am interested in applying for Risk Management Young Achiever of the Year Award. What form should my application take?

Q6. What is the most common error made by those entering the Annual Awards Scheme?

Q7. I submitted an entry last year but was not shortlisted. Can I enter the same initiative again?

Q8. What about the format and length of submissions? I have a lot to explain and lots of supporting evidence.

Q9.  I need to have the application form endorsed by a Manager, this means I have to post an entry and reduces the submission time. What if it gets lost in the post?

Q10. What is the process for judging?

Q11. I know some categories have not been awarded in previous years. If my category gets cancelled, will I automatically be entered into another category?

Q12. Where can I get help in preparing my submission?

Q13. When will I know if I have been shortlisted for an Award?

 


Q1. I always mean to apply but then run out of time.  How can I ensure I meet the deadline?


A.  Although we publish the application form in February, we recognise that well intended but busy individuals can sometime overlook the deadline. We will remind members regularly about the awards via our weekly e-mail alerts. You can also pre-register your intention to submit an entry by sending an e-mail to awards@alarm-uk.org, stating your intention to enter and the category you are interested in. The admin office will then make regular contact with you to check if you need assistance or support and to remind you of the deadline. This pre-registration will also assist us in managing the judging process.


Q2. How do I apply?


A. Please carefully read the advice on how to enter the Awards scheme, and the terms and conditions of entry, set out in the Awards brochure. Alarm members will have received a copy of the Awards brochure through the post but you can also download additional copies here.


When you have chosen which category to enter, download an application form.

 

Follow the instructions carefully and e-mail your submission no later than 5pm on 30th April 2010.


Please remember to get your application endorsed by your Head of Department or Line Manager. In the case of entries for the Risk Manager of the Year Award, you should also obtain advance approval to undertake the ambassadorial role involved in the prize trip to the 2011  PRIMA Annual Conference in Portland, Oregon and permission to host the PRIMA International Exchange winner.  Entrants for Risk Management Young Achiever of the Year should obtain approval to attend the Alarm Annual Conference in 2011.


Q3. I am not sure what category my entry best fits.


A. Firstly, look at the description of the Award, as shown under each category heading. Think about where your project or initiative has evidence of most impact:

  • Significantly improving the management of risks facing groups of people, e.g. staff or members of the public with whom the organisation engages (People Risk category)
  • Innovative approaches to the management of risks associated with physical assets of the organisation, such as property, equipment or vehicles (Asset Risk category)
  • Significant improvements in the systems employed to manage risks in the day-to-day operations of the organisation (Operational Risk category)
  • Significantly contributing to the achievement of the organisation’s strategic objectives (Strategic Risk category)
  • Public risk professionals under the age of 35 on 30th April 2010, who can demonstrate

    that they have made a significant contribution to the department or team for which they work,and made progress in their own professional development over the past year (Risk Management Young Achiever of the Year).

Irrespective of category, entries are judged on five criteria:

  • A clear need for the initiative – why was the initiative required and what risk(s) did it address?
  • The approach taken – how and why was the approach chosen?
  • Evidence of innovation – what is innovative about the initiative?
  • Evidence of partnership working – who did you partner or collaborate with in developing and/or implementing the approach?  How did you convince others to participate?
  • Evidence of impact – what were the measurable impacts of the initiative, either quantitative and/or qualitative and what are the prospects of continued benefits in the future?

Use the judging criteria above to help you draw up a quick list of the key attributes of your project that might fit under each section. Remember, the judges are looking for evidence of innovation and tangible benefits, and you might find it easier to demonstrate this in relation to one Awards category compared to another.


Q4. I am interested in applying for the Risk Manager of the Year Award. What form should my application take?


A. Applications for Risk Manager of the Year (RMoY) are subject to criteria different from those for the People, Asset, Operational and Strategic Risk categories. For RMoY, the judges are looking to identify the “aspiration, inspiration, and enthusiasm of individuals in promoting and supporting risk management”. This involves a demonstration of how you have helped to evolve the role of risk management both within and external to your employing organisation. Any evidence of innovation and improvement of the perception or profile of risk management should also be included.


You will, therefore, want to include information on your role and achievements at work, any involvement you have had in Alarm or other risk management related groups/ committees, presentations you have given, articles you have written, supporting statements from your employer, and any other evidence to show why you deserve the title ‘Alarm Risk Manager of the Year 2010’.

 

Please note that this category of Award is open to Alarm members only.

 


Q5. I am interested in applying for the Risk Management Young Achiever of the Year Award.  What form should my application take?

