Welcome to the first 2011/12 issue of Re:locate Awards Special, the newsletter that keeps you up to date with the latest on relocation’s premier awards, brought to you by Re:locate, the magazine for HR, global managers and relocation professionals.

The Re:locate Awards are now firmly established as the ultimate accolade for HR and relocation professionals. They’re growing from year to year, attracting more international entries, more inspirational HR teams and policies, and suppliers from new sectors. Why not join them? With a choice of categories for HR and service providers, there’s sure to be one that’s right for you. Entry is easy, and free.

With Christmas just around the corner, and our entry deadline of Friday 17 February fast approaching, now is the perfect time to start compiling your winning entry!

In each edition of this newsletter, we’ll be profiling different award categories and explaining how you can enter.

Register now for our second Re:locate Awards webinar, which takes place on Friday 9 December, from 11.00–11.30 am. You’ll hear from previous winners how winning has benefited them and their businesses, and find out how to write a winning submission.

If you missed Webinar 1, don't worry! You can access a recording here.

For details of award categories, sponsors, rules and judging, click here.

Five fabulous reasons to enter the Re:locate Awards 2011/12

Entering the Re:locate Awards brings many benefits, from both a personal and a company perspective. And you don’t have to be a winner to enjoy them!

Your top five reasons to enter:

1. To raise your company’s or team’s profile – and your own.
2. To drive up standards.
3. To recruit and retain top talent.
4. To motivate and reward your team.
5. To increase your success.

To see how previous winners have benefited, click here.

Top tips for compiling your winning Re:locate Awards submission

Entering the Re:locate Awards is very straightforward, but, to ensure you're in with the best possible chance of winning, you'll need to do more than what Sue Shortland, principal lecturer and course leader at London Metropolitan University and Re:locate Awards judge in previous years, describes as a “cut and paste job”.

You may be thinking, “That’s all very well, but I might not win, so why should I take the time and trouble to enter? The answer, as previous entrants have found, is that the process of entering can be very beneficial, to you, your team and your organisation.

If you’re on the supplier side, considering your business objectively, asking customers what they particularly like about your company and what it offers, and refining your USP can, in themselves, bring valuable insights. If you’re in HR, you and your team can benefit from analysing what you did and how you did it, and learning lessons for the future.

If you do win, the benefits are even greater! Read comments from previous winners here.

You, too, can be a winner!

To get you on the fast track to the winner’s podium, here are some hints and tips from the judges on making your submission stand out from the crowd.

Get the basics right

• Follow the assessment criteria to the letter
• Submit your entry in the specified format
• Steer clear of marketing-speak
• Ensure you're entering the most relevant category. Call us on 01892 891334 or email awards@relocatemagazine.com if you need advice on which category is best for you

Master the finer points

• Tell the story of what you did, and why and how you did it, in a logical, structured way
• Bring focus to your entry by imagining you are making a short presentation
• Highlight what makes your company, team, product, service or strategy unique. The judges are looking for innovative ideas
• Provide evidence to back up your claims and quantify where possible
• Include testimonials from clients, customers or service users where possible
• Describe outcomes – both what went well and what didn't. If there were problems, show how you overcame them
• Detail any learning points and things you feel could be done better next time
• Outline what resources you had, in terms of people, finance and so on, and show how you managed them
• Include succinct, relevant supporting materials (in low-resolution digital format only – see Rules section). It’s quality, rather than quantity, that counts
• If you are entering the Technological Innovation in Relocation category, submit a demo

Before you press 'send'

• Look at your entry impartially, as if you were someone from outside your company, not assuming any prior knowledge on the part of the judges
• Proofread your entry thoroughly

For more secrets of success, click here to read case studies on the winners of the Re:locate Awards 2010/11.

Click here for information on individual award categories and how to enter.

First Re:locate Awards 2011/12 webinar attracts record numbers

Designed to spread the word and get more inspirational HR teams and policies, and suppliers from new sectors, involved in relocation’s premier awards, the first Re:locate Awards 2011/12 webinar, held on Friday 25 November, was a great success.

Delegates from across the relocation spectrum tuned in to hear Fiona Murchie, Re:locate’s managing editor, and Karen Collins, from the Re:locate team, explain the value of entering what one of this year’s awards supporters has described as “a showcase for all that is best about the relocation industry.”

The lively and informative session provided invaluable background information for compiling a winning entry, including why people should enter, what the categories are, for whom each category is suitable, and how the entry process works.

Since the webinar was broadcast, well over a hundred people have listened to the replay, making this Re:locate’s most-listened-to webinar ever.

The second webinar of the series will be on Friday 9 December, from 11.00–11.30 am. You’ll hear from previous winners how winning has benefited them and their businesses, and find out how to write a winning submission.

It’s easy to register. Simply click here and complete a short registration form.

If you missed Webinar 1, don't worry! You can access a recording here.

See the Winter 2011/12 issue of Re:locate magazine for more awards coverage.

Best Relocation Strategy/Policy: award profile

Sponsored by Interdean International Relocation

A comprehensive, well-thought-out strategy or policy is central to the success of managing assignments. This award recognises an HR team or organisation that can demonstrate it has achieved excellence through implementing a relocation strategy/policy that enhances the organisation's business objectives and the quality of the relocation support provided to individual employees.

