Entry guidelines
Our awards are very simple to enter and are open to all members of staff, students, alumni (see specific categories) and external partners (for the outstanding public contribution category).
The information below will help you to prepare your entry. Here is a template entry form, if you wish to prepare your answers offline/before completing the online entry form.
What is the deadline?
The deadline for entry was midnight on 16 January 2023.
How do I submit an entry?
All entries must be submitted via the online entry form.
Please read the guidelines below before you submit your entry.
The 2023 Awards are now closed for entries.
Guidelines
What should be included on the entry form?
We suggest that you prepare your entry before completing the online form. When completing the online form, you will be prompted to provide the following:
- Contact details.
- Whether the entry is a self-nomination or you are nominating someone else.
- Mapping any of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that your project or initiative addresses. See our SDG pages for inspiration and further information about the goals.
- The social responsibility strategic priority that your project or initiative addresses. Details of the social responsibility strategic themes can be found on the social responsibility website.
- A 100-word overview of the project or initiative.
- A description (no more than 250 words). This should include the purpose and aims of the initiative and an outline of the activities that took place. Please carefully read and address the specific criteria for the category you are entering.
- 150 words describing the impact of the project or initiative. This should include evidence of the outcomes and impact of the initiative (making reference to timescale and current status; any external recognition received, and quantitative and qualitative data if appropriate). Please carefully read and address the specific criteria for the category you are entering.
- For marketing purposes, we also ask for the names and contact details of two people who we can contact for further information about this project/initiative if required. These should not be people who have been directly involved in the project/initiative, but someone who can speak knowledgeably about it.
- You are also asked to provide up to three optional links to visual material, either photographs or films, about your initiative. These will not be used as part of the judging process, but may be used for marketing purposes if you are shortlisted.
How much do I need to write to enter?
The submission text allows for up to 500 words in total. These should specifically address the key criteria set out for the relevant category.
If more than 250 in the description section and 150 words in the impact section words are submitted, the judges will disregard any additional words.
You will need to complete the form in one sitting and click ‘Submit’ to save and submit the nomination.
We suggest you prepare your 500-word submission before you complete the form, addressing the specific criteria for your category.
What timescales do the awards cover?
All of our awards are open to current members of staff and students of the University. In addition:
- Recent graduates/alumni can also apply for the following award categories:
- Outstanding contribution to social innovation and environmental impact through enterprise
- Outstanding contribution to widening participation
- Outstanding contributing to environmental sustainability
- Outstanding contribution to equality, diversity and inclusion
- Volunteer of the Year.
Further details for alumni entries can be found under each specific award category.
- Staff and students can nominate external partners (excluding alumni and members of the Board of Governors or General Assembly of the University) in the outstanding public contribution category (for external partners) category.
Please note that where the focus for staff, students and alumni has been in a voluntary capacity, you would normally be expected to enter the Volunteer of the Year Awards, which has a separate entry process.
If your entry relates to an initiative carried out in collaboration with another institution or organisation, the submission should come from the member of staff or a student from The University of Manchester. If you are successful, we will give credit to partner institutions and organisations at the awards ceremony where appropriate.
Individuals or teams can nominate themselves or be nominated by others (for example, by a colleague, manager, tutor, external partner).
If you are nominating somebody else, please inform the person of the nomination, as all entrants will receive correspondence from the Office of Social Responsibility informing them of the outcome of their entry.
Nominations are welcome from partners or colleagues outside of the University. However, they must be for a current member of staff or current student (barring those exceptions above).
Who can enter?
All of our awards are open to current members of staff and students of the University. In addition:
- Recent graduates/alumni can also apply for the following award categories:
- outstanding social innovation and environmental impact through enterprise award;
- outstanding contribution to environmental sustainability awards;
- outstanding contribution to widening participation award.
- Staff and students can nominate external partners (excluding alumni and members of the Board of Governors or General Assembly of the University) in the outstanding public and community engagement category (for external partners) category.
Please note that where the focus for staff, students and alumni has been in a voluntary capacity, you would normally be expected to enter the Volunteer of the Year Awards, which has a separate entry process.
If your entry relates to an initiative carried out in collaboration with another institution or organisation, the submission should come from the member of staff or a student from The University of Manchester. If you are successful, we will give credit to partner institutions and organisations at the awards ceremony where appropriate.
Individuals or teams can nominate themselves or be nominated by others (for example, by a colleague, manager, tutor, external partner).
If you are nominating somebody else, please inform the person of the nomination, as all entrants will receive correspondence from the Office of Social Responsibility informing them of the outcome of their entry.
Nominations are welcome from partners or colleagues outside of the University. However, they must be for a current member of staff or current student (barring those exceptions above).
Is there a cost to enter?
No, submissions for entry are free.
Do I need to submit supporting materials?
We do not require any supporting material as part of the entry. Any supporting materials submitted with the entry will not be considered as part of the judging process. However, you are asked to provide up to three optional links to visual material, either photographs or films, about your initiative. These will not be used as part of the judging process, but may be used for marketing purposes if you are shortlisted.
The judging will be solely based on the 500 words included in the main section of the entry form.
How do I ensure I write a good entry?
When preparing your submission please review and specifically address the award criteria. Ensure that your submission contains sufficient evidence of how you meet the criteria. This can include relevant facts and figures where appropriate.
We suggest you read the ‘Tips for entering the Making a Difference Awards‘ before you start your entry.
When will I find out if I have been successful?
The shortlist of entries will be published in March 2023. The winners and highly commended will be announced at the Awards ceremony on 9 May 2023.
Can previous winners apply?
Previous winners can enter in the same category again if there has been a substantial change or development in the project, or if you are entering for a different project or initiative.
Previous entrants (highly commended or commended) are very welcome to submit an entry, particularly where there is evidence of additional reach and impact.
Can I enter more than one category?
Entrants are asked to submit only one entry for a specific project or initiative per category. Submitting multiple entries into one category will not provide any advantage. Entrants are still able to submit entries for different projects or different initiatives in different categories.
All entries should address the specific judging criteria for the category that is being entered.
You may submit more than one entry per category when initiatives are distinctive and unrelated. Otherwise, it is advisable to combine the best elements of each into a stronger single entry.
What if my contact details change?
The contact details you provide in your entry form will be used throughout the awards process. If these details change after the form has been submitted, please send your new contact information by email to socialresponsibility@manchester.ac.uk.
Supplying additional information
If you are aware of you/or the nominee being part of any investigation, please discuss this with the Director of Social Responsibility before submitting your entry.
Will you use information in my application for publicity purposes?
By submitting an application form, you are agreeing for any information about your initiative to be used by the University in publicity materials.
Getting in touch
Please contact us if you have any general questions or queries about the awards.