The A-Z of Awards
Phil Stock
Marketing Manager, Boost Awards
The world of unusual awards, niche awards & weird awards
The awards sector is booming with literally thousands of award schemes taking place around the world each year. Our free list of business awards contains over 5,000 active listings and is still growing! Whilst you’ve no doubt heard of the industry heavy-hitters such as The King’s Awards for Enterprise, Employee Benefits Awards, HR Excellence Awards or The UK IT Awards, there’s a plethora of obscure and incredibly niche ones too. Welcome to the A to Z of awards.
In this article, we’re going to showcase some of the more weird and wonderful awards of the world. From the most unusual yet fantastical sheds, to the Otter Oscars and awards for simply being quiet. That is without even starting to mention the most niche industry awards. Do you excel within the valve industry? Are you innovators of aerosols or pushing the boundaries in the world of potato production? I hope to show that there really is an award for everything.
Ladies and Gentlemen, the award for most unusual award goes to…
A is for… The Awards Awards
That’s right, awards are so popular these days that there’s an award for award organisers! This scheme recognises the teams behind the scenes that make the various award schemes run smoothly, with categories such as Best Awards Venue and Best Catering at an Awards (Event). Whilst this may seem incredibly ‘meta’, the purpose of the scheme is to recognise and reward quality in the industry – a pursuit that we support. Now, the only question that remains is… Can the Awards Awards enter the Awards Awards if the Awards Awards award awards?
B is for… The WhichBingo Awards
While Bingo may have been associated with smoke-filled, crumbling edge-of-town venues and OAPs in the past, the advent of online gambling sites has introduced the game to a whole new audience and given the industry a fresh lease of life. These awards recognise those firms excelling in the bingo industry, from Best Online Site, to Best Customer Service and Best Online Bingo Community. It may not be your cup of tea, but Bingo is a significant contributor to the UK’s £13.7 billion total gross gambling yield.
C is for… The British Curry Awards
Everyone loves a curry and this award means business, having attracted top-level speakers to its ceremony including David Cameron and Theresa May (who has been said to enjoy a good biriyani). Impressive!
D is for… The Dope Industry Awards
Dope/ skunk/ weed/ hash, it has many names and now it has its own award scheme! It may sound weird for those of us in the UK where cannabis remains a Class B illegal substance, but in the US, where the drug has been decriminalised in many states, this is a major business milestone. Leaders in the industry hope to win such accolades as Best Product Packaging, Best Budtender and Best Cannabis Store Atmosphere.
The fastest milkman in the west?
E is for… The Ernie Awards
Unlike most awards, you really don’t want to win an Ernie, particularly if you are an Australian man. These awards recognise the most sexist comments made by Australian leading figures (in politics, media, sports, judicial and so on). Previous winners(?) have included the Prime Minister and Rolf Harris. Oh dear.
F is for… The Good Funeral Awards
The self-proclaimed ‘Oscars of the UK funeral industry’ doesn’t take itself too seriously – trophies are in the shape of the Egyptian god of death, Anubis, which are then packaged in cardboard coffins. It may be quirky, but it earnestly celebrates the people and companies doing ‘outstanding work for the bereaved’.
G is for… Golden Peacock Awards
Sadly, this award is not a celebration of the extravagant national bird of India as the name might suggest, but rather an international business award scheme run by the Delhi branch of the Institute of Directors.
H is for… The Hammers
Another misleadingly named award. Nothing to do with West Ham football club, The Hammers are in fact a construction industry accolade – specifically an award for the construction computing industry. Because why call a spade a spade, when you can call it a hammer!
I is for… The Irish Whiskey Awards
Not only does Ireland produce great whiskey, it has an entire awards ceremony devoted to it. With 19 categories including Best Irish Gin and Best Irish Vodka – it’s an important event in the Irish Spirit Industry calendar. Cheers!
“The Good Funeral Awards openly embraces a good sense of humour, happy to point out the ‘stiff competition’ entrants face”
Laughing at the competition
J is for… Joke of the Year
Comedy channel Dave annually awards the best joke of the Edinburgh Fringe with a trophy. Previous year’s winners include Ken Cheng: “I’m not a fan of the new pound coin, but then again, I hate all change.” Awards might be serious to a lot of people, but these ones are literally a joke!
K is for… The British Kebab Awards
An entire evening devoted to Kebabs? It sounds like a uni student’s dream. Categories range from regional Best Kebab Shops and Best Takeaway to Fine Dining! Chicken shish for me, please.
L is for… Loo of the Year Awards
An award for toilets. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen. Loos. The Loo of the Year Awards does exactly what it says on the tin and recognises the cleanest, most accessible and well-equipped toilets in the UK. But don’t expect any toilet humour here, these awards are very important for those in the hospitality, cleaning and facilities management sectors!
