Research magazine Award for the Best Place to Work in Research

Agencies have to fight hard to recruit and then retain people and this award aims to highlight those businesses that really put people at the heart of their overall strategy.

The winner of this award will be the business that can demonstrate innovative thinking, enlightened approaches and new initiatives that make their business a great place to work.

Who should apply?

Any MR agency or organisation that can prove it is a great place to work.

What will the judges be looking for?

practical demonstration of professional development of staff at all levels (including management)
encouragement of new working techniques
development for the good of the individual as well as the business
a business that rewards staff for a job well done
In particular, the judges will look for evidence that employees are offered real career prospects and than an agency is seeking to widen the skills and knowledge base of its employees beyond the research world and into the wider commercial arena.

How to apply

Only email applications in the required format will be considered for this award.

Download and complete the Word document the Best Place to Work Entry and Submission Forms – these two forms will constitute your award application.
Keep a copy of both forms for your records – including the Rules of Entry for this award.
Send your two forms as attachments in an email with the Best Place to Work Entry 2009 in the subject line to researchawards@mrs.org.uk .
Your entry must reach us by 5 pm on Friday 31 July 2009..
We will invoice you for the entry fee once your application has been processed.

Submission Format

Basis of submission: 500 word (max) Statement supporting your case plus specific additional information.

In addition to your Statement you should specify:

date of incorporation
numbers employed (split between executive and support staff)
fees and profit data for two years (where possible)
you may also include up to three short (100 words max) anecdotes from members of staff

Rules of entry – Best Place to Work

All entries must be emailed using the relevant Word document Entry and Submission Forms, to reach MRS by 5pm on Friday 31 July 2009. No extensions will be granted.
Your entry will be judged on the merits of the case you make on the Submission Form.
You must nominate a primary contact on your Entry Form who will take overall responsibility for the entry.
The primary contact must ensure that permission to enter the Awards is obtained from all parties involved in the submission.
Entries must not overtly ‘sell’ any organisation. Company logos are acceptable.
The judges’ decisions are final and the Panel will not enter into correspondence about them.
Submission content will remain confidential to the Judging Panels and MRS; specific permission to publish any information at a later date will always be sought from the entrants.

There is an entry fee for this award. You will be invoiced once your entry has been processed. Failure to pay by 01 September 2009 will cancel your application.

One ticket to the Research Awards Dinner in December will be allocated per shortlisted entry. Additional tickets can be purchased nearer the time at the standard advertised price.

Hints from the judging panel

Please no more duvet days - ok mention them if you must. Of course the workplace should be an enjoyable place and this should come across in submissions. But this is about a serious commitment to your people, their development and growth as professionals. Given the current economic climate, it will be particularly challenging but continued investment in staff development and broadening skills both within and beyond MR will be important. Encouraging development beyond MR and developing more commercial thinking is also important. The judges pay particular attention to the comments from your people in this category - make them strong and positive but also plausible.

Download forms

Previous Awards winners.

Back to Research Awards 2009

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