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Trade Association Best Practice Awards 2022
Thursday 17th February 2022 – Drapers Hall, London
We are delighted to welcome back the Trade Association Best Practice Awards in 2022 after a two year absence enforced by the Covid-19 pandemic. The awards are the UK’s leading awards for trade associations by trade associations, recognising, rewarding and promoting best practice and innovation across the sector.
Receiving a Best Practice Award will mean your organisation has the kudos of being an award-winning organisation. On top of that, it is an excellent opportunity to showcase your organisation and its expertise among your contemporaries and encourage others to follow your lead on running a successful organisation which focuses on members’ needs.
By entering, you can benchmark your organisation against other UK trade associations, sharpen the focus of your organisation and its activities, learn from trade association best practice and motivate and reward your colleagues.
The categories for 2022
For 2022 we have introduced three categories of awards, recognising the activities associations undertake to:
- Engage with their members and other stakeholders
- Improve standards across their people, operations and processes
- Lead their association or the sector as a whole
Engage
The engage awards recognise excellence in engaging and communicating with your members, your sector and other stakeholders.
Publication of the Year – 750 word limit – sponsored by the Railway Industry Association
The judges will be looking for any publication produced by or on behalf of a trade association which most engages and serves the needs of its readers. The publication, which may take any form, should be interesting and appropriate for its purpose, promote the sector and offer excellent value for money. Design, content and ease of use will be considered.
Your submission should state why your association deserves to win this award and must include full details of the intended audience and distribution method together with details of the aim and purpose of the publication.
Electronic copies of the publication must also be included. If you wish to submit hard copies in addition, please contact Secretariat@taforum.org
Please ensure electronic copies of a full budget giving details of the costs and revenue generated by the publication are also submitted as well as feedback from the readers and any other relevant supporting documentation.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Event of the Year Award – 750 word limit – sponsored by RD Mobile
The judges will be looking for an outstanding event run by an association, either physically in the UK or overseas, or online due to Covid restrictions, which will have included particularly relevant and informative content specific to the audience.
The event, which may be held in conjunction with another event, will make innovative use of technology and have attracted exceptional attendee feedback as well as have a proven financial return. Your submission should state clearly why your association deserves to win this award and must include details on the content along with information on the value of any business generated together with growth trends.
Please ensure electronic copies of a full budget for the event giving details of the costs and financial return is also submitted as well as a copy of the event programme/agenda, delegate list, marketing material, feedback and accompanying data on key success factors. This data must include the number of attendees.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Sector Representation of the Year – 750 word limit – sponsored by BEIS
The BEIS vision is to build a stronger, greener future by fighting coronavirus, tackling climate change, unleashing innovation and making the UK a great place to work and do business.
From 2021 to 2022 our priorities will be:
- fight coronavirus by helping businesses to bounce back from the impacts of COVID-19, supporting a safe return to the workplace and accelerating the development and manufacture of a vaccine
- tackle climate change: reduce UK greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2050
- unleash innovation and accelerate science and technology throughout the country to increase productivity and UK global influence
- back long-term growth: boost enterprise by making the UK the best place in the world to start and grow a business
Trade associations are key partners in the BEIS strategy to help businesses succeed. They are a powerful voice in leading, championing and celebrating their sectors. They provide an important two-way channel of communication with the government, representing their member’s needs and aspirations and ensuring these are reflected as far as possible in public policy.
This award will be given to a Trade association or an alliance of trade associations that, in the opinion of the judges, has led the best representative action for their sector at any time from January 2019 until July 2021.
The winning entry will showcase a successful initiative by a trade association to tackle an issue of importance to the future prosperity and growth of its members.
BEIS is looking for evidence of effective partnership working which has harnessed the will and power of the sector to deliver something of importance both to the sector and Government priorities. The winning entry will also demonstrate innovation and good practice in managing relationships with government and other stakeholders to achieve the desired outcome.
Your submission should explain why your association deserves to win the award and must include details of the background for the initiative and information on the challenges which were overcome as a result of your activities.
Please ensure electronic copies of a full budget for the campaign are included as well as a copy of any documentation or literature produced as part of the initiative. This may include press releases, brochures and other relevant supporting documentation.
Membership Engagement Award – 750 word limit – sponsored by iFinity
The judges will give this award to an association which in the opinion of the judges, has clearly demonstrated a proactive initiative either during or culminating in the period January 2019 until July 2021, that has clearly demonstrated an increased level of membership engagement.
