Founded three years ago by Sarah Austin, Empowered Events, has swiftly risen to prominence in the world of large-scale event management.
Their company’s flagship project, the British Business Excellence Awards, has become the UK’s largest and most respected annual business awards programme. Yet behind the scenes, Empowered Events faced a significant challenge: how to enhance the judging process to meet the high standards of both judges and entrants.
The Challenge of Excellence
Behind the scenes organising an event of the size of the British Business Excellence Awards is no small feat. Over a three-week period, more than 50 judges convene in London to assess hundreds of submissions from the nation’s top businesses. The judging process is rigorous, demanding meticulous attention to detail and thorough evaluation.
In previous years, judges relied on laptops and tablets to review entry submissions. While digital devices offered convenience, feedback from judges highlighted significant drawbacks. The sterile nature of screens couldn’t replicate the tactile experience of paper. Judges missed the ability to flip back and forth between pages effortlessly, make handwritten notes in the margins, and compare documents side by side.
“Digital just wasn’t cutting it,” recalls Sarah Austin. “Our judges felt disconnected from the material. They wanted to engage with the submissions in a more tangible way.”
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