10 tips for Green Gown Awards success

We have tried to make entering the Green Gown Awards as simple and as easy as possible. 

Here are our top 10 tips: 

1. Be in it to win it! 

The Green Gown Awards are a great way to raise your personal profile and showcase your institution’s sustainability agenda, acknowledging your team's efforts, engaging your staff and students, gaining recognition from senior management and obtaining UK and international recognition! Make sure that your application does not let you down. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. If someone else in your institution has had experience in submitting a winning/highly commended application before and/or you would like a mentor to help you through the process, then ask your peers for guidance. Make sure you do all you can to submit the best application for your project.

2. Time management! 
Make sure that you allow yourself plenty of time to both consider and develop your entry. Plan ahead. Consider the Awards criteria when planning your project. Set clear objectives from the outset, taking baseline measurements so that you can evaluate the positive impact of the project afterwards.

Make sure that you send in your application form in plenty of time – don’t leave it until the last minute in case of any last minute IT/Internet issues. Deadline for Stage 1 applications is 12 noon on 12 June 2013.

3. Preparation 
Make sure you read the entry criteria for each category and the entry rules before you start to complete your application. This way you will answer the questions being asked and not the questions you think are being asked!

4. Do your research. Learn from the best!
Take a look at previous winners and highly commended entries. We have a selection of Green Gown case studies, presentations, master class presentations and videos from Green Gown winning and highly commended entries. Take your time to go through them to see what they did and what they recommend when filling in the all important application form. Click here for inspiration.

We are also pleased to be able to share the excellence demonstrated by the Australasian Green Gown Awards. View their case study videos here.

5. Think about your audience
Consider who will be reading your entry. The judging panel is made up of a cross section of tertiary education and industry experts. Imagine you are one of the judges and think through what you would want and need to read to be able to judge an entry.

6. Keep it simple! 
Focus on what the judges are actually asking for in the category criteria. Don’t just fill your submission with the contents of existing sales and marketing materials. Make sure the submission is succinct, clear and easy to understand.

7. Numbers
Use real figures which you can substantiate, so they provide an accurate representation of your achievements. Emphasise the benefits. Demonstrate how you have achieved clear benefits to the institution, its employees, your customers and the general public. Provide compelling before and after data, wherever possible. Statistical evidence is one of the most important factors in all successful awards submissions.

8. Shout loud and clear about your achievements
Don’t be a wallflower, make sure that your entry highlights the sense of pride you have in the things you have achieved. Prove you're the best! Always back up your claims with evidence, especially proof of innovation, positive impact on stakeholders, return on investment, strategic success, outperforming the sector, customer focus, leadership and social responsibility.

9. If at first…
Learn from the experience. If you don’t win at the first attempt, learn from the process and try again next time. Use Award entry as a tool for assessing and benchmarking your performance. This will help you improve faster than your competitors and increase your chances of winning awards in the future.

10. We are here to help!
If you still need some guidance or are unsure about your application or where to begin, then please contact us. We are here to help and we want to encourage as many of you as possible to apply for a Green Gown Award! Contact us at greengown@eauc.org.uk.

Good luck with your entry!