By Rich Baker

1. Timetoshine
It’s time to recognise and celebrate the work
you do to make a difference through your
internal communications.
The Central and North regions have some of the brightest
and best in our industry – and our annual awards give you
the opportunity to demonstrate how you add value for your
organisation or your clients.
It’s time to shine and be recognised for your achievements.

2. Central & North
Awards 2015
IoIC Member Non-Member
Standard entry fee (for entries received on or before 20 Nov 2015 £40 + VAT (£48) £60 + VAT (£72)
Late entry fee (for entries received 21 - 28 Nov 2015) £60 + VAT (£72) £85 + VAT (£102)
Judges Special Critique £30 + VAT (£36) £40 + VAT (£48)
2015 Entry Fees
The IoIC Central & North Awards set out to recognise and celebrate the work
you do to drive success in large or small, public or private organisations.
Whether that’s internal communications strategy, design or writing skill or brilliant people that bring organisational
objectives to life, we want to hear from you! The Awards are split into 20 classes across five categories: Strategy, Skills,
People, Print and Electronic/Digital.
Top tips for a winning entry
Why enter?
Entering awards isn't just about a
pat on the back (although that’s an
excellent reason) it's a great way to
demonstrate the value you deliver for
your clients, companies and colleagues.
And, in this age of measurement and
metrics, it's an essential benchmarking
exercise.You can also receive valuable
feedback from our judges to support
continuous improvement, which we
know is important to you.
Competition Rules
Only entries produced or delivered
predominantly between December 2014
and November 2015 will be eligible.
Judges reserve the right to reallocate
entries to a more appropriate class
if necessary.
Entries should be produced by or for a
company based in the Central or North
regions, or for a company where more
than 51 per cent of the audience is
based in those regions.
Please see IoIC website for full rules:
www.ioic.org.uk
How to Enter
Please send two copies of each
entry form (see back page) and
one set of supporting materials to:
IoIC Central & North Awards, c/o
IoIC, Suite G10, Gemini House,
Linford Wood, Sunrise Parkway,
Milton Keynes MK14 6PW
The Closing Date is Friday 20
November 2015, with fees
detailed below.
• Tell the judges a compelling story.
• Identify your audience(s).
• Set out your objectives and
achievements.
• Evaluation is key. Make sure it
links back to your objectives.
• Demonstrate how your entry
added value.We are looking for
outcomes as well as outputs.
• We are seeking excellence.
Let the judges know what
makes your entry stand out,
what is different about what
you achieved.
• Ask someone else to check
your entry before you send it.
• Make your entry exciting.
Make sure your passion
shines through.

3. Choose your classes
The IoIC Central North Awards are split into 20 classes across
five categories: Strategy, Skills, People, Print Channels and
Digital/Electronic Channels.
Strategy
Entries to Strategy classes should
explain and provide evidence of the
requirement addressed, the target
audience(s), goals and objectives,
a summary of the entry’s approach,
the challenges faced and how
success was measured. Supporting
information should be limited
to 1000 words. Please include
examples of the materials produced.
1 Best single campaign
A communication strategy and
programme covering a single issue
or topic.
2 Best change communication
A communication strategy
and programme supporting
organisational change including
mergers and acquisitions, crises
and cultural change.
3
Best multi-channel
communication
A communication strategy
and programme effectively
delivered through a diverse mix
of communication channels.Your
entry should include the reasons for
choosing a multi-channel approach
and evidence of its success.
4
Best evaluation and/
or measurement
Development or application of
skills, tools and systems to measure
outcomes and evaluate on-
going communication or specific
campaigns, channels or products.
Skills
Entries to Skills classes should
include a short biography of
the entrant(s). Supporting
information should be limited
to 500 words. All entries must
clearly state the purpose of the
communication and how the
entry met this.
5
Writing
Exceptional writing that informs,
educates, entertains or inspires
its audience. Could be a news
story or feature, policy / strategy
documents, online content
or facilitator guides / toolkits.
Anything where the writing
has played a key part in
achieving the internal
communication objective.
6 Print design
An exceptional piece of print
design that delivers clarity of
communication and captures
attention and imagination.
7
Electronic Digital design
An exceptional piece of
electronic and/or digital
design that delivers clarity of
communication and captures
attention and imagination.
8 Imagery
Photography, illustration or
graphics that have enhanced
internal communication
effectiveness.
People
Entries can be self-nominated
and are open to anyone working
in-house, for an agency or
freelance. It is recommended
that entries include a 250-word
testimonial from a senior in-house
manager or client.
9
Best editor
The entry should contain details
of how long the person has been
editing publications, either paper
or digital.The entry should also
contain details of the target
audience(s), how that influenced
the format, editorial goals
and objectives, challenges and
measurement. New editors are
particularly encouraged to enter.
10
In-house team of the year
The judges will look for
evidence of how the team has
made a strategic difference to their
organisation and how the impact
of its work was measured.