 

A. Like the Risk Manager of the Year Award, the Award for Risk Management Young Achiever of the Year is subject to different criteria from those for the People, Asset, Operational and Strategic Risk categories.  Open to public risk professionals under the age of 35 on 30th April 2010, entrants should demonstrate how they have made a particular contribution to the risk management achievements of their department or team.  The judges will also be looking for evidence of progress in the entrant’s own personal, professional development over the past year e.g. courses attended, qualifications achieved, presentations given, etc.

 

Entries must be endorsed by your Head of Department / Line Manager and approval gained to attend the Alarm Annual Conference which will take place from 19th to 21st June 2011, should the entry be successful in the Risk Management Young Achiever of the Year category.

 

Q6. What is the most common error made by those entering the Annual Awards Scheme?


A. The most common mistake is not reading the instructions thoroughly. Many applications fail to address the five judging criteria listed above. Just bear in mind that the judges mark against the same criteria; if you don’t clearly address one of them, you will not gain the marks for this section, placing your entry at a disadvantage.


Other applications have struggled to evidence “partnership” working. Bear in mind that this is not necessarily about formal partnership arrangement, but about your work in consulting and collaborating with others and convincing them of the benefits of risk management solutions. It’s about winning hearts and minds.


Other excellent applications lose out in demonstrating the impact of initiatives.  In some cases, the initiative is in too early a stage of implementation to be able to show meaningful evidence of any impact.  Such initiatives may have more chance of success in a subsequent year, when the benefits are more apparent and can be evidenced.


Q7. I submitted an entry last year but was not shortlisted. Can I enter the same initiative again?


A.
If your initiative is now more fully developed and there is clear evidence of measureable impact, you are encouraged to re-enter. Make sure that you format your entry to meet the five judging criteria as well as the recommended font style and length of submission, which may have changed from previous years. (See below)


Q8. What about the format and length of submissions, I have a lot to explain and lots of supporting evidence


A.  You can now submit the completed entry form, which includes a cover sheet, an executive summary totaling 500 words max and  the main submission totaling 1500 words max.  You may be asked for supporting evidence, but should not submit additional documents unless requested as part of the short listing process.


Q9.  I need to have the application form endorsed by a Manager, this means I have to post an entry and reduces the submission time. What if it gets lost in the post?


A. All entries must be submitted electronically to awards@Alarm-uk.org. Once received electronically, we will acknowledge the submission, confirming its receipt. If you do not receive confirmation, then you should contact the Alarm Admin Office. The closing date for electronic submission is 5 pm on 30th April 2010.  We no longer require a signed endorsement on the entry form, however we do request the contact details of your Head of Department or Line Manager (the endorsing person) and reserve the right to check with this individual that support for the entry has been given.  Any entries without the requisite endorsement will be withdrawn.


Q10. What is the process for judging?


A.  Judging of the Awards is a two-stage process. All the entries in each category are independently assessed by a panel of judges (one panel for each category). Each assessor grades the entry, based on each of the five criteria and the total marks are averaged out to produce a ranked shortlist.  These assessors are drawn from a peer group of experienced risk professionals, including Alarm Board members, Chairs of Country, Regional and Sector groups, and former Risk Managers of the Year.


The short listed entries are then assessed by a second panel of specialist judges and, again, grades are independently allocated against each of the five criteria and the total marks averaged out to produce a ranked list of the winning and highly commended entries.


If there is no clear winner from the judges scoring, or if entries are tied at either stage of the judging process, the judges will discuss their assessments to reach a consensus.


Q11. I know some categories have not been awarded in previous years. If my category gets cancelled, will I automatically be entered into another category?


A. Any decision to suspend a category in the Awards is taken reluctantly and only when the judges decide that none of the entries are effectively fulfilling all the criteria. Such decisions, whilst not taken lightly, are in the best interests of maintaining the credibility and integrity of the Awards. Your entry will not be entered into an alternative category, but you can request feedback on improving your entry in future years’ Awards.

 

Q12. Where can I get help in preparing my submission?


A.  The Admin Office will advise you of any problems with your application in terms of format.  We will post previous successful applications on the web site by the end of February, creating a useful resource. You can contact the Alarm Admin Office at awards@Alarm-uk.org.


Q13. When will I know if I have been shortlisted for an Award?


A. We aim to notify shortlisted applicants by the end of May.  We would hope all short listed candidates will be able to attend the Awards Dinner, and participate in the Awards ceremony and photography session.