The Awards Trust Mark Scheme; what is it, and why should you have one?
If we told you that around 80% of organisations entering awards are positively influenced by the reassurance of an Awards Trust Mark, you might respond a bit like this, are we right?
How about if we followed this up by mentioning that research also shows that perceived trust in the judging process used in an awards scheme is one of the most influential factors for businesses in picking schemes to enter…?
So, what exactly is it?
The Awards Trust Mark scheme is a not-for-profit accreditation programme run by The Independent Awards Standards Council with the goal of as the name suggests enhancing trust between those entering awards schemes, and the organisations running them.
It is based around a voluntary code of conduct that awards organisers commit to, and all levels of Trust Mark require a director to sign up to adhere to it.
Why should I get one?
Put simply, to show that your awards demonstrate best practice, and are fair and transparent. Your entrants are reassured that no bias is present, and that the scoring process will be trustworthy.
The end result? More entrants and more (quality) entries for your awards.
How AwardStage can help
The pathway to gaining a Trust Mark involves complying with a host of requirements – these vary according to the level you’re looking to achieve. From a technical perspective, AwardStage is a management platform that can ensure you comply with ethical and transparency elements such as providing feedback to entrants post-judging.
In addition, our Marketing + Account Manager, Victoria, sits on the Awards Trust Mark Council. This puts her in an ideal position to be able to advise clients on the process, and offer insight into what’s needed to comply with the code of conduct.
You can read more about the Awards Trust Mark scheme – including organisations who already have one, criteria and application details – by visiting their website here. If you’d like some advice on how AwardStage could help you gain a Trust Mark, then give us a shout, we’d be very happy to help!
