Digital

The six awards in this category celebrate digital innovation and creativity. From websites and apps to e-learning, AI and even podcasts, these awards highlight and celebrate the digital strides forward that push the limit of what is possible and make a lasting impact to organisations, members and stakeholders.

• Best Website
• Best App
• Best Use of Video
• Best Podcast
• Best Use of Innovative Technology
• Best Digital Transformation
  

Events​

Events are an essential part of non-profit membership organisations, and the four awards in this category recognise creativity and innovation in a range of areas, from Best Venue, through to Celebration Events. 

• Best Celebration Event
• Best Event 
• Best Virtual / Hybrid Event
• Best Venue

Engagement

Engagement is crucial for all membership organisations, given that members and supporters are the lifeblood of our sector. There are eight awards in this category, celebrating excellence in everything from newsletters and social media presence, through to impactful campaigns and lobbying.

• Best Strategy for Member Engagement or Recruitment 
• Best Member Support
• Best Integrated Marketing or Membership Campaign
• Best Social Media Presence
• Best Email Newsletter
• Best Lobbying Campaign
• Best Public Awareness Campaign
• Best Learning and Education Initiative

Publishing​

Always a hugely popular category, the following three awards honour the magazines and annual reports which demonstrate superior execution of editorial objectives, offer engaging content and innovative design or other aspects which make them stand out amongst the competition.

• Best Magazine Launch or Relaunch
  
• Best Magazine, Circulation less than 20K
• Best Magazine, Circulation more than 20K

Organ​isation

The four awards in this section recognise the hard work across your entire organisation to go above and beyond the efforts of your peers and champion areas such as EDI, sustainability, or membership excellence. No matter the size of your organisation, if you’ve achieved something exceptional and made a tangible difference, this is your opportunity to share it with the wider membership community. Winning one (or more) of the awards in this category will truly set you apart from the rest.

• The Memcom EDI Award
• The Memcom Sustainability Award
• Best Trade Association
• Best Professional Body and Learned Society

People

The success of the membership sector relies on its talented staff and volunteers and the six awards in this section celebrate the positive impact that individuals and teams have on their organisation, their members and the public. From industry partners to rising stars, these awards are your chance to nominate the people who make a difference in your organisation.

• Editor of the Year
• Agency of the year
• The Future Leader
• Team of the Year
• Best President or Chair
• The CEO Leadership Award

The Memcom Grand Prix

​How to enter

Application process

1. Register on our awards platform Evalato - enter here
2. Select the awards you wish to enter
3. Pay at the time of registration with a valid debit or credit card
4. An email with your login details will be sent to you giving you access to your personal workspace
5. Start your application whenever you're ready, save it as you go and submit before the deadline

When you start filling out your application, you can save your progress as you go - and then come back to Evalato at any time to complete your entry using your login details. 

Once you have submitted your application, you can no longer edit it.

Application format

Submissions for all awards are limited to a maximum of 500 or 1000 words (3500 or 7000 characters; spaces count towards the character limit) and nominees are also able to upload a maximum of 2 documents (1x supporting evidence, 1x visual). Each of the Awards can cover the last 12 - 18 months.

Each award has its own criteria, but generally nominees should think about how to answer the following question:

• Why do you think this initiative/person/campaign/event/venue deserves to win this award right now?

Judges will look for:

• Evidence of strategy and clearly defined goals: What are the goals and objectives of the project, magazine, campaign, event, person? What is the strategy you applied? How does this project, magazine, campaign etc...contribute to the purpose of the organisation? 
• Execution & activities: In your application, please provide a list of the various activities that have been executed. What resources humans and others have been used to undertake the activities? 
• Innovation, creativity and originality: What was innovative in the execution, approach etc…? 
• Success metrics and results achieved: comment on your achievements in relation to the finance and human resources utilised. Show Evidence of success and impact in the form of feedback, testimonials or other KPIs, including any outcomes such as measurable increased engagement.

Changed your mind...?

You selected the awards you'd like to enter in the registration stage, but then have a change of mind? Don't panic! We can easily add, subtract or change your chosen categories, so simply email us at awards@memcom.org.uk and we'll sort it for you!

Want to see what the application form looks like BEFORE you apply?