Says Barrie Gilmour, of category sponsor Interdean, "Interdean Relocation is proud to support the Best Relocation Strategy/Policy category in the 2011/12 Re:locate Awards. We understand how a thoughtfully planned relocation strategy and expertly executed policy can maximise the effectiveness of any relocation programme. We also know how insight and an innovative approach can help reduce costs and improve service."

“Interdean is delighted to continue to promote best practice and celebrate all those forward thinkers in our industry.”

Who can enter?

HR and relocation suppliers, both UK and internationally based.

How previous winners have benefited

Previous winners of this category are PricewaterhouseCoopers (2007/8), Jones Lang LaSalle (2008/9), NATS (2009/10) and Save the Children (2010/11).

Speaking on behalf of Save the Children, Susannah Parsons emphasised the role of the awards not just in giving recognition but also in sharing expertise and good practice.

She said, "We are thrilled that our programmes are being recognised and have been identified as role modelling not only within the NGO sector but across other sectors ... We will continue to learn from others as we grow, and we are happy to share our learning and experiences with others, and to engage others in our work."

Said Sandra Barker, manager of NATS’s award-winning team, "The pleasure from winning the Re:locate Awards has lasted, as the trophies are prominently displayed. To us, they are recognition of the responsiveness, innovation, care and many, many hours of hard work it takes to create an environment to encourage people to relocate willingly.

"The benefits to HR of winning are receiving external recognition, engendering pride in ourselves, and the successful melding of the skills and expertise of the cross-functional team."

How to enter: three easy steps

1. Click here for an entry form.
   
   
2. Complete the entry form in full, including an entry statement (maximum 250 words) and submissions against five criteria (maximum 150 words per criterion). You should explain how and why the relocation strategy or policy was devised and implemented, and who was involved.
   
   The judges will also want to see evidence of how the strategy or policy is benefiting the business and how these results were measured.
   
   
3. Submit your completed entry form by email to Re:locate magazine, with supporting documentation. Email to awards@relocatemagazine.com

Please call Fiona Murchie on 01892 891334 if you require further information.

Technological Innovation in Relocation: award profile

Sponsored by MoveAssist International

Technology plays an increasingly important part in today’s complex global business world. This award recognises the effective and innovative use of technology by any relocation organisation or HR team to bring about business and employee benefits, or the provider of an innovative product or service using technology within the relocation context.

“We’re proud to encourage new technological advances," says Robby Wogan, of category sponsor MoveAssist International. "As previous winners of this category, we know the opportunities winning the award brings, and look forward to seeing the winners of this year’s award benefiting from them as we have done.”

Who can enter?

HR and suppliers, both UK and internationally based.

How previous winners have benefited

Previous winners of this category are MoveAssist International (2007/8), PricewaterhouseCoopers (2008/9) and Move One Relocations (2009/10 and 2010/11).

Says Move One’s Jon Harman, "To be singled out by an independent panel of judges and recognised in front of the best in our business is not only gratifying to all of us who have contributed to developing this feature in our system, it is good for business.

"The Re:locate Awards help to keep our name out there in the industry and validate to clients, and potential clients, the value of partnering with Move One. The publicity is a huge step forward in building our brand and our reputation."

According to MoveAssist’s Robby Wogan, winning the award has brought solid business benefits. “The award has raised our profile in the industry, differentiated us from our competitors, and provided us with a very effective sales tool.”

How to enter: three easy steps

1. Click here for an entry form.
   
   
2. Complete the entry form in full, including an entry statement (maximum 250 words) and submissions against five criteria (maximum 150 words per criterion). You should explain what changes have been implemented, why they were necessary, and how technology has facilitated them, or how a product/service has effected change and improvement in delivering relocation support.
   
   The judges will assess the effectiveness of the product/service and how relocation organisations/HR teams have used the technology innovatively to benefit the recipient organisation/employees and customers/users.
   
   
3. Submit your completed entry form by email to Re:locate magazine, with supporting documentation. Email to awards@relocatemagazine.com

Please call Fiona Murchie on 01892 891334 if you require further information.

Rising Star in Relocation: award profile 

This award is designed to encourage and recognise the emerging talent and exceptional abilities of an individual within any sector of the relocation industry. The person is likely to be making a positive impact in their relocation role already and becoming an influential player as their career progresses.

You can complete your own entry form, or a colleague or client can do so.

Who can enter?

Those working in HR, and relocation suppliers, both UK and internationally based.

How previous winners have benefited

Previous winners of this category are Debbie Britton, of Britton Relocation Services (2007/8), Sharon Hewitt, of Chiltern Relocation (2008/9), Leonora Wollner, of Searchwells (2009/10), and Anthony Gallo, of London Relocation (2010/11).

Both Leonora and Sharon found the award to be a useful sales tool, helping their companies to stand out from the crowd.

Said Leonora, “When I’m competing against a large company, awards increase my credibility and often give me the edge.”

Sharon agreed. "If I'm going up against a competitor, particularly for a big-name account, I find the award helps to give me the edge." She described the moment she collected her trophy as "unforgettable" and the Gala Awards Dinner as "a great, great event!"

How to enter

1. Click here for an entry form.
   
   
2. Complete the entry form in full, including an entry statement (maximum 250 words) and submissions against five criteria (maximum 150 words per criterion).
   
   
3. Submit your completed entry form by email to Re:locate magazine, with supporting documentation. Email to awards@relocatemagazine.com

Please call Fiona Murchie on 01892 891334 if you require further information.

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