The Awards Standard™
One published method for turning achievement into recognition — applied the same way, in every category, every year.
The Awards Standard™ is the method behind every result at the Bournemouth Excellence Awards. It exists so that recognition means the same thing whoever you are, whatever you sell, and whoever you know.
It rests on six commitments. Each is summarised below and expanded in the documents linked at the foot of this page.
Criteria
Every category is assessed against published criteria, written before entries open.
Evidence
Claims must be supported. Judges assess what you can show — not what you assert.
Multiple judges
No single person decides a result. Each entry is assessed by more than one judge.
Scoring
Judges score independently against the criteria; their individual scores are averaged.
Weightings
Where more than one input contributes, the weightings are predefined and locked before any result is known.
Progression
Semi-finalist, finalist, runner-up and winner are reached by the rules — not by negotiation.
01What the Standard guarantees
- The same method is applied across every category and every year.
- Criteria and weightings are set and documented before a category opens.
- Assessment is independent of who buys tickets, tables, sponsorship or advertising.
- Every score, lock and calculation is recorded, so any result can be reviewed.
02How a score is built
Judging is the core of every result. Where a category uses public voting, it is a capped, verified input that adds a signal of public confidence — it can never outweigh the judges (see the Public Voting Standard).
- Independent judge assessment — more than one judge scores each entry against the criteria.
- Averaged judges’ score — individual scores are combined into a professional average.
- Verified public input — in named categories only, capped and weighted so it cannot decide a result alone.
- System applies the weightings — once every input is locked, the system applies the predefined weightings.
- Progression — the system ranks results and applies the progression rules.
03On published weightings
For the inaugural 2027 awards we publish the framework rather than a single fixed percentage. The weightings are predefined, documented, judging-led, and locked before any result is seen.
The exact weighting for each category is set and recorded before that category opens for entries — so it can never be adjusted to fit an outcome. As the awards mature we will publish more of the detail; we will not publish a number we are not prepared to be held to.
04System-led integrity
The Standard is not enforced by memory or goodwill. It is built into the system that runs the awards, so the same rules apply to everyone automatically.
- Allocation — entries are distributed to judges by rule, with conflicts screened out first.
- Scoring — judges record their scores against the criteria in the system.
- Locking — once submitted, a score is locked; no one can revise it after seeing how others assessed.
- Calculation — the system, not a person, applies the predefined weightings and progression rules.
- Audit trail — every score, lock and calculation is recorded, so any result can be reconstructed.
People assess. The system applies the predefined rules.
A trophy can be bought. Credibility has to be earned.
The documents behind every result
Methodology
You are hereThe Awards Standard™
The six commitments behind every result — and how a score is built.