Inspiring Change Judging Criteria
Creating open and inclusive workplace cultures in which everyone feels valued, and respects colleagues, is recognised as key to business success. The Inspiring Change Awards were introduced in 2016 to recognise companies working in the construction and built environment sectors that can demonstrate they value and promote inclusion and diversity in the workplace and wider community. The awards highlight organisations that understand the broad scope of diversity, nurture a culture of fairness, inclusion, and respect, and have taken active steps to ensure equality of opportunity.
There are six categories this year all focusing on Inspiring Change in education, the wider community or workplace.
Inspiring Change in Education
Inspiring Change in the Workplace
Business Categories
For each of the three Inspiring Change business categories, submissions must show how the businesses have introduced an initiative during the last two years that has affected a significant and positive company-wide change. There must be evidence of business strategy and leadership commitment to inspiring change within the culture of the business and/or construction industry with a clear focus on Fairness, Inclusion and Respect.
The submission must include a description of the initiative that defines what has been achieved within the two-year period and brings to life the impact in the workplace, school/college or within the wider community. The Judges will take account of the size of the business when evaluating the submissions. An SME Award and a Project Award will be given – see below.
The judges will be looking for an inspirational initiative aligned to company goals
Inspiring Change Award for SMEs
There will be one special award to recognise Small and Medium-sized Enterprises - businesses with fewer than 250 employees. These businesses must not be part of a larger group of companies. SME businesses entering one of the business categories will automatically be entered into the SME Award. Entries will be judged using the same criteria but only one award will be made across the three main categories of Community, Education and Workplace.
Inspiring Change Project Award
This award is for project teams that deserve recognition for promoting Fairness, Inclusion and Respect in one of the three business categories of Community, Education and Workplace - only one award will be made, although a project may enter more than one category. Only current projects or those completed within the last 12 months are eligible.
All entries (except the FIR Inspiration Award)
Additionally, all entries to the Inspiring Change Awards except the Inspiration Award will be evaluated against the following criteria:
Originality and innovation
Impact
Transferability
Strategy and Leadership
Originality and Innovation - 20 points
Is the initiative likely to inspire other businesses?
Is the project original and innovative?
What evidence is there that this initiative is a game changer?
Impact (category specific) The judges will look for metrics to substantiate claims - 40 points
How has the initiative helped enhance the culture within the business or project?
How has the initiative delivered business benefits?
What is the impact on the business, school or wider community?
Other than the target audience have there been other beneficiaries?
Does it create jobs, improve retention rates?
Does it prepare/encourage people to join the industry?
Does it prepare/encourage people to apply for work?
Has it improved engagement with schools/colleges or wider community and the business?
Is it sustainable? Will it leave a lasting legacy?
Has this initiative helped improve the diversity of the workforce?
Transferability - 20 points
How widely could the approach be replicated elsewhere?
What mechanisms are employed for monitoring results and continuous improvement?
Is there evidence of efforts to share learning with other organisations?
How has the project transferred good practice across the company? (Project Award)
Strategy and Leadership – 20 points
What evidence is there that the initiative has been implemented across the business? or, for the Project Award, is being recognised and supported at high level within the business?
FIR Inspiration Award
Judges will be looking for an individual who is an inspirational role model and has:
Creating open and inclusive workplace cultures in which everyone feels valued, and respects colleagues, is recognised as key to business success. The Inspiring Change Awards were introduced in 2016 to recognise companies working in the construction and built environment sectors that can demonstrate they value and promote inclusion and diversity in the workplace and wider community. The awards highlight organisations that understand the broad scope of diversity, nurture a culture of fairness, inclusion, and respect, and have taken active steps to ensure equality of opportunity.
There are six categories this year all focusing on Inspiring Change in education, the wider community or workplace.
- Business Categories
Inspiring Change in Education
Inspiring Change in the Workplace
- Project Award
- Small or Medium Sized Business Award
- FIR Inspiration Award
Business Categories
For each of the three Inspiring Change business categories, submissions must show how the businesses have introduced an initiative during the last two years that has affected a significant and positive company-wide change. There must be evidence of business strategy and leadership commitment to inspiring change within the culture of the business and/or construction industry with a clear focus on Fairness, Inclusion and Respect.
The submission must include a description of the initiative that defines what has been achieved within the two-year period and brings to life the impact in the workplace, school/college or within the wider community. The Judges will take account of the size of the business when evaluating the submissions. An SME Award and a Project Award will be given – see below.
The judges will be looking for an inspirational initiative aligned to company goals
Inspiring Change Award for SMEs
There will be one special award to recognise Small and Medium-sized Enterprises - businesses with fewer than 250 employees. These businesses must not be part of a larger group of companies. SME businesses entering one of the business categories will automatically be entered into the SME Award. Entries will be judged using the same criteria but only one award will be made across the three main categories of Community, Education and Workplace.
Inspiring Change Project Award
This award is for project teams that deserve recognition for promoting Fairness, Inclusion and Respect in one of the three business categories of Community, Education and Workplace - only one award will be made, although a project may enter more than one category. Only current projects or those completed within the last 12 months are eligible.
All entries (except the FIR Inspiration Award)
Additionally, all entries to the Inspiring Change Awards except the Inspiration Award will be evaluated against the following criteria:
Originality and innovation
Impact
Transferability
Strategy and Leadership
Originality and Innovation - 20 points
Is the initiative likely to inspire other businesses?
Is the project original and innovative?
What evidence is there that this initiative is a game changer?
Impact (category specific) The judges will look for metrics to substantiate claims - 40 points
How has the initiative helped enhance the culture within the business or project?
How has the initiative delivered business benefits?
What is the impact on the business, school or wider community?
Other than the target audience have there been other beneficiaries?
Does it create jobs, improve retention rates?
Does it prepare/encourage people to join the industry?
Does it prepare/encourage people to apply for work?
Has it improved engagement with schools/colleges or wider community and the business?
Is it sustainable? Will it leave a lasting legacy?
Has this initiative helped improve the diversity of the workforce?
Transferability - 20 points
How widely could the approach be replicated elsewhere?
What mechanisms are employed for monitoring results and continuous improvement?
Is there evidence of efforts to share learning with other organisations?
How has the project transferred good practice across the company? (Project Award)
Strategy and Leadership – 20 points
What evidence is there that the initiative has been implemented across the business? or, for the Project Award, is being recognised and supported at high level within the business?
FIR Inspiration Award
Judges will be looking for an individual who is an inspirational role model and has:
- demonstrated commitment to FIR principles and inspired others;
- has tackled issues to influence change within their workplace or the construction industry;
- made significant, innovative, and outstanding contributions to promoting a culture of Fairness, Inclusion and Respect within their scope of work either in their workplace or beyond.