March is always an exciting (and busy!) month for the team here at August Recognition.
Business awards season begins to ramp up, the financial year draws to a close, and the first quarter of the year comes to an end. And it’s a time of year for both taking action but also taking a moment to take stock, re-evaluate goals set at the beginning of the year, and reflect on results.
From record-breaking client results to shaping the future of the awards industry, take a look at what we’ve been up to and how we’re driving success for our clients, team and industry.
Client Results Driving Real Impact
We’re super proud to share that in the past 12 months, we’ve achieved a 5% higher win rate than last year, making this our most award-winning year yet. And we’re also achieving an industry-leading shortlist rate for our clients;
91% Shortlist Rate
68% Win Rate
The reason we can achieve these impressive results for clients is not just because our clients deserve recognition for their achievements, but because each and every award we enter, we enter strategically.
Every client has a bespoke strategy, built on evidence, expert positioning, and a deep understanding of what judges are really looking for in a winner.
But the real story isn’t in the numbers, it’s the impact the wins have on our clients.
From Recognition to Real Impact
We’ve always stood by the belief that awards aren’t just about trophies. The value in entering and winning awards is all about what happens because of the win, or shortlist result.
Winning awards can have an impact on a personal level, on a whole-business level, and on a team level, as well as for your customers, employees and community.
For our clients, that impact is tangible;
“I'm just over the moon and wanted to thank you so much. The last couple of years haven't been easy and I'm trying to celebrate each milestone. This is a huge one. Thank you for making such a meaningful difference to myself, my business and hopefully to countless children and young people as we try to scale. I am eternally grateful”
“I just wanted to say a big thank you, as we won the NTA award last night. The team are delighted, as it's the first award they have won. Hopefully the first of many!”
For some, winning awards has become a core part of their marketing and growth strategy and we’re so proud to be part of that journey.
“Thank you and your team for all your help; once again. While it’s been joked about previously, our CEO has actually ordered a larger trophy cabinet for us to display all our awards, as the existing one is now a bit cramped.”
Thought Leadership in Action: Shaping the Future of Awards
As well as our commitment to seeing our clients achieve great things, we also dedicate our time to supporting the wider awards industry, and March saw Donna O’Toole sharing insights, challenging industry norms, and helping businesses rethink what awards can truly deliver.
From Sussex to CEO: Inspiring the Next Generation
Returning to the University of Sussex as an alumni panellist, Donna shared her journey from student to Founder of August Recognition and AwardsApp.
Joining the Make it Happen, Careers in Media, Art & Communications panel, she shared practical tips on job hunting, building credibility, and creating your own opportunities.
Moments like this are important, and it’s a privilege to be part of these events to help shape the future of the workforce and entrepreneurship.
The Business of Awards: What the Future of Awards Brings
In partnership with Event Industry News and Evessio, Donna joined an expert panel including Gary Clement, CEO of Evessio, Hannah Bray, MD Commercial & Events for PPA, and Sarah Austin, Founder of Empowered Events and the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, to unpack findings from The Business of Awards: 2026 Industry Insight Report.
In just 45 minutes, some surprising truths emerged:
- Fewer than half of stakeholders see judging as transparent
- Award scams are on the rise
- AI is reshaping, but also challenging, credibility
- Entrants and sponsors expect more than ever from events
Download the full report on the future of awards here.
Turning Recognition into a Growth Strategy with ActionCOACH
Donna was invited to speak at ActionCOACH UK Growth Club in Reading, speaking to a room full of ambitious, successful business leaders.
In her session on winning recognition, she explored how awards aren’t just trophies, but a strategic growth tool. And this group LOVED growth, they even recognise it every quarter with their own awards, which is hugely motivational.
The day was a good reminder for everyone that the businesses that stand out can unlock real commercial advantage through recognition, and now's the time to act.
Recognising Real Impact: Octopus Trusted Partner Awards
In the last quarter, Donna judged some very special awards.
The Octopus Trusted Partner Awards are all about saying a huge thank you to the trusted partners who are installing heat pumps, solar panels, batteries and EV chargers for Octopus Energy across the country day in, day out.
“Congratulations to all the finalists and winners, seeing how your work is making a difference and what you do for your local communities made for very special reading.”
Partner Events: Strengthening Relationships
Alongside thought leadership, March was also about connection and strengthening partner relationships across the awards and business ecosystem.
We were thrilled to attend our first Don’t Panic Event at the UK Paid Media Awards. We’re so excited to be partnering with Don’t Panic and supporting Nicky Wake and her team, they combine collaboration, passion and innovation to create unforgettable events and award-winning experiences.
At the Sussex Chamber “Business Awards Special” event, Donna was asked to speak with entrants to break down the three essential steps to winning in 2026.
The Sussex Chamber Business Awards are currently open for entries, learn more about the awards here.
Donna and Brooke were also delighted to be invited by our partner ActionCoach to attend Elite Business Live, where they heard keynote talks from speakers including former Dragon Piers Linney MBE, renowned Broadcaster Anthea Turner, World Champion and Olympic Medallist Fatima Whitbread MBE, and the UK's leading entrepreneurs and leaders including the brilliant Amy Knight, founder of Must Have Ideas.
Behind the Scenes: Building an Award-Winning Team
The real engine behind the client results and partnerships at August is the team.
And this quarter, we were delighted to grow and strengthen the team, by welcoming Katharina Lay, our new Client Account Executive.
Having first met Kat during her time at the University of Chichester, Donna saw early on that she brought something special; energy, professionalism, and a natural ability to connect with people.
Kat supports the client team to create winning results for clients globally, assisting in the creation and delivery of awards strategies, promotional assets and outstanding submissions.
We also had the privilege of working with two outstanding work placement students, Luke and James, also from the University of Chichester.
Over several months, they didn’t just observe, they got stuck-in and contributed to the team. From analysing customer journeys to creating SEO content and supporting client work, they brought new perspectives and insights.
We’ve loved having them onboard, and wish them all the best with their final exams and dissertations. You can read about their experience here.
Watch this Space for What Comes Next
With the 2026 awards season now open, it is full steam ahead for our clients and team as we prepare winning entries and support materials ahead of the Summer deadlines.
We’re also hosting our next free awards masterclass to share our awards industry insights and share the data from our recent White Paper;
The Real Value of Business Awards
How to Grow Your Revenue by 63%: The Strategy Behind Award-Winning Businesses
Wednesday, 29th April 2026
09:30am – 10:30am BST
Live Online
If you’re serious about turning recognition into results in 2026, this is your next step.
What You’ll Learn
- How awards drive measurable revenue growth
- Why award-winning businesses consistently outperform, and how recognition strengthens pricing power and investor confidence
- Why recognition accelerates trust, employee engagement, and sales
- The proven awards strategy that significantly improves your chances of winning
Plus, we'll be sharing the real data and impact stories from award winners, and you'll receive a copy of our White Paper.
Reserve your place here and discover what impact awards could have on your business, we'll see you there!
