If you think industry awards are just a pat on the back, think again. In today’s crowded marketplace, a well-recognised award can help your business stand out, establish authority, and even win new customers. While most small and medium-sized businesses understand the value of marketing, fewer realise how strategic award submissions can support all these effort, and more.
At Waypoint, we help our clients grow their business through expert marketing support, from websites to social media to branding and beyond. And yes, that includes award entries. It’s not a standalone service; it’s just one more way we help clients tell their story better and get noticed by the people that matter.
Understanding industry awards
Industry awards are formal recognitions given to businesses, organisations, or individuals for excellence in a specific field. From Hollywood to engineering and education, most sectors have awards.
As you can imagine, our clients are not strutting the Hollywood red carpet trying to win an Oscar. But there are similarities between the Oscars and other industry awards. Although we admire the dresses and we listen to the weepy, lengthy speeches, behind the gloss and sparkly lights, the Oscars play a critical role, just like any other industry award.
Every industry deserves the chance to shine a spotlight on great work, recognise talent and celebrate successes.
Some industry awards are internationally and nationally recognised, such as The King’s Award for Enterprise, which our client Hi-Level Mezzanines proudly received, while others are more sector-specific. Judicium Education, for example, won the BESA 2025 award for Outstanding Service Support this year, an achievement we were delighted to support as part of our ongoing marketing work.
“Being named a finalist for a prestigious award is always an honour and increasingly competitive each year. In recent years, we’ve secured multiple finalist and winner placements in education sector awards. Working with Waypoint, who truly understand our business and goals, has been key to crafting high-quality entries that showcase our expertise and set us apart from competitors.” Fiona Simpson, Head of Marketing Professional Services, Supporting Education.
Whether it’s a large national award or a regional or industry-specific one, the opportunity to highlight your business through external recognition is worth exploring.
The business benefits of entering (and winning) industry awards
Here’s why industry awards should be on your radar:
1. Credibility and external validation
Winning an award or even being shortlisted proves that a trusted, independent body rates your work highly. That external validation goes a long way with potential clients.
2. Competitive differentiation
An award sets your business apart from the competition, especially in sectors where everyone is claiming to be the best.
3. Demonstrated expertise
Submitting for an award requires you to showcase your work—and doing it well shows you know your stuff. Awards reinforce your authority in the field.
4. Client and stakeholder confidence
An award win increases trust. It reassures clients (and potential ones) that they’re working with the right partner.
5. SEO value
Award wins often lead to media mentions and backlinks, both of which support your SEO strategy and website authority.
6. Personal recognition
Being named in an award submission is a big deal for individuals. It’s great for morale and career development.
7. Positive PR and marketing content
From press releases to social media shoutouts, there are dozens of ways to use an award win to promote your business.
8. Stronger recruitment appeal
Award-winning companies are attractive to top talent. It signals that you’re a business worth working for.
9. Team morale and celebration
Award dinners, ceremonies and the sense of shared success are all great for internal morale. Who doesn’t love a night out with purpose?
Even if you don’t win, being shortlisted or being a runner-up can still put a spotlight on your business.
The award submission process: why it’s harder than it looks
Industry awards don’t hand themselves out. Behind every winner is a solid submission that took time, thought and effort.
A typical awards entry involves:
- Carefully crafted written answers
- Supporting evidence (e.g. client testimonials, metrics, ROI data)
- Visuals (images, video, design)
- Case studies
- Strategic framing to meet the judging criteria
It’s not just a box-ticking exercise. The best submissions tell a story that aligns with the award goals and judges’ expectations.
For many SMEs, the process is overwhelming. It takes time they don’t have, often involves skills they don’t possess in-house (like design, copywriting, and data storytelling), and can feel like a gamble when entry fees are involved.
Why Waypoint values award submissions
Our broader marketing support often creates the foundations for a strong award submission, and we already understand your business and goals. When we see a client doing great work, we help them get the recognition they deserve.
As we know our clients well, we can:
- Spot the right opportunities based on your strengths
- Plan the narrative to highlight key achievements
- Craft high-quality entries using our in-house writers and designers
- Deliver supporting content like videos, case studies or metrics
- Maximise the exposure through PR, email and social media
We know what judges are looking for and how to frame entries to have the best chance of success.
Expertise and tailored support
We’re not just good at writing award entries. We’re good at marketing strategy, storytelling, positioning, and results—the same things that make award entries successful.
So whether you’re an engineering firm, a digital agency, a school, or something else entirely, we can help you:
- Identify the right awards for your business
- Avoid wasting time on submissions that don’t fit
- Build a case around your most impressive achievements
- Create submissions that sound like you, not a corporate template
- Get the recognition you and your team deserve
Let’s talk about getting your business the recognition it deserves
If you’re already working with Waypoint, awards might be a natural next step. If you’re not, but you’ve been wondering how to get your business in front of more people—and boost your credibility while you’re at it—we’d love to talk.
While not every business needs an award to grow, most could benefit from one.
FAQs:
Are industry awards really worth entering?
Yes. as long as they’re relevant to your sector and offer credible recognition. They can boost credibility, morale, and visibility.
What makes a good award submission?
A clear narrative, evidence of success, strong visuals, and alignment with the award criteria.
Can Waypoint help me win an award?
We can’t guarantee a win, no one can, but we can dramatically improve your chances with expert writing, storytelling and design.
How much do award submissions cost?
Entry fees vary. We only recommend awards worth the investment, and we integrate submission support into our broader marketing work.
Will entering awards help with SEO?
Yes. Awards offer valuable backlinks and authority signals that support SEO performance.
