How to boost your Financial Reporter Awards application

The Financial Reporter Awards are back for 2025, and this year is an extra special one!

To celebrate our 15th anniversary, we’re heading back to where it all began by bringing the biggest mortgage awards party the North has ever seen to Freight Island, Manchester on 18th June. 

Nominations are open until 14th March, and all nominees have until 21st March to complete their compulsory supporting application – but what does this involve, and how can you make sure that your application is the very best it can be? 

We’ve included some tips for how to boost your application (as well as a quick rundown of how it all works) below!

DO  

Highlight your strengths   

From excellent customer service to unrivalled teamwork skills, let the judges know what makes you one of the industry’s very best! Remember to make it specific to the category rather than a generic entry.

Emphasise your impact  

While it’s important to talk about what you do in your role, you also need to demonstrate how your strengths have helped your customers, your team, your peers and the industry as a whole.   

Drive home your determination 

What challenges have you overcome to achieve your goals? How have you shown determination and resilience in the face of difficulties? Let the judges know in your application – the more detail, the better!  

Back up your words  

The application portal allows you to upload supporting documents, so you can bolster your statements with images, case studies, PDFs, statistics (sales figures, client satisfaction etc.), asking you customers and teammates for testimonials, and anything else that you think will help impress the judges!  

DON’T  

Leave it until the last minute  

The earlier you start, the best chance you’ll have of being happy with your application when you send it in – that being said, we all get busy, so don’t be deterred if you end up submitting yours closer to the deadline!  

Leave out the details  

You can format your application any way you like, but the more information you include about yourself, the better…  However, it’s important to make sure that your entry is clear for the judges - it doesn't have to be bullet points, but our judges have lots of entries to get through so giant blocks of text stand out less.

Undersell yourself  

Don’t let imposter syndrome get in the way of making your application the best it can be… You deserve to be proud of your achievements, and if there was ever a time to brag about them – it’s now!  

Useful Tips from Our Previous Judges and Winners

"Every nominee will bring something different to the category and to what they do, someone who has new ideas, is ambitious, supports co-workers and clients and someone who would challenge the norm are all things that I think will make this industry different and should be seen here."

- Sophie Mitchell-Charman, Lendinvest, Judge of the Financial Reporter Awards 2024

"For me, some of the most value attributes that anyone in this industry can evidence is creativity. I want to see instances of where the nominees have gone that one step further to offer a solution for their clients because for me, that’s what the specialist industry is all about!"

- Tiba Raja, Market Financial Solutions, Judge of the Financial Reporter Awards 2024

"It is always possible to take the time to reflect on the great work that you have done."

- Lea Karasavvas, Prolific Mortgage Finance, Adviser of the Year Winner

"Showcase how your work has made a significant impact, whether it's through innovative solutions, exceptional client service, or impressive financial results." 

- Akhil Mair, Our Mortgage Broker Limited, Adviser of the Year Finalist

"What do you have to lose - if you believe in yourself, do it!"

- Emma Barker, Together, Underwriter of the Year Winner

How it Works 

To nominate yourself, head to the form on our homepage and enter your name, email address and your chosen category.

Once you’ve entered your details or have been nominated by someone else, you will receive an email asking for some more information, and you’ll be sent a link to complete your application.

This is a crucial step, as any nominations without a supporting application after the deadline will not be considered by the judges.

The most important thing is to showcase what makes your business (or you) a potential winner, not what you think the judges want to hear - they value authenticity and each entrant's story will be different. Good luck and have fun!