This may cover levels of activity and effort invested by your membership (which may include, for example, time spent on your website or the number of training sessions attended in the past year), or an insight into how well your members are aware of and perceive your activities and how you meet their needs. This initiative will have demonstrated a significant increase in the number of members joining or may have significantly stemmed an outflow of members against previous years.
Your submission should state clearly why your association deserves to win this award and must include full membership data showing the effect of the initiative. Membership statistics and a comparison against the previous two years must be included together with details on new members and the number of resignations/terminations as well as a full analysis of trends.
Please ensure electronic copies of a full budget for the initiative is submitted giving details of the costs and financial return on the investment.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Campaign of the Year – 750 word limit – sponsored by Vuelio
The judges will be looking for any marketing, PR or social media campaign or communication produced by or on behalf of a trade association which, in their opinion, clearly demonstrates an excellent use of their chosen method of delivery to achieve their objective.
This campaign or communication may involve members and/or non-members and offer good value for money.
This may be for a campaign or a specific issue or perhaps for a sustained series of communications, either by electronic or other means.
Your submission should state clearly why your association deserves to win this award and must include information on the purpose, basis and frequency of the communication in the campaign together with evidence of the impact/benefit this may have had on members/non-members of your organisation.
If applicable, information on the level of traffic to your website should be included together with details of any linked websites which are relevant.
Please ensure electronic copies of a budget with full details of the costs and revenues for the campaign is also submitted as well as copies of the campaign materials and/or communications which may have been sent.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Improve
The Improve awards recognise associations who are driving standards in their people, operations and processes.
Corporate Social Responsibility Award – 750 word limit – sponsored by Goldcrest Events
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a process which aims to embrace responsibility for an organisation’s actions and encourages a positive impact through its activities on the members of the public. This award will be given to a trade association which has clearly demonstrated an outstanding and successful charity or CSR campaign across any aspect of social responsibility.
This may also benefit the sector they represent and/or other sectors but will have had the most beneficial impact on the public at large.
Your submission should explain why your association deserves to win this award and must explain the issues the initiative was designed to address and provide evidence on the positive social impact the initiative had.
Where possible, details on the reaction of external observers should also be provided and you should ensure a copy of the initiative documentation and any other supporting material is included.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Sustainability Initiative of the Year – 750 word limit – sponsored by CBI Economics
This award recognises the Association that has supported its members, or its sector to effectively deliver sustainability improvements and contribute to the UK’s path towards Net Zero.
Judges will be looking for initiatives that have been driven by Associations that have reduced the negative impact of business on the environment and that support the UK to meet its international sustainability commitments.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Digital Innovation of the Year – 750 word limit – sponsored by Silverbear
This award recognises excellence in digital innovation in any aspect of your trade association’s activities.
The past two years have been extremely challenging for Trade Associations and their members who have had to transform and innovate at pace and scale to continue to deliver the services and support that members have needed.
Judges will be looking for examples of digital innovation across all areas of Trade Association activity, particularly where associations have innovated, moved services online or achieved commercial success through new digital initiatives.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Good Governance Award – 750 word limit – sponsored by Bates Wells
This award will be given to a trade association whose board has, in the judges’ opinion, demonstrated a clear commitment to the core principles of good governance (diligence & control, transparency, responsiveness, consensus oriented, equality & inclusivity, effectiveness & efficiency, accountability, integrity, and participatory) by creating a culture of board excellence, which in turn has resulted in a positive impact on the association’s strategic or operational development, members’ experience and/or the profession which the association represents.
Good governance is fundamental to the success of any organisation, and a trade association is best placed to fulfil its mission and deliver its plans if effective governance structures, practices and protocol are in place. This requires boards to observe both the mechanics and the dynamics of good governance, i.e. to recognise the value of having in place both practical procedures and positive relationships for governing.
Your submission should state clearly why your association deserves to win this award and must clearly demonstrate the positive impact of good governance on the organisation. This may be measured through a variety of ways, such as improved financial performance, new partnerships, enhanced member benefits, an empowered staff base, or an increased influence with local or national policymakers.
The judges will be looking for an explicit link between the board’s governing style, structures and processes, and the organisation’s demonstrable impact(s).
