Preparing your application

Completing the Application Form

The quality of the application submitted is an important factor in demonstrating the organisation's achievements and thereby enhancing its prospects of winning. The main basis of judging will be the responses to the questions outlined in the application form.

Which category?

Where there is an industry-specific category that clearly relates to your business, e.g. agribusiness or education and training, then you should select that category. Where there is not, you should apply under the relevant generic category, e.g. Small Business, Small to Medium Manufacturer, Small to Medium Services, Large Advanced Manufacturer or Large Services Award categories.
If you have been exporting for three years or less (based on financial year) you will be considered for the Emerging Exporter Award.
If your head office is based in a non-metropolitan location you will be eligible for the Regional Exporter of the Year Award.
Judges always reserve the right to determine the category of award you best belong in, normally they will adopt your stated preference.

It’s not just about what you did - it’s how you did it:

The financials, including the export financials are important but are not the only criteria.
It is essential that the application tells the export story, realistically and yet interestingly, of how your company has entered and developed sustainable international markets.

Stand out from the crowd:

Market your organisation in your application by highlighting your strengths, illustrating how innovative and special your achievements have been.
If you have been exporting for several years ensure that your application demonstrates what you have done differently to consolidate and grow your position in the past year, for e.g. new markets, new technologies, focused marketing strategy etc.

Spell it out in a concise and effective way:

You need to tell your story in the application, so make every word count and stay within the word limits. The judges will base their decisions solely on this information.
Do not assume that the judges are aware of your organisation, its products and successes.
Explain in non technical terms what your products or services are.
Dot points can be utilised as appropriate to identify your key strengths and strategies.
Outline your international competitive advantage and your organisation’s export aspirations and strategies, before moving on to look at your activities in particular markets.

Conquering export markets:

Explain your company’s strategy in gaining a secure foothold in a new market.
In your key markets, what did you do to secure international contracts and market acceptance? What actions did you take e.g.– product adaptation to meet customer preferences, building relationships with distributors and buyers, addressing cultural issues in marketing materials and products, attending trade events etc, and techniques to overcoming buyer resistance.
Identify the key factors that you consider made your organisation a successful exporter.
For organisations that have applied previously, and possibly won, it is important to clearly detail what has been achieved since your most recent success in the Awards, i.e. new marketing strategies, entering new markets, introduction of new technology, new products etc.
Special emphasis should be made on the contribution of innovation (for e.g. Marketing strategies, new technologies etc) in achieving export success.

Tracking your achievements:

Help the judges follow your road to export success. Identify the significant landmarks – e.g. “In 2008/09 we broke into the Chinese market for the first time.”
Clearly outline what your most outstanding export achievements - for e.g. “Last year we signed a distribution deal with the largest supermarket chain in the US.”

One last thing

Get somebody external to your company to read through your application to ensure that it is fully understandable to someone with no detailed knowledge of your company.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Information provided in your application will be used solely for the purpose of judging and will be treated as strictly commercial-in-confidence by the organisers of the State, Territory and national Australian Export Awards.

No information will be published without the written permission of the applicant. All copy to be used for media purposes will be cleared with the applicant before publication.