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Community 28 | 4TH - 10TH SEPTEMBER 2015 | UTILITY WEEK Events T he Utility Week Awards 2015 are fast approaching. But if you thought you'd missed your chance to enter this year, don't fear. The deadline for entries has been extended until 18 September. If you have a team, project or company to be proud of, let the whole world know about it by entering now. Once a year, we take the opportunity to celebrate the energy and water companies, and the individuals working for them, who have shone in their respective sectors. There are 13 awards, 11 of them open to entry from any company involved in the utili- ties sector, whether it is producing, distribut- ing or retailing energy or water. Contractors and suppliers are welcome at the party too with the opportunity to enter jointly with utility partners. We are looking for those companies that go above and beyond the call of duty, so you must prove that you had ambitious aims which you either met or exceeded. Compe- tition is fierce, and winning a place on the shortlist is an achievement in itself. The awards night is a great excuse to don your glad rags, indulge in a delicious three- course meal and enjoy top notch entertain- ment before a ceremony is held to announce the winners. Entries will be judged by an independent panels of industry experts. Our judges know their stuff, so they are less impressed by a glossy entry than by one that clearly demon- strates achievements – and backs them up with evidence. So, decide where your company has excelled: submit your entries by 18 Septem- ber and make sure you're at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Park Lane on 14 December for the "industry's Christmas party", join- ing the great and good to celebrate the many achievements of the sector this year. To enter, visit: www. utilityweekawards. co.uk Utility Week Awards 2015: deadline extension September 18th marks the last chance to enter the utility industry's most prestigious awards. Act now or lose out, says Lois Vallely. "Entering awards is rarely written in anyone's job description, it's an 'extra', which gets passed around the office like a scald- ing baked potato because of the workload involved. Don't let that put you off; it's totally worth it. "In a world where competition gets hot- ter by the minute, awards are PR gold – just look how they are used. My best advice – is take the time to make your entry as detailed and thorough as possible." Mike Foster, chief executive, Energy and Utilities Alliance "Competition is tough for these awards and the calibre of finalists for each category is high. Submis- sions should be specific about how they have made a difference. "They need to be backed up with evi- dence such as case studies or figures and ideally include some third-party verification from those who worked with you or benefit- ted from your success. Most of all, choose something that really stands out and be competitive in how you show it." David Smith, chief executive, Energy Networks Association "Make sure you know what the award is for and that your entry is appropriate. "Find out what criteria will be used to judge your entry; this may be clear if you are asked to complete a structured, pro-forma document to make your entry. "Think about what will convince the judges that your entry is worthy and better than others. "Remember that judging panels oen have very limited time to assess each entry. You will not be rewarded for the number of words you write but vital information can be lost in a sea of words. "If there are published guidelines for your entry, stick to them. If there are section head- ings, ensure the infor- mation you put down is relevant and complete. If there are specific questions, make sure you answer each one accurately. "Make sure your entry clearly shows how it meets all the criteria the judges are looking for – keep it clear and concise." Paul Mullord, UK director, British Water "Keep it brief and make sure the aims and results are clear and impressive. Remember you are competing with others who want to win." Audrey Gallacher, head of energy team, Consumer Focus "Keep it concise, show the evaluation and impact of projects or initiatives. Demonstrate how things are embedded in the culture of the organisation, where there's senior man- agement buy-in, etc." Tony Smith, chief executive, CCWater Tips for success: what the judges are looking for