How to write a strong ESSA Awards submission

Entries for the ESSA Awards 2026 open on Friday 7 August and close on Friday 2 October 2026.

Submitting an entry is your chance to celebrate the work you are proud of, showcase the difference you have made and share the story behind your success.

A strong submission does more than list achievements. It explains the challenge, the thinking behind your approach, what you did differently and the results you delivered.

It is also a useful opportunity to step back, review your work and recognise the people, ideas and processes that helped make it happen.

Good submissions take time, so start early. Give yourself enough space to gather evidence, speak to colleagues and clients, write your entry and review it properly before the deadline.

Key dates

Entries open: Friday 7 August 2026
Entries close: Friday 2 October 2026

Top tips for a strong submission

Follow the criteria

The judging criteria are there for a reason. They are exactly what the judges will use to assess and compare entries.

Read each question carefully and make sure your answer addresses what is being asked. It can be tempting to include every success from the year, but irrelevant information may weaken an otherwise strong entry.

Keep returning to the criteria as you write and ask yourself: have I answered the question clearly?

Tell a clear story

The best entries take judges on a journey.

Set the scene by explaining the challenge or opportunity. Describe the action you took, the thinking behind it and any obstacles you overcame. Then clearly show the results and wider impact.

A simple structure can help:

The challenge: What needed to change or improve?

The approach: What did you do, and why?

The results: What difference did it make?

The learning: What did you learn, and what happens next?

Keep your writing clear, focused and easy to follow. Judges will be reviewing several entries, so make it easy for them to understand why yours stands out.

Write in your own voice

Your submission should sound like you.

Use straightforward, natural language and avoid unnecessary marketing jargon. Authentic stories are far more memorable than polished corporate claims.

Writing support from colleagues or communications teams can be helpful, but the final entry should still reflect the experience and perspective of the people involved.

Back up your claims

Evidence turns a good story into a credible one.

Include facts, figures and examples wherever possible. This might include:

Revenue or business growth

Cost or time savings

Improvements in safety, quality or efficiency

Customer or employee feedback

Sustainability results

New clients, projects or partnerships

Increased engagement or participation

Industry recognition

Testimonials or case studies

Be specific. Rather than saying something was “very successful”, explain what changed and how you measured it.

Where results are still emerging, include the progress made so far and explain how future impact will be tracked.

Show your contribution

Be clear about the role you, your team or your organisation played.

Judges need to understand what you were responsible for, what decisions you made and how your contribution influenced the outcome.

Celebrate your achievements confidently, but give credit where it is due. Strong entries often show collaboration, leadership and the contribution of the wider team.

Use the word count wisely

Word limits help keep entries focused and fair.

Use the available space to answer each question fully, but avoid repeating the same information. Do not rely on phrases such as “see above” or place essential information only in an attachment.

Supporting materials should strengthen your entry, not tell the whole story on your behalf.

Choose strong supporting evidence

References and testimonials can add real weight to your entry, particularly when they come from clients, partners or other independent sources.

Select evidence that directly supports the points made in your submission. A short, specific testimonial is usually more powerful than a long and general recommendation.

Do not simply provide someone’s contact details and ask the judges to request a reference. Include the reference or testimonial as part of your supporting information.

Make it easy to understand

Do not assume the judges know your business, project or specialist area.

Explain technical language clearly and avoid unexplained acronyms. Provide enough context for someone outside your organisation to understand the scale and significance of your achievement.

Clear language does not make your work sound less impressive. It makes its impact easier to see.

Proofread before submitting

Leave enough time to review your entry with fresh eyes.

Check spelling, grammar, names, dates and figures. Make sure the information is consistent across every answer and attachment.

Ask someone who was not closely involved in the work to read the entry. If they can quickly understand the challenge, your approach and the results, the judges probably will too.

What to avoid

Irrelevant information

More information does not always make a stronger entry. Stay focused on the category criteria and remove anything that does not support your case.

Unexplained jargon

Technical terms, acronyms and internal project names may be familiar to you, but they may mean very little to the judges. Keep the language simple and explain anything specialist.

Unsupported claims

Words such as “leading”, “ground-breaking” and “industry-first” should only be used when you can support them with clear evidence.

Let the results speak for themselves.

Exaggeration

Be honest about your role, the results and the challenges involved. Credibility matters, and a balanced account is often more compelling than a story in which everything went perfectly.

Overconfidence

You should be proud of your achievements, but avoid making the entry sound arrogant.

Give credit to the people who contributed, acknowledge what you learned and focus on the value delivered to clients, colleagues, communities or the wider events industry.

Essential information marked confidential

Judges will follow the confidentiality requirements of the ESSA Awards process. However, you should only submit information you are comfortable sharing with the judging panel.

If commercially sensitive details cannot be included, consider using percentages, ranges or anonymised examples instead.

Bring your submission to life

Supporting materials can help judges understand your achievement and see the people and work behind it.

Depending on the category, this could include:

Photographs or project imagery

A short video

Customer or employee testimonials

Reports, research or case studies

Designs, plans or campaign materials

Press coverage or industry recognition

Keep attachments relevant and easy to navigate. Quality matters more than quantity.

Make it memorable

Judges are people, and people remember good stories.

Do not be afraid to let some personality come through. Share the moments that mattered, the obstacles you faced and the human impact of your work.

Your submission does not need to sound formal or overly polished. It needs to be clear, credible and genuinely yours.

Most importantly, do not undersell what you have achieved.

Entries open on Friday 7 August and close on Friday 2 October 2026.

Good luck!