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Skills Development Award – 750 word limit – Sponsored by NAPIT
The judges will be looking for a demonstration of where a membership organisation has supported their members and their industry with skills development priorities.
Your submission should provide clear evidence of where your organisation has engaged with conversations around the skills agenda and how you have supported the development of solutions to support the skills development priorities that have been identified as a result of these conversations.
Examples of best practice in sourcing funding to support development, apprenticeship and trailblazer schemes, building relationships with Local Enterprise Partnerships, local authorities, politicians, schools, further education colleges, private training providers and union learning may all be considered.
Your submission should state clearly why your association deserves to win this award and must include electronic copies of a full budget for the activity as well as details of the positive impact these activities have had on your industry. Where possible, details on the reaction from your industry should also be provided.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Lead
The Lead awards recognise associations and individuals who show leadership for their association and for our sector as a whole.
Crisis Management – Covid Member Support – 750 word limit – sponsored by QANW
The judges will be looking for a trade association that during the unprecedented impact Covid-19, has moved quickly and effectively to safeguard and support their members and/or the wider sector the association represents.
Please demonstrate the key services, products or events you put in place for your members including how these were communicated. In your submission you should include evidence of member use of the resources you have provided and the impact they have had for your members. Statistics and testimonials would help the judges assess the impact.
This category would also include financial support provided to members for example: payment holidays, extension of subs, discounts, subsidies or waiving normal fees for events or training as long as the impact of these can be supported by evidence.
Your submission should state clearly why your association deserves to win this award and must clearly demonstrate the positive impact your association has made to your members throughout the pandemic.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Crisis Management – Covid Member Support – 750 word limit – sponsored by QANW
The judges will be looking for a trade association that during the unprecedented impact Covid-19, has moved quickly and effectively to safeguard and support their members and/or the wider sector the association represents.
Please demonstrate the key services, products or events you put in place for your members including how these were communicated. In your submission you should include evidence of member use of the resources you have provided and the impact they have had for your members. Statistics and testimonials would help the judges assess the impact.
This category would also include financial support provided to members for example: payment holidays, extension of subs, discounts, subsidies or waiving normal fees for events or training as long as the impact of these can be supported by evidence.
Your submission should state clearly why your association deserves to win this award and must clearly demonstrate the positive impact your association has made to your members throughout the pandemic.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Diversity and Inclusion Award – 750 word limit – sponsored by Membership bespoke
The judges will be looking for a trade association that has shown a recognised commitment to creating and applying a greater awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion. This will be by clearly demonstrating your organisation’s appreciation of all staff, volunteers, members and other stakeholders by helping encourage positive working, enhanced engagement and commitment and the strengthening of relationships throughout the association.
The period of eligibility is from January 2019 until July 2021 and eligible initiatives may include, but are not limited to:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Mental health
- Pregnancy and parental rights
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sexual orientation
Your submission should clearly state why your association deserves to win this award. You must provide clear evidence of the positive impact the initiative has had along with your plans for future enhancement, if relevant. Where possible, details on the reaction of external observers should also be provided and you should ensure that a copy of the initiative documentation, budgetary information, and any other supporting material is included.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Young Achiever of the Year – 750 word limit – sponsored by the Brick Development Association
The judges will be looking for any exceptional individual under the age of 35 within their association or a member of their association. Within the submission, please provide full details of who is making the nomination and why. Please submit a summary describing the nominee’s work and a statement which addresses the following:
- Effectiveness – Please describe your nominee’s track record of effectiveness in overcoming problems which are faced by your association or sector ensuring specific examples are included.
- Innovation – Please describe how your nominee’s work demonstrates a leap in creativity or particular inventiveness. How does their work differ from traditional approaches?
- Impact – Please describe the impact and unique differences exercised by your nominee in their effort(s) described in a) and b) above.
- Relevance – Briefly discuss the difficulties which may have been addressed by your nominee and their importance to your association and its represented sector’s future.
- Inclusiveness – Please describe the constituencies with which the nominee works, providing specific examples of how the nominee has brought together people with differing points of view and/or backgrounds.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
The Miles Smith Insurance Group Leadership Award – 750 word limit
The judges will be looking for an exceptional leader within their association. Within the submission, please provide full details of who is making the nomination and why. Please submit a summary describing the nominee’s work and a statement which addresses the following:
- Effectiveness – Please describe your nominee’s track record of effectiveness in overcoming problems which are faced by your association or sector ensuring specific examples are included.
