The Oak Award is now open for entries
The Oak Award will be given annually by the Organic Trade Board, to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the UK organic sector. This year the winner will be chosen by a panel made up of the OTB strategy committee and the trustees of the Organic Research Centre. Nominations and views will be sought from the whole of the organic community.
The award will be a way for all of us to recognise the work of one outstanding individual each year, shining a light on excellence and innovation in the UK organic sector.
Deadline for nominations is 30 September, and nominees must receive at least 2 nominations.
What are the benefits of getting an Oak Award?
Simply being nominated for the award demonstrates the appreciation of the community for outstanding contribution an individual has made. The Oak Award aims to celebrate the unsung organic heroes. It is a recognition of the value and esteem their friends, colleagues and family hold them in, for the incredible work they are engaged in every day.
It is also a chance to share and to celebrate the work of the sector as a whole, while the exclusive nature of this single annual award emphasises the huge importance that one individual can make.
Anyone can be nominated to receive the Oak Award if:
· They are UK based
· Their work is a beacon of excellence and innovation
· Their work is or has the potential to be of national significance
The Oak Award will recognise an individual working in research, farming, manufacturing, supply chain, retail or in a community initiative to name just a few. Whether their contribution was in the past or for the future development of the sector, we want to spread the net as wide as possible.
Nominate
Nominations closed on Sunday 30 September 2018.
To be considered for the award a nominee must receive at least two nominations, so you might want to encourage others to nominate the person that you think deserves to be recognised too.
There is no limit to the number of nominations that a person can receive and although the final decision will be made by the panel, the number of nominations that a single individual receives will be taken into account in the final decision.
We may contact you to discuss your nomination.
What happens if I am nominated?
If you have been nominated for an Oak Award, we will contact you to let you know and you will need to accept the nomination before your details are passed to the judging panel.
The final three nominees will be invited to the prestigious award ceremony at Yeo Valley, in Blagdon near Bristol on Thursday 25 October, where the 2018 Oak award winner will be announced.
But just being nominated is an honour in its own right and we aim to recognise all nominees, with a certificate or a small gift.
How will the winner be chosen?
We expect a variety of nominations from all areas of the organic sector.
All the nominations will be reviewed by a nomination committee made up of the Organic Trade Board’s Strategy Committee and the Trustees of the Organic Research Centre.
This committee then put forward a short list of three nominees to the Directors of the Organic Trade Board who are tasked with selecting one person from this list to receive the Oak Award for outstanding contribution.
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