How to write a great award nomination
You don’t have to be the world’s greatest storyteller to write a winning award nomination but giving thought to what you want to say will help get your nominee noticed.
Choose the right award. Your nomination needs to reflect what’s asked in the awards criteria. So, check that first and then set about covering who the nominee is, what they do, why they or their work is notable, and what impact their work has had.
How long should my nomination be? “Joe is a great guy, terrific with patients and who really deserves recognising” may all be true but it won’t win Joe an award. Your nomination needs enough detail to stand out from the rest but not too much that the judges miss the point. So …
What to include. Emphasise the positive impact of the nominee's work on the Trust, in the community, or area of work. Providing concrete evidence and examples to back up your reasoning is the best way to sell your nomination.
Focus on outcome and impact. What did your nominee achieve, and what effects did it have? How did their actions improve or change things? Don’t exaggerate, but don’t be afraid to blow your own or your nominee’s trumpet either. You could include:
· Colleague or patient testimonials or stories
· Statistical or clinical evidence
· Case studies
· Links to news articles or other online evidence
· Personal anecdotes
And, finally … read through and check what you’ve written. Have you covered all the points in the awards criteria? Will it make sense to someone from outside the speciality?