- Innovation – Please describe how your nominee’s work demonstrates a leap in creativity or particular inventiveness. How does their work differ from traditional approaches?
- Impact – Please describe the impact and unique differences exercised by your nominee in their effort(s) described in a) and b) above.
- Relevance – Briefly discuss the difficulties which may have been addressed by your nominee and their importance to your association and its represented sector’s future.
- Inclusiveness – Please describe the constituencies with which the nominee works, providing specific examples of how the nominee has brought together people with differing points of view and/or backgrounds.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
The Miles Smith Insurance Group Outstanding Contribution Award – 750 word limit
The judges will be looking for an exceptional individual within their association or a member of their association. They may be a member of staff or a volunteer who has been involved proactively with your association’s activities. Within your submission, please provide full details of who is making the nomination and why. Please submit a summary describing the nominee’s work and a statement which addresses the following:
- Effectiveness – Please describe your nominees’ track record of effectiveness in overcoming problems which are faced by your association or sector ensuring that specific examples are provided.
- Innovation – Please describe how your nominee’s work demonstrated a leap in creativity or particular inventiveness. How does their work depart from traditional approaches to difficulties?
- Impact – Please describe the impact and unique differences exercised by your nominee in their effort(s) described in a) and b) above.
- Relevance – Briefly discuss the difficulties which may have been addressed by your nominee and their importance to your association and its represented sector’s future.
- Inclusiveness – Please describe the constituencies with which the Nominee works, providing specific examples of how the nominee has brought together people with differing points of view and/or backgrounds.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Trade Association of the Year 2022 – 750 word limit
This award will be given to a trade association which has clearly demonstrated great success over one or more areas covered by the other categories and is the judges’ gift. However, consideration will be given to other nominations. Within the nominating submission please address the following:
- Effectiveness – Please describe the association’s track record of effectiveness over a range of issues in overcoming problems which are faced, providing specific examples.
- Innovation – Please describe how the association demonstrates particular inventiveness, which may or may not be in the face of adversity.
- Impact – Please describe the positive impact and unique differences exercised by the association in the effort(s) described in a) and b) above.
- Relevance – Briefly discuss the difficulties which may have been addressed by the association’s work and its importance to the represented sector’s future.
Please ensure that you include a copy of the published accounts for the current and previous year and a copy of the business plan or strategy document as agreed by the governing body as well as evidential supporting documentation.
Please submit your entry via the submission form. If you are including supporting documentation with you entry, please send it by email with the award category and organisation making the submission in the email title to Secretariat@taforum.org
Why enter?
The Trade Association Best Practice Awards are the only awards for trade associations, run by and judged by trade associations, celebrating the very best of our sector.
These industry-recognised awards are supported by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) which is a longstanding member of our independent final judging panel. The Best Practice Awards contribute to the success of trade associations and their staff at all levels within the trade association world and help bring them closer to fulfilling their goals, as well as contributing to their learning and development opportunities.
Receiving a Best Practice Award will mean your organisation has the kudos of being an award-winning organisation. On top of that, it is an excellent opportunity to showcase your organisation and its expertise among your contemporaries and encourage others to follow your lead on running a successful organisation which focuses on members’ needs.
By entering, you can benchmark your organisation against other UK trade associations, sharpen the focus of your organisation and its activities, learn from trade association best practice and motivate and reward your colleagues.
Your success will initially be shared with guests from the UK’s premier trade associations at the awards evening on Thursday 17 February 2022 at the stunning Drapers’ Hall, in London, and then promoted through press releases, the TAF website and social media channels to ensure your excellence is recognised.
Timeline and fees
- Entries open: 18/10/21
- Early bird entry fee (received on or before 05/11/21) - TAF Member: £100 (ex VAT) / Non-member: £150 (ex VAT)
- Normal entry fee - TAF Member: £125 (ex VAT) / Non-member: £200 (ex VAT)
- Submission deadline: 5pm on 26/11/21
- Entry payment deadline: 03/12/21
- Shortlist announced: mid-December 2021
- Awards night: 17th February 2022
Our Sponsors
Headline Sponsors:
Miles Smith are a London based broker who provide direct and immediate access to the Lloyd’s and the London Market.
We have a range of highly sophisticated products, many of which are market leading and exclusive, and we are experts in placing risks open market.
