Her Majesty’s people love a good story

Entering the Queen’s Award is not an easy task. Many hours and much information are required to complete the application process. Jon Card reveals what he learned while helping the Rebel Business School pick up this prestigious prize

In June 2020, as the UK was reeling from the pandemic, lockdowns and school closures, we received a brief email entitled: 'Queen’s Award for Enterprise'.

“When you’ve got a sec, can you take a look at this. I wonder if it’s something we should go for?” asked Simon Paine, co-founder of the Rebel Business School.?

We replied straight away and said: ‘Yes, let's do it’. And, in April this year, The Rebel Business School did indeed win a Queen’s Award for Enterprise for Promoting Opportunity. The award is a testament to the work Rebel’s been doing for over a decade - changing the way entrepreneurship is taught around the world.?

But Rebel wouldn’t have won the award without applying, and the applications to the Queen’s Award (QA) is no simple exercise - it takes about 20 hours, rather more than ‘a sec’.?

Here’s what we learned.?

Approach only when ready

There are a few different categories - international trade, innovation, sustainable development and promoting opportunity - it’s essential you pick the right one. The QA is mostly for fairly well established businesses and organisations.

There are a lot of questions about your achievements and you’ll have to show evidence of your success. But if you’re proud of your track record and meet the eligibility criteria then carry on.

Don’t bore her Majesty

All awards are about communicating a story about your business. Show them energy, passion, don’t be a bore. Yes, you’ll need to back up your story with facts and figures, but start off by giving them a picture. Remember: the person reading your entry has probably never heard of you.??

Appoint a project team

The main application form is about 35 pages long, and that's before you even think about supporting documents, references and historical accounting details. A lot of information is required and it’s unlikely any one person can do it all. You’ll need to involve your accounts and operations team. Also, if anyone has experience in entering awards, then they should be involved from the outset. A good writer would also be an useful member of the team.?

Set deadlines for your team

The Queen’s Award comprises many sections - company details, accounts, evidence of success and so on. However, the online form allows for multiple logins, so give your team members responsibility for their appropriate section. In my experience, nothing gets done without a deadline, so set these well in advance of the final submission date.

Get excited about winning

If you do succeed in winning a Queen's Award, the effects on that special recognition of your organisation can be huge. Getting your team excited about this can create the momentum you need to get through the lengthy application process. Helping Rebel Business School win this prestigious award was one of the proudest moments for us at Full Story Media. It was no easy effort, but massively worth it.?

Jon Card is the author of How to Make Your Company Famous and has worked as a business journalist for The Guardian, Daily Telegraph and The Times. He is a public speaker and has delivered talks and workshops on business storytelling, media and press for entrepreneurial audiences at Innovate UK, University College London and The Rebel Business School.