4. 11
Agency team of the year
The entry should contain a
description of the agency, the
challenges posed by clients, an
explanation of how the agency
adds value to its clients (e.g.
coaching, creativity, support,
best practice, evaluation, etc)
and a summary of how the
agency has contributed to its
clients’ success.
12 Freelancer/interim
of the year
Judges are looking for a mix of
great tactics and strategic input.
The entry should contain a brief
biography of the entrant, how long
they have been freelance/interim,
the challenges posed by clients,
and an explanation of how the
entrant adds value to their clients
(e.g. coaching, creativity, support,
best practice, evaluation, etc).
Print
All entries should show an
understanding of the audience
and the issues facing them and
demonstrate how this influenced
the choice of channel. Please
provide two copies of your entry,
which must be dated between
December 2014 and November
2015.The entry should show how
you have measured effectiveness.
Supporting information should be
limited to 500 words.
13
Magazine
Likely to have a pictorial cover
and include news and/or features.
Could be an ongoing magazine or
a new or re-launched one.
14
Newspaper / Newsletter
Likely to have a mix of news
and pictures on the front page.
Could be an ongoing newspaper/
newsletter or a new or
re-launched one.
15
Special publications
Either a special edition of a
regular publication or a one-off
publication.This category includes
publications that capture what
your organisation has achieved e.g.
an annual review or report.
16 Stakeholder publications
Publications for closed audiences
such as members, franchisees,
residents or people who have
signed up to receive them.You
should explain the nature of
your audience in your entry.
Publications that are available to
the general public are not eligible.
Electronic
Digital
Judges require sight of the strategy
and materials to support and
reflect the organisation’s use of
new channels to communicate
with employees or stakeholders.
Please provide a link or disc. Hard
copy print-outs are not acceptable.
17
Video/audio
18 Electronic media/newsletter
19 Website/intranet
20
Best use of social media
The Tom
Dawson Award
As well as the 20 classes listed
above, there is also the Tom
Dawson Award, a special award
made to the publication that, in
the opinion of the judges, is the
best of all the print channel class
winners.You cannot enter this
class, the award is made at the
discretion of the judges.
For full rules see www.ioic.org.uk

5. Join us to pick up your award at the IoIC Central North
Awards Dinner on Friday 26 February 2016.
IoIC Central North
Awards Dinner
26th February 2016
The event is taking place at the Leicester
Marriott Hotel. For venue details see:
http://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/travel/
emalm-leicester-marriott-hotel/
Tickets will be £80 plusVAT for IoIC members
and £100 plusVAT for non-members.
Bookings can be made by email to Brenda
Scott (brenda@ioic.org.uk). Places are
limited and will be allocated strictly on
a first come, first served basis.We have
been known to sell out so please hurry!
IoIC Central Region
Annual Seminar
This year we’ll be running a packed
half-day seminar on 26 February 2016,
immediately before the Awards.
Speakers will include some of the
country’s leading internal communication
and employee engagement experts,
who will be sharing their experience and
expertise to challenge and inform.
The seminar is always well-attended by
many of the region’s established and up
and coming communicators, so there’ll
be plenty of opportunity for you to
network with your fellow communication
practitioners, share challenges and
solutions and to contribute to top
class debate about the burning internal
communication issues of the day.
Save the date and look out for further
information coming soon!
If you’d like to know more, please get in
touch with Rich Baker, IoIC Central Region
Director at rich.baker@andpartnership.
com or 07545 128164.

6. Enteryourworkforan
IoICCentralNorthAwardofExcellence
www.ioic.org.uk Designed and produced by dogeatcog: www.dogeatcog.co.uk
Name of organisation entering
Contact name
Email address
Address
Contact telephone number
Title of entry
Who is it produced for?
Who is it produced by?
Class entered
Critique required? Yes No
IoIC member? Yes No
Cheque enclosed to the value of £
If you are lucky enough to win, please provide the details you would like to appear on the certificate:
Title of entry
Who is it produced for?
Who is it produced by?
IoIC Member Non-Member
Standard entry fee (for entries received on or before 21 Nov 2015) £40 + VAT (£48) £60 + VAT (£72)
Late entry fee (for entries received from 22 – 28 Nov 2015) £60 + VAT (£72) £85 + VAT (£102)
Additional fee for judge’s critique £30 + VAT (£36) £40 + VAT (£48)
Please provide two copies of this entry form for each class entered.