Difference Between MBE, OBE & CBE

In the world of honours, the OBE and CBE awards hold a significant spot towards the top, honouring those outstanding in their field. Since 1917, these favoured accolades celebrate excellence and service to society. The awards offer two opportunities a year – once before New Year and then again on the monarch’s official birthday. The recommendation of who receives an honour is in the hands of the prime minister – but the King gets the final say!

In this article, we break down the ins and outs of each award, highlighting their unique differences and importance.

CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire)

The CBE is the highest level of acknowledgement within the order, awarding individuals for their extraordinary service or achievements that have had a profound impact. Established alongside the OBE in 1917, the CBE acknowledges those who have gone above and beyond in their respective fields.

What sets the CBE apart from other accolades?

This award considers those who have made long-term, enduring contributions distinguished at a national or international level, creating a lasting impact, and shaping the fields in their industries. The CBE is awarded to those who take the time to influence their communities or societies, shaping the way actions are taken in the future.

One of the most significant recipients of a CBE is Sir David Attenborough, for his unparalleled support and contributions to natural history broadcasting for over 70 years! Now that’s impressive.

You can only be nominated for a CBE by someone who knows about your roles, successes and achievements, so no trying to nominate yourself! However, making a nomination for an honour is a publicly accessible process, whereby any friend, family member or colleague can put you forward for consideration for an award based on the merit of your achievements.

The benefits

• A CBE can help open doors and create an opportunity to gather further support for their professional, community and charitable work.
• The CBE award represents a monumental legacy to be enjoyed by the nominee’s family, friends, and colleagues.
• A raised personal profile and an enhanced reputation
• Gain a greater degree of respect, trust and acceptance of their ideas, work, and projects, which enables them to build on their achievements.
• The CBE award can attract new business or personal opportunities that widen the scope of the nominee’s work, roles, and commitments.

OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire)

Of the approximately 2000 honours awarded each year, around 400 are OBEs. The OBE, also known as Officer of the Order of the British Empire, is considered a prestigious accolade within the order, acknowledging individuals for their exceptional contributions to society. The OBE was founded by King George V during World War I to honour those who displayed outstanding service and achievement.

What sets an OBE apart from other accolades?

The OBE is often awarded for sustained local service or an incredible achievement in areas such as the arts, sciences, business and public service. This order truly recognises individuals who have made a significant impact and contribution within their communities, highlighting the fascinating ways success and support can come to life.

Those who receive an OBE are people who have shown exceptional accomplishments which have had a positive and lasting impact on society. Notable OBE recipients include athletes like David Beckham and musical stars such as Adele.

You can only be nominated for an OBE by someone who knows about your work and achievements, and you can’t nominate yourself! Anyone can nominate you for an honour, from friends to family, work colleagues or community contacts.

If you know someone who you think deserves recognition you can either manage the whole nomination process yourself or you can choose to enlist the help of Awards Intelligence to gather all the evidence, details and material and make sure the nomination has everything it needs to make it to Buckingham Palace.

The benefits

Those who have received an OBE have said that the recognition of their work and achievements has made a huge positive change to their work and life:

• Receiving an OBE can help the nominee continue their good work by opening new doors and building the opportunity to gain further support for their cause.
• The OBE award represents an immense legacy to be enjoyed by the nominee’s family, friends, and colleagues, bringing great pride and respect from peers for such an honourable recognition.
• A heightened personal profile and an enhanced reputation
• Experience a greater degree of trust and acceptance of ideas, work and projects.
• Attract new business or personal opportunities that widen the scope of the nominee’s work.

MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire)

The MBE is the third esteemed tier within the order, recognising individuals for significant achievements or service. The MBE is awarded to those who make substantial contributions at the local or regional level.

Recipients may be acknowledged for their outstanding service in community development, charitable work, or various fields, emphasising the importance of recognising excellence in diverse contexts.

Notable MBE recipients include individuals like Ed Sheeran, who not only has a successful music career, but has done countless acts of service for charities.
Anyone can be nominated to receive an MBE if they meet the necessary King’s Honour criteria. When you recommend someone for an award it is not necessary to specify the name of the honour in your nomination as this will be decided by the committee that assesses the nomination.

The benefits

Many nominees have said that receiving an MBE in recognition of their work has made a real difference to the work they are doing and to their lives:

• Receiving an MBE can provide much-needed positive publicity to the nominee’s chosen charity, community effort or profession, allowing them to build on their achievements and contribute even more to society.
• A raised personal profile and enhanced reputation are also enjoyed by many individuals with an MBE award.
• MBE recipients may enjoy a greater degree of trust, respect and acceptance of their ideas, work, and projects.
• Attracting new business or personal opportunities may be another benefit of receiving an MBE.

Get recognised with Awards Intelligence

Winning awards and getting the recognition you deserve takes more than telling a good story. At Awards Intelligence, we dedicate one of our highly qualified and experienced consultants to work with you or your business to get the achievements you deserve. Get in touch with us today to discover more about how we can help you.