2021 FAQs – The BMJ Awards
Eligibility criteria
- The Awards are open to UK healthcare teams only and the project needs to be based in the UK
- Individuals and teams can participate
- Your project must be clinically-led
- The initiative/project had to be active in 2020
- Each project may only be entered once, and individuals/teams can only enter one project per category. If you have an additional project that you would like to enter for another category this is allowed.
See the full terms and conditions.
When is the closing date for The BMJ Awards 2021 submissions?
The final closing date for all submissions has been extended for The BMJ Awards 2021 and is now Monday, 21 June 2021.
You can view all our key dates here.
How much does it cost to enter?
Entries are free of charge. An optional Benchmark Report is available for £40 + VAT for all categories except the Outstanding Contribution to Health and Research Paper Categories. If you purchased a Benchmark Report, you will receive this 2 weeks after The BMJ Awards virtual ceremony.
Where do I enter my submission?
You can start your submissions using our online entry form. Once you have completed all sections simply submit it. You will then receive an email confirming your submission has been received.
Do I need to complete an entry form, and where do I get it from?
Yes, you must complete the official entry form to enter The BMJ Awards. It can be downloaded after you create your profile and log in here
How do I submit my entry?
-Log into your submission here
-Download and complete your entry form.
-Please select the category you would like to enter by clicking ‘Enter This Category‘ and have your completed entry form ready to upload.
-Complete your entry details (including your Team and Project Name), and click ‘Upload‘ to add your completed entry form.
-Make sure you select ‘Save and return to awards summary‘
-If you would like to enter more categories, click ‘Enter Category‘ and repeat the steps above.
-Select the entries you would like to submit by clicking the box on the right-hand side, and select ‘Submit‘.
-The final step is to click ‘Complete registration‘.
-You will then receive an email confirming your successful entry to the 2021 BMJ Awards.
How do I know my submission has been received by The BMJ Awards team?
You will receive a confirmation email after you have successfully uploaded your entry form and supportive documents, selected your category and hit submit.
See ‘Where do I enter my submission?’ in these FAQs for a full step by step breakdown on how to submit your BMJ Awards entry
What is the judging process for The BMJ Awards
The 2021 judging process will take place in a virtual format. You can find out more about the judging process here.
What are the categories for 2021?
We have seventeen categories for The BMJ Awards 2021, including two Special Recognition Awards for Outstanding Contribution to Health and UK Research Paper of the Year.
Read more at: https://thebmjawards.bmj.com/2021-categories/
What does the submission process include?
The online entry process will take no longer than 20 minutes. You will need to answer up to 10 questions about your project and you will have an opportunity to add supporting documents (note: there is a limit to the supplementary documents that can be uploaded).
How long do I have to make my submission?
You can start the process and come back to complete your submission anytime before midnight Monday, 21 June 2021, however, we encourage you to send your entries in as soon as possible.
When will I know if I've been shortlisted?
If you are shortlisted for an award, you will be contacted by The BMJ Awards team who will invite you to the virtual judging session and explain further about the process and how to prepare for your judging session. You will be asked to provide some further information and photos of your team. You will also be contacted by a journalist who will be writing a feature for The BMJ.
How is the judging carried out?
Once all the shortlisted teams have been announced, you will be invited to attend a virtual judging session in September. You will have the chance to meet virtually with the judging panel, comprising a BMJ champion and three expert judges, one of whom is a patient representative, to present your project and answer any questions from our judges.
Take a look at our key dates.
What is the judging criteria?
Judges will be interested in the scale of the problem that your project is addressing, the impact of the project, and whether the project took an innovative and original approach. They will also be looking at the size of the benefit your project produced, what you learnt from this experience, how much it cost, and the potential for wider application. As The BMJ is seeking to advance partnership with patients, we are also asking entrants to describe how they included patients in the design and evaluation of their projects.
When do I find out if I have won?
All winners will be announced at The BMJ Awards virtual ceremony on Wednesday, 29 September 2021.
When and where is The BMJ Awards ceremony?
The BMJ Awards will take place on Wednesday, 29 September 2021 as a fully virtual awards ceremony.
Is there a cost to attend The BMJ Awards ceremony?
There is no cost to attend and we encourage as many of your teams, colleagues, and contacts to join us in the evening when we announce the winners.
You’ll be able to register for the virtual ceremony to ensure that you receive a save the date invitation to join us virtually on the night to watch the ceremony, at home, or in your workplace.
What do we receive for winning or for being shortlisted?
The winning team in each category will receive a trophy and winner’s certificate. All shortlisted teams will receive a finalists’ certificate.
All winners are also showcased in The BMJ, one of the oldest general medical journals in the world.
Can I nominate a colleague to enter the BMJ Awards?
If you know of someone that is working on an innovative project that should enter The BMJ Awards please enter their details in this form and a member of The BMJ Awards team will contact them with details on how to enter.
COVID-19
We will continue to monitor the situation over the coming months, being mindful of our duty of care to all involved. Following ongoing reviews, should we need to re-assess and adapt the BMJ Awards, we will provide updates on any changes.
Can I submit an application or nominate someone for the UK Research Paper of the Year Award or Outstanding Contribution to Health Award?
The judging for the UK Research paper of the year award and Outstanding contribution to health award is carried out by the editorial team at The BMJ, and is an editorial decision based on publications and projects that the editors have seen over the past year. It is therefore not possible to submit an application or nominate an individual for these awards.
If you have any further queries we have not answered, please email Rebecca Wanbon, Event Coordinator, at awards@bmj.com.
Our Sponsors
