As a keen networker I knew I could utilise my contacts, but that this would be time consuming & in fairness my day job kept me busy.
Having attended several awards events during my career & won a few of them, I often found myself chasing award winners down to better understand what made them a winner. Call it a ‘eureka’ moment but it suddenly hit me – If I was to become a judge it would give me exposure to some of the best practices out there & help me further build out my network!

That was nine years ago & I’ve not looked back. I’ve just signed up to judge at the Customer Experience Awards 2019 (my favourite) & can’t wait to see some of my fellow judges, many of which I now call friends.

So, does judging give me what I was looking for? Quite simply ‘yes’, being a judge gives me exposure, fresh ideas & networking opportunities that aren’t available every day. My organisation also benefits – they get a manager back more motivated, with new ideas, an enhanced network & quite simply a spring in his step.

If you’re reading this blog, then I’ll assume you are considering becoming a judge. My advice is don’t ‘consider’ it, just ‘do it’ – you won’t regret it & neither will the corporate you work for.

Over the years, I’ve learnt so much from being involved in entering awards, winning awards & more recently being a ‘Head Judge’ at Awards events, that I wanted to share my experiences & try to motivate more of you to have a go.

So, why enter an award – for me it is great validation & recognition that your business is doing the right things. I’ve seen first-hand how it boosts staff morale, improves motivation & acknowledges contribution, especially when you are a Finalist or even WIN. It improves perception & reputation, which can only be good for business!

So, why judge at an awards event – by sharing my knowledge I get a chance to inspire other finalists & to offer guidance on how they can improve. I have a chance to discover the latest innovations & stay up to date in an ever-changing business landscape.

One of the new benefits to Judging, with Awards International, is the chance to utilise The Judge Club, an exclusive space for current Judges to network, learn and share best practice. I’m lucky enough to sit on the Advisory Board, so can recommend you take advantage.

It’s true what they say – “you only get out what you put in” – so come on sign up as a Judge, enter an award & see the positive difference it can make to you, your colleagues & your business.