Who doesn’t like an award? After all an award is not just an acknowledgement but also an encouragement to a person. It is a reinforcement to keep doing an amazing job over and over again! The Corporate Engagement Awards (CEA) have been started with a similar motive.
These awards are a mark to celebrate best in corporate sponsorships, partnerships and social responsibility. Now that’s not a usual thing, is it? The awards are as rare as their cause is. It is amazing how someone thought of something so unusual. How many companies and agencies do you know who have successfully worked with charities, arts organizations, NGOs and not-for-profits in order to promote their corporate brands and improve their reputations.
Previous winners of these awards have experienced a mutual benefit where both the sponsor and the recipient have enhanced their business strategies. Throwing light on the same Andrew Thomas, publishing editor of Communicate says: “Over the last three years we have seen a tremendous increase in the creativity, strategic thought and implementation of companies’ CSR-related corporate sponsorship and partnership activities. There is no denying that there is a real correlation between this activity and an organization’s reputation. We are proud to run the only event that benchmarks this and recognizes excellence in this field.”
If you want to be part of this wonderful opportunity there’s nothing stopping you except for the fact that there are some rules to be followed. Firstly all entries must be received by 26 June. Entries are judged by a panel of experts in 20 categories spread across five sections. Among this year’s categories is the unique opportunity for Olympics-related sponsorship activities to achieve recognition. Above all this the most attractive part is entries received by 12 June will receive a £100 discount. So don’t wait for too long. May be a story of a previous winner can get you to be more enthusiastic.
So the story goes this way – Last year’s Grand Prix winner, Volunteer it Yourself, was a groundbreaking partnership of companies and organizations that sought to provide apprenticeships and training for young people while simultaneously helping maintain two London youth centres. The project has since received Big Lottery funding and has expanded from one programme to include seven live, nine completed and 33 planned projects. So if you want to avail the opportunity please visit corporateengagementawards.com.
The awards will be announced in September this year in London. You could possibly win an award in the following categories-
Sector
Best arts-centred corporate sponsorship
Best charity-centred corporate sponsorship
Best sports-centred corporate sponsorship
Best combined sponsorship
Strategy
Best open-ended corporate sponsorship programme
Best single event corporate sponsorship programme
Best pro bono work for charitable, social or ethical cause
Most effective long-term philanthropic scheme, foundation or programme
Most innovative sponsorship
Objective
Best corporate sponsorship to raise brand awareness
Best alignment with brand values through sponsorship
Best corporate sponsorship for employee engagement
Best external relationship-building sponsorship programme
Activity
Best communication of corporate sponsorship activity
Best execution of corporate sponsorship activity
Best evaluation of corporate sponsorship activity
Best community involvement in a sponsorship activity
Best sponsorship activity relating to the London 2012 Olympics
For sponsored organisations
Best collaborative approach
Best sponsorship communications
My best wishing to all those willing to compete. May the best man win!
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