M is for… The Mudstacle Awards
The Mudstacle Awards is a ceremony which celebrates obstacle course races such as Tough Mudder, The Nuclear Challenge Cup and Spartan Race. Not my idea of a fun weekend (I’d rather be eating that aforementioned kebab), but if my Instagram feed is anything to go by – there’s a growing market for it.
Did Mary Poppins win awards?
N is for… Nanny of the Year Awards
The Nanny of the Year Awards is organised by the International Nanny Association and recognises the achievements of a single, outstanding Nanny. Mary Poppins, eat your heart out.
O is for… The Otter Oscars
Unlike the Golden Peacock Awards, The Otter Oscars do in fact have something to do with their zoological namesake. Sadly, it doesn’t involve otters in tuxedos, as I was secretly hoping, but instead is an award to celebrate people who have made outstanding contributions to otter conservation.
P is for… British Parking Awards
Have you ever seen a parking enforcement officer and thought to yourself, ‘that person is doing such a jolly good job, they deserve an award’? No? Well, it turns out The British Parking Awards is designed to do just that; recognising leading examples of car park management and enforcement in the UK. I told you there was an award for everything.
Q is for… Quiet Awards
The Quiet Mark is an award associated with the UK Noise Abatement Society (it was established by the founder’s granddaughter) and recognises quiet products, from power tools to washing machines. If you like the idea of calm in the kitchen, or serenity in the study – it might be worth investigating the Quiet Awards!
R is for… Roast Dinner Awards
The Morning Advertiser (one of the main magazines for the British pub trade) runs an annual Roast Dinner Award to find the best roast in the UK. What makes an award-winning roast? “Yorkshire puddings like savoury clouds” according to food critic Charles Campion.
“The standing ovation at this year’s Otter Oscars…”
“…didn’t go down well with the Quiet Awards”
Meanwhile, down at the bottom of the garden…
S is for… Shed of the Year Awards
It’s a well-known fact that some people (and I’m mainly talking about middle-aged men, here) really love their sheds. From back-garden pubs to elaborate tree houses, the entries for Shed of the Year are all clearly works of passion. Last year’s winner was a mushroom shaped treehouse. Each to their own!
T is for… National Tribute Awards
The most amazing thing about the National Tribute Awards (and there are many) has to be the stage names of the entrants. While many of the acts seem to have opted for a slight misspelling of the band or artist they are impersonating, such as the BlackEyedPeaZ or Killerz, others have gone for a more creative approach. Rogue Minogue, Oasish and Little Fix were 2017 highlights.
U is for… The Undies
If sheds, toilets and kebabs can have their own awards, then so can underwear. The Undies recognises the best pants in the business – so if you’re in the market for some award-winning knickers, you know where to go.
V is for… The Vendies
Vending machines. Yes, even vending machines have awards. The Vendies celebrate machine innovation, new products, payment systems and the engineers who service the machines themselves.
Scouting for success
W is for… The Golden Woggle Awards
Unless you were a particularly outdoorsy child, you’d be forgiven for not knowing what a ‘woggle’ is, or indeed wondering what on earth these awards are all about. As it turns out, woggles are the little leather or plastic scarf rings worn by Scouts and Guides. The Golden Woggle Awards are designed to acknowledge volunteers to the Scouts, specifically.
X is for… XAwards
Out of context, the X in XAwards feels like it could stand for pretty much anything; ‘extreme’, or even ‘x-rated’, but what it really stands for is ‘experience’. These pan-European awards seek to identify exemplary digital experiences at start-ups and reward them with financial prizes.
Y is for… Young Magician of the Year
The Magic Circle (or as I like to imagine it, Fight Club with wands, bunnies and top hats) bi-annually names one person their Young Magician of the Year. Disappointingly, it seems the first girl wasn’t crowned until 2015 – more magic please, ladies!
Z is for… The Zebra Awards
Does this award have anything to do with zebras? No, no it does not. Rather, this American initiative recognises photographers working in the black and white medium (hence the zebra reference).
“Gandalf cried ‘ageism’ as he was overlooked again at Young Magician of the Year”
Boost – a helping hand entering awards
If there’s an industry for it, there’s an award, but remember – not all awards are created equal. If you need advice on how to identify the most strategic awards for your business and sector, or which might best support your objectives, get in touch. With over 2,000 wins under our belt, we’re in the perfect position to help.
Tel: 01273 258703 Email: info@boost-awards.co.uk
(C) This article was written by Phillip Stock and is the intellectual property of award entry consultants Boost Awards
Boost – a helping hand entering awards
If there’s an industry for it, there’s an award, but remember – not all awards are created equal. If you need advice on how to identify the most strategic awards for your business and sector, or which might best support your objectives, get in touch. With over 2,000 wins under our belt, we’re in the perfect position to help.
Tel: 01273 258703 Email: info@boost-awards.co.uk
(C) This article was written by Phil Stock and is the intellectual property of award entry consultants Boost Awards
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