Interview With Ivana Kircanski

For the start of this awards cycle, we had the pleasure of interviewing Ivana K. , COO at Awards International , asking her about improvements and upgrades for the upcoming programme. Find out what you can expect from the brand-new format and why you should take part and seek recognition for your business results.

It's been six years since the first edition of this programme. What has changed in the meantime? How would you reflect on the journey so far?

First, I would like to mention the "hard numbers". Over the years, we've had hundreds of business initiatives, judges, partners and sponsors at the awards. Compared to the programme's humble beginnings, it's a significant milestone. We emerged as one of the leading business awards programmes in the UK, with great acclaim from numerous top professionals and organisations in the country.

What's different is that in recent years (with the onset of the pandemic and everything that followed it), the awards had a slight change of focus. We noticed an influx of slightly different initiatives, more leaning towards innovation and business transformation, which is normal with all the global changes, from economic challenges to technological advancements. This is why we incorporated the innovation aspect, making it an integral part of the awards.

The journey has been an exciting one, but one thing - if I might add - hasn't changed. These awards continue attracting top business initiatives in the country, and for that I'm happy and honoured. Winning a trophy in this programme is seen as a marque of achievement and business prestige, and more and more each year. That's a strong wind in our sails.

How does the new edition differ from all the previous ones? What improvements and upgrades can the entrants expect?

From the start, we've been all about rewarding the best business practices, achievements and results in the UK. But as I mentioned, more focus has been put on innovation in recent years, and that's why we now recognise a broad range of business and innovation initiatives. And on that note, we wanted to introduce a few innovations and upgrade the whole awards experience.

We've introduced the Smart Awards format. This will significantly simplify and speed up the process from entry submission to announcing finalists and winners. There won't be a dedicated consultant; instead, you will have our vast knowledge base and upgraded chatbot for full support. The new format is designed to give you clear pointers and precise information for applying.?

The awards website is revamped and is more intuitive than ever to facilitate the application. Also, we have a new and upgraded Awards Manager app to make the awards experience even smoother. As you can tell, we're also constantly innovating and improving our processes, for an enjoyable, hassle-free experience!??

Over the years, hundreds of submitted initiatives for the awards have been submitted. In your opinion, what is special and unique about businesses in the UK? What are their strong points?

What amazes me the most, programme after programme, is the sheer ability of UK businesses to turn obstacles into opportunities. A sense of entrepreneurship and success has always been present. I'm fascinated with how UK businesses manage to continually find ways of overcoming the odds.

At all of our awards programmes, event after event (and UKBA is no exception), we have the privilege and the pleasure of watching numerous examples of excellent business practices. These past couple of years have been, well - rough - to say the least, for companies around the world and in Brittain, and it's still a time of crisis. However, businesses are finding new and new ways to work around those challenges and not only stay in the game - but also improve, develop and strengthen their position in the market.

Whether they're small companies, family-owned, with a couple of people on board, or big enterprises, they all share a positive outlook on the future, a vision for helping the economy - and determination to succeed. You can sense a spirit of togetherness and unity, that all of them work together towards a common goal to help the whole market bounce back. That's truly inspirational.

What do you value the most in business? How should a company weather the storms of the ever-changing market?

Like in any aspect of life, finding the right balance is essential. For me, the balance is between successfully maintaining your current day-to-day activities and development and planning for the future. You cannot focus only on one of the two because both are critical for ensuring a company's long-term results, stability and wellbeing. It is a prerequisite for success.

As for the changing market, I think a readiness to adapt quickly can significantly help a business. Sometimes (or should I say - most of the time), it's hard to predict what's going to happen in the market, when a crisis will occur, how certain events will roll out, etc. That's why a company must always be ready to adapt to a new situation, sometimes literally overnight. The more prepared you are for these things, the better you will overcome a challenge.

There is a famous saying: a plan is nothing, but planning is everything. I strongly subscribe to this mindset. You cannot know everything in advance, but that's no excuse for not having a solid plan, or several plans, for that matter. And as another famous line says: the more I prepare, the luckier I seem to get. It's a good reminder because you can always do a little better than last time to improve and develop.

What advice do you have for new entrants? Anything in particular they should focus on?

The most important thing is to align your initiative with the category (or categories) you want to apply for. I know this may sound basic for many people, but it's essential; picking the right category for your initiative will 1) save you valuable time in applying and 2) help present your initiative much better.

Also, I would like to stress the importance of telling a good story in your entry. This can help you impress the judges and get the highest percentage across all the criteria. So, craft your entry well, with a beginning, middle and end - backed by hard numbers and images- to present your results and show why you should be awarded as the best.

In wrapping up - why would you recommend entering the UKBA and competing?

During the previous six years, we've built a community of successful companies and established business professionals, many of whom keep returning to the awards. Some return as new entrants, some as judges, but the community is strong and keeps expanding to our great delight.

Participating in the awards gives you a chance to get validated - by seasoned business professionals, adding credibility to your results. You also get an opportunity to broaden your market reach, find new clients and partners, and give your brand a boost. UKB&IA is where top companies and organisations meet to benchmark and get recognised.

Moreover, if you triumph, it will be an excellent source of motivation and inspiration for your employees to stay and for your customers to keep returning. Getting an award for your initiative is a fantastic way to appreciate what you've done so far and lay the foundation for your future success.