That's not a problem! Simply email us at awards@memcom.org.uk and we'll send you a pdf example of our simple-to-complete application form!

Supporting materials

You are advised to upload supporting materials that can be used alongside your entry. Unless you ask us not to, these materials may subsequently be used on the Memcom website, on screens during the awards ceremony, or within other Memcom-related marketing and promotional materials.

Digital copies are requested for the Publishing, Editor of the year and other categories where it is needed.

Please kindly note that no supporting materials will be accepted after submission.

Key Dates &  Deadlines

Benefits of entering an award

Awards and recognition can enhance your organisations’ reputation and give a boost to your members. They can also encourage innovation and raise productivity amongst your staff. Winning the Memcom Membership Excellence Awards are GREAT for your profile, your staff, your volunteers and your members...

Some of the benefits of winning a Memcom Award:

• Be recognised for excellence in the sector
• Show your members the quality of the work you produce on their behalf
• Gain exposure through Memcom's communications across social media channels, newsletters and blogs
• Receive recognition that can support career progression
• Great for team morale - Show appreciation for the hard work and results of your employees and volunteers
• Great opportunity to celebrate your success

Each Memcom Award Winner or Highly Commended will receive:

• An elegant trophy to display in your organisation
• A digital badge to add to your website and email signature
• An editorial and social media coverage, featured on our website, newsletters, blogs and social media 
• A quote from the judges to feature in a press release

Entry fees & Payment

Description	Fee	Valid time
Early Bird Entry	£175 +VAT	10 Dec 2023 to 31 Dec 2023
Standard Entry	£225+VAT	01 Jan 2024 to 30 Apr 2024

Remember, you can still save a third on your entries by entering three or more categories - valid until 30th April!

The cost of entry is per application, this includes a non-refundable administrative fee of £39 per application. Memcom reserves the right to change the cost of entry to the Awards without prior notice.

• All award entries must be paid at time of registration with a valid debit or credit card. Failure to pay will result in entries being withdrawn from the judging process.
• When submitting your debit/credit card details at time of registration, enter the postcode/ZIP Code of where the card is registered in capital letters with no spaces in between.
• Duplicate/individual trophies are available to purchase at just £125 per trophy, which includes shipping to an address of your choice. Other size trophies may be available - details upon request.

General Rules & Eligibility

The Memcom Excellence Awards are fully independent and completely impartial, and are organised and facilitated but not judged by employees of Memcom. The competition is open to all membership organisations, working (globally) within the not-for-profit sector (including professional bodies, trade associations, trade unions, membership charities, cultural or campaigning organisations and learned societies) as well as third-party sector suppliers working within the not-for-profit membership sector.

Download the General Terms & Conditions.

Judging & Recognition

Top tips for an award winning entry

Remember, you've got to enter to win, but before you do, here is a little more advice from judges and past winners of the Memcom Membership Excellence Awards:

• Research suitable awards: can you enter the same piece of work under different categories?
• Register early and get planning: there's nothing worse than missing the boat, so plan early to avoid disappointment - and take advantage of the early-bird pricing offer!
• Read and then follow the instructions: it sounds obvious, but different awards might require different criteria, word limits or supporting information and KPIs.
• Make time: don't leave it until the last minute to submit. Draft your application and bake in time to get someone else to review your entry before you press submit.
• Use storytelling to demonstrate success and impact: make your successes come alive and inspire the judges with their impact.
• Create joint entries with your suppliers: share the costs, the efforts of submitting and celebrate your wins together!

  In the words of one of our judges: 

You know your work inside out, but take a step back before you write your award entry and look at it through a stranger’s eyes. What really makes it shine? What were the original objectives and does your measurement support them? How would you describe your audience and find a way to write simply and concisely what you delivered... and why. It’s also really motivating to read an entry that shows your pride in your work – not empty boasts or how fabulous everyone says you are – but an entry that clearly defines what you set out to do and the impact it made. These may seem obvious but we see a large number of entries that presume we know your organisation and project inside out, thinking that using corporate jargon or flowery words will do the trick. They don’t! - Suzanne Peck

Susanne Peck , Director at Sequel

Contact us

Whether you have a specific query or would like advice, the awards team is here to help - Contact us at awards@memcom.org.uk or call 020 7148 6749. We aim to respond within 24 hours, even at the weekend!