Experts on how to get an OBE

Anyone can be nominated for an OBE, and it can be awarded for all types of different achievements. In general, the person nominated will have had a significant role locally or regionally, or they will be known nationally for their work, expertise and achievements. These can include community or charity work as well as paid positions.

When you nominate someone you are not required to specify the name of the honour. The level of honour to be given will be decided by the specialist committees who look at all the evidence of the nominee’s work and achievements as set out in the written nomination.

Examples of individuals with an OBE include:

Miss Priya Lakhani. The entrepreneur who set up Masala Masala and a range of ready-cook meals and Indian sauces has received an OBE for services to Business, Community and Voluntary Initiatives.

The three founders of the parental support website, Netmums, received OBEs in the New Year Honours List. Sarah Russell, Siobhan Freegard and Cathy Court set up the site when their eldest sons were in the same toddler group in Harrow.

Michael Acton Smith. Chief executive and Founder of Mind Candy and creator of the much-loved children’s toys, Moshi Monsters, received an OBE for his services to the Creative Industries.

Nominations for OBEs are considered continuously throughout the year. However, the honours process involves a judging period of around 12 – 18 months from receipt of your nomination. So the sooner you submit your nomination the better.

Importantly, the nominee must still be involved in the service for which they are being put forward, so if you want to nominate someone don’t miss the boat, too many people delay putting forward their nomination and are disappointed when an unexpected change or delay prevents their nominee from getting the King’s honour they deserve.

If the person you want to nominate is likely to continue to have more achievements to add to their nomination during the 12 – 18 month judging period, these can always be added to the existing nomination by submitting an update letter to the Honours Secretariat at any time.

So there is no need to delay your OBE nomination because you are waiting for a project to finish or until the nominee retires – if you wait they may never get the honour they deserve!

In addition to the main Honours Committee who review all types of honours nominations, there are nine different honours sub-committees chosen to consider nominations for specific types of work and achievement, for example, Education, Community, Economy etc.

These sub-committees are made up of independent experts as well as senior civil servants, and it is these individuals who will decide together, whether a person should receive an MBE, OBE, CBE, knighthood or damehood, based on the evidence supplied in the nomination and supporting letters.

An OBE nomination should accurately and persuasively inform the honours committees about the work and achievements of the nominee.

A nomination professionally produced by Awards Intelligence includes a wide range of evidence of how the nominee has excelled in their chosen field; how they have positively impacted upon society, and why their achievements are worthy of such a prestigious award.

We have probably drafted more successful King’s honours nominations than anyone else in the world, so we naturally have the required understanding and experience of the process to give your nomination the best chance possible. 

Honourees have reported that receiving an OBE, and other King’s honours, in recognition of their work and achievements has made a real difference to their work and their lives:                         

• Receiving an OBE can help the nominee to continue their good work by opening doors and creating the opportunity to gather further support for their cause.
• The OBE award represents a monumental legacy to be enjoyed by the nominee’s family, friends and colleagues, bringing great pride and respect from peers for such highly deserved recognition.
• A raised personal profile and an enhanced reputation are other benefits many individuals enjoy with an OBE award.
• OBE recipients often report that they experience a greater degree of trust and acceptance of their ideas, work and projects.
• The OBE can attract new business or personal opportunities that widen the scope of the nominee’s work.

Awards Intelligence are widely considered to be the leading experts in helping people to put forward honours nominations and has probably drafted more successful nominations than anyone else in the world.

We never knowingly divulge who we work with on a King’s honour nomination, and we will treat your nomination with the same level of respect and confidentiality.

Recipient of an OBE said:

“Thanks for drafting such a professional nomination. You offer a truly outstanding service. I’m so glad my wife and I found you before she submitted the nomination. You are a great listener and an excellent writer. You made me sound brilliant!”

View feedback from our happy clients.

To start your OBE nomination first we need to make sure the nominee meets all the requirements of the King’s Honours criteria.

The easiest way to do this is to simply call Awards Intelligence on 01444 230130 or email enquiries@awardsintelligence.co.uk for your free, informal and confidential King’s Honours assessment.