Our specialist teams are highly experienced and provide advice and insight into your distressed risks, enabling you to provide enhanced cover for your clients, particularly in areas where standard cover may not suffice.
Find out more: http://milessmith.co.uk/
Vuelio helps organisations make their story matter by providing monitoring, insight, engagement and evaluation tools for politics, editorial and social media in one place.
Our technology is used by more 3,000 organisations across the world, from large enterprises and communications agencies to public sector bodies and not-for-profits.
Find out more: https://www.vuelio.com/uk/
Established in 1994, QANW is one of the UK’s leading providers of Insurance Backed Guarantees and Deposit Protection Insurance.
QANW offers deposit protection insurance and Insurance Backed Guarantees, giving vital protection to consumers, before any project work begins and for ten years after the works has been completed, should the company ceases trading and are unable to honour their written guarantee. Our policies are available for both domestic and commercial installations.
Find out more: https://www.qanw.co.uk/
Category sponsors:
Judges
The Trade Association Best Practice Awards are judged by an illustrious panel of leaders from across the trade association sector.
Meet our judges below:
The Big Night
The awards take place on Thursday 17th February 2022 at Drapers Hall in central London.
150 leading figures from the association world will be in attendance, offering great opportunities for networking and celebration.
All tickets include a drinks reception, 3-course meal, half a bottle of wine per person, an unforgettable awards ceremony and great opportunities to network with your peers.
Tickets are being sold on a first come, first served basis so do book early to avoid disappointment!
Dress code
- Dress to impress
Order of proceedings
- 18.30: Drinks Reception
- 19.15: Call to Dinner
- 19.30: Dinner & Awards Presentation
- 22.00: Bar Opens for Post Awards Drinks Reception (contactless payments only)
- 23:00: Bar Closes
- 23:45: Carriages
Timings are subject to change
Location
Drapers Hall is the livery hall of the Drapers’ Company, one of the City Of London’s Livery companies, which was formed in 1361.
The Company has owned the site since 1543, though it has been rebuilt twice – once after the Great Fire of London and once after another fire in 1772.
The Hall is a prestigious and famous venue in the city of London, and is regularly used for film locations, including blockbusters such as The King’s Speech and GoldenEye.
Getting there
Drapers Hall is situated in the City of London on Throgmorton Avenue, EC2N 2DQ.
If you are travelling by public transport, the Hall is a short walk from Bank (3 mins) or Liverpool Street (6 mins) underground stations.
Covid-19 policy
The safety of everyone attending the event is our highest priority and every effort will be made to make sure the event is Covid-secure.
To protect everyone we are asking all attendees, regardless of vaccination status, to:
- To take a lateral flow test on the day of the event (and provide evidence of the negative result on arrival at the event)
- Attendees must not attend if they are feeling unwell
- Attendees must leave immediately should they develop COVID-19 symptoms during the event
- To be always considerate to those around them and respectful of all safety measures
The venue and organisers are also taking all reasonable precautions, including:
- Frequent and enhanced cleaning of public areas, toilets, and touch points around the venue
- Hand sanitiser and/or hand washing facilities throughout the venue
- Paperless ticketing with all tickets supplied digitally and in advance only
We will continue to monitor Government guidance and update these measures as required and will keep all attendees informed.
You can find out more about how Drapers Hall is managing their approach to Covid-19 in its policy documents available here.
Should you wish to discuss the precautions we are taking please contact secretariat@taforum.org.
Tickets
TAF Members
TAF Members enjoy preferntial pricing to the awards as one of their member benefits. Not yet a TAF member? Get in touch to sign up now
Full Table - 10 seats
£1,950 (ex VAT)
Half table - 5 seats
£1,150 (ex VAT)
Single seat
£250 (ex VAT)
Non-Members
Non-members are welcome to attend the event, please click on the link below to buy tickets, or get in touch to join TAF now and benefit from the discounted pricing on offer for TAF members.
Full Table - 10 seats
£2,800 (ex VAT)
Half table - 5 seats
£1,575 (ex VAT)
Single seat
£350 (ex VAT)
Not yet a member of TAF?
TAF is the only trade association in the UK specifically for trade associations, sharing best practice and driving standards across our sector.
Joining TAF starts from just £455 p/a depending on the size of your trade association – with a huge range of benefits including preferential pricing on entering and attending the awards.