Ethics & Spirit

1. We’re going to be as open as possible – within the limits of decency, commercial confidentiality and keeping it an exciting and fair competition. So like last time we’re publishing the criteria we’ll be using to judge papers and how many marks each criterion carries. And, after the event, you can find out how your paper scored.

 

2. This year, we seek a rich variety of diverse and compelling cases that showcase the vast spectrum of creative strategy from brilliant minds everywhere. Because the awards are for all of us: to inspire, to educate, and ultimately to raise the bar on the work we put out into the world. So whether you're from a large agency or a small one; whatever your experience level and wherever you're located, we want to hear your story.

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3. Additionally, the Awards will have a truly international reach so that we showcase the best thinking worldwide, and therefore will embrace papers from around the world and make it easier for non-UK-resident Planners to take part. The Grand Prix has been won by papers from outside the UK in 2011, 2013, and 2017.

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4. As usual there will be two judging stages – a written paper and a presentation (face-to-face if possible, with the option of video call). The written stage will count for half the total marks. The second and final judging stage will consist of a 5 minute recap of the salient points of the paper by the author(s) followed by up to 15 minutes of questions and discussion with the judges. This second stage represents the other half of the total marks.

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5. The Shortlisting Panel will mark every paper and those with the highest scores based on the quality of the written argument will go forward to the final judging stage where marks will be awarded as outlined below. The Grand Prix and the Gold, Silver and Bronze Awards will be based on the total marks achieved over both judging stages.

 

6. The chair of final judges and chair of shortlisters will work closely together to make sure that there is cohesion between the two stages. The chair of shortlisters will be on the final judging panel.

 

7. Although they may write or co-author a paper, no juror on the final judging panel may present a paper or be in the room when it is being discussed.

 

8. There is a maximum of 50 marks available at each stage. Allocation of marks at each stage will be made according to the following four judging criteria:

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Written paper

• How compelling is the story i.e. how effectively have you expressed the overall thinking and idea (written case)? 20 marks

• How strong is the creative strategy? 20 marks

• How much do I wish I’d done it? (The jealousy factor) 5 marks

• How ‘useful’ is the case/the learning, and/or could it be reapplied? 5 marks

 

Final Judging Presentation

• Does the story stand up to scrutiny? 20 marks

• How strong is the creative strategy? 20 marks

• How far do I wish I had done that? 5 marks

• How useful is it? 5 marks

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9. There will be no “categories” (except the Long Term Thinking category) and we will focus on the intrinsic quality of each entry. Every paper that makes it to the final judging stage will be awarded Gold, Silver or Bronze, and the best Gold paper will win the Grand Prix. In addition, there will be a number of special prizes. As in previous years, we will award the Stephen King Trophy to the most successful agency – crowning them the APG Strategy Agency of the Year.

 

10. Each award qualifies for points, and the agency office (not network) with the most points will be the Stephen King Strategy Agency Of The Year.

• A Gold will win 7 points

• A Silver, 3 points

• A Bronze, 2 points

• A Special Award, 1 point

• and the Grand Prix, 9 points (i.e. 2 points in addition to 7 for Gold)

 

11. The lead agency must be nominated on the entry form so that it is clear which agency is able to accrue any points towards Strategy Agency of the Year. In addition, that agency office must have been responsible for devising the strategy that the entry describes.​