How to get an honours nomination form (MBE, OBE, CBE & KBE / DBE)
Any worthy person, based anywhere in the world, can be nominated for a Royal Honour – you don’t need to be based in the UK or even be a UK citizen. MBEs, OBEs, CBEs and knighthoods are open to anybody who has gone that extra mile to benefit the UK or commonwealth or the people living in those countries in some significant way. You don’t get an honour for simply doing your job – otherwise, every firefighter or nurse would automatically get one – you have to be a truly exceptional individual.
Getting an honours nomination form is simple and can be accessed online free of charge on the gov.uk website. However, completing an honours nomination form that will stand out and be approved by the honours committee is a much more difficult task. Awards Intelligence are the leading awards specialist, and we have helped countless individuals successfully complete their MBE, OBE or CBE honours nomination forms.
Ensure Your Honours Nomination Form Is Successful
People can’t nominate themselves for an honour, so be sure to put the effort in when completing the honours nomination form for the best chance of success. That being said, it’s a long and time-consuming process to do well. We spend about 100-150 hours on a typical nomination and many people just don’t have that kind of time to devote to it. If you do not put the time into your honours nomination, it is doubtful to be accepted. Nominations typically outline the nominee’s achievements, contributions, and reasons as to why they deserve the honour. Discover our tips for writing a compelling honours nomination.
While you could, in theory, knock up an honours nomination on a wet Sunday afternoon or even in your lunch hour, is it really going to cut it at the Cabinet Office? We suggest that it’s doubtful given the high level of competition. After all, these are the most prestigious awards in the world and are globally recognised – a life-changing achievement for most people.
We estimate that the Honours Secretariat at the Cabinet Office receive about 20,000 nominations a year and about 1 in 10 (just 10%) are successful. Whereas at Awards Intelligence, we have a 2 in 3 success rate, with 97% of our clients feeling we are value for money. Whether you are completing an MBE, OBE or CBE honours nomination form, give your application the best chance of success by contacting one of our specialists.
If you book a free assessment with Awards Intelligence, you will at least be armed with all the facts and information you need to enable you to make a balanced decision on the next steps – whether you decide to go it alone or bring in our experts.
What is the process after a nomination is made?
After your honours nomination has been put forward, the following process will take place:
- Assessment – After receiving your nomination, the honours committee undertake a thorough assessment process, evaluating the nominee’s achievements and the positive changes they’ve driven in society.
- Recommendation – Once the assessment has been completed, the committee will identify the strongest candidates and make recommendations to the Prime Minister.
- Approval – The Prime Minister then receives the committee’s recommendations and advises the monarch on the honours to be awarded. The final decision is made by the sovereign, who officially approves the awards.
- Announcements – After approval, the names of those who have been awarded honours are revealed twice a year – for the King’s Birthday and at New Year.
- Awards – Ceremonies mark the final stage of the honours process, where recipients are formally presented with their awards by a member of the royal family or a representative of the Crown.
If you know somebody who deserves a successful royal honours nomination then we can help make that a reality. We are the best at what we do having had lots of practice with over 900 honours nomination forms completed. Call us on 01444 230130 to arrange a free assessment, or fill out our contact form for more information.