Judging Panel Process
The Awards are divided into three rounds, each with its specific criteria and objectives. These are explained in further detail below.
First Round: Shortlisting
To begin, all entrants must pay £19.99 per category to enter the Awards. The first round focuses on how clients perceive your business. Our account managers will review the feedback on your business’s social media pages or website, paying particular attention to customer ratings, reviews, and the overall client experience. We are looking for businesses that seamlessly integrate services and environment to deliver an exceptional customer experience from the moment clients arrive to the moment they leave. Based on these reviews, we will shortlist businesses for the next round.
Second Round: Judging
Once the shortlist has been created, all entrants will receive an email or call to notify them of their status. At this point, finalists will have the option to remain at the £19.99 Elite Package, or upgrade to one of the higher-tier packages to enhance their entry. The available upgraded packages are:
- Elite Package (£19.99): The base package, which includes a listing on our website, a showcase on our online ceremony, and a badge for social media.
- Diamond Package (£35.99): Includes everything in the Elite Package, plus a digital certificate, a free gift for your salon, and enhanced online promotion.
- Prestigious Package (£69.99): Includes everything in the Diamond Package, plus a professionally written write-up for your salon to be sent to the media, a personalised video presentation about your win, and a posted certificate.
- Ultra Prestigious Plus Package (£99.99): Includes everything in the Prestigious Package, plus a trophy and additional exclusive features to elevate your business’s visibility.
Finalists will need to compile a portfolio of supporting evidence for their business, which will be used by the judges to help determine the winners. At this stage, judges will assess the submitted evidence against predefined criteria.
Judges will focus on aspects such as innovation, professionalism, customer service, client retention, and market understanding, among others. It is important to note that any client testimonials or reviews used within your portfolio should ideally come from credible public domains (e.g., social media or booking systems). While reviews are important, judges are reminded to consider the merits of each portfolio, independent of potential bias or fake reviews.
The judging process is based on the evidence submitted, which accounts for up to 95% of the final score. Late submissions will not be considered.
Third Round: Final Judging
In the final round, judges will independently score each finalist based on the predefined criteria. There will be five judges on the panel, and they will submit their scores to the organising team, who will then calculate the total score from all judges. The finalist with the highest overall score will be announced as the winner in their respective category.
All finalists will be guaranteed an award of either Bronze, Silver, or Gold. These titles are determined by the final scores and ranking in the category. The award received (Bronze, Silver, or Gold) will be based on their performance, regardless of the package selected.
Additionally, finalists who have chosen the Prestigious Package or Ultra Prestigious Plus Package will receive exclusive benefits, including everything from the Prestigious Package plus a trophy as part of the Ultra Prestigious Plus Package.
All finalists will be invited to participate in our online awards ceremony, where they will be showcased, and the Bronze, Silver, and Gold winners will be revealed. Regardless of which package was chosen, all finalists will be featured in the ceremony.
Categories that are sponsored will have a dedicated judge who will assess the entries based on the predefined criteria.
Exclusive Winners’ Benefits
As part of the recognition for your hard work and success, all winners will gain access to our exclusive online shop. Here, you can purchase a range of retail and merchandise options, such as trophies, medals, banners, and stickers, allowing you to proudly showcase your prestigious win. Whether you want to display your success in your salon or share it with your community, these items will help you celebrate and promote your award in style.
Important Notice About Package Upgrades:
If you choose to upgrade your package after the finalist stage, the price of the upgrade will be reduced by the £19.99 you have already paid. For example, if you select the Diamond Package (£35.99), you will only be required to pay £16.00 to complete your upgrade. This applies to all upgraded packages, so you’ll only pay the difference between the package price and the £19.99 already paid.
This also applies to Early Bird upgrades. If you take advantage of the Early Bird offer, the amount paid for your £19.99 entry fee will be deducted from the Early Bird package price.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]