Thank you for agreeing to be a CIPD People Management Award judge.  We could not run such a rigorous and highly regarded awards campaign without your commitment and expertise.  You will have been sent instructions on the judging process but we thought you might also find the following FAQs useful too. However, if there is anything you are unsure of then please email the awards team on [email protected].

What are the different stages of judging?

• There are two stages to the judging process. The filter stage where you judge the online entries for your category and submit your scores and some short feedback. This is followed by a panel stage where the shortlisted entries present for fifteen minutes followed by a judges’ Q&A session. This will take place in July.  If we haven’t already, we will inform you of the exact date in due course.

How many judges in each category?  

• In each category we aim to have three judges comprising a CIPD adviser/expert, an experienced HR or L&D practitioner and an external expert/consultant/sponsor. Having more than one judge in a category means that each entry is judged from different viewpoints.

Will I be told who is judging alongside me in my category? 

• You will receive your fellow panel judge names within your judging instruction email nearer to the live judging day.

How long do I have to judge? 

• Judging will commence on the 9 May and will finish on the 25 May.

I’ve forgotten my judging login, how do I find this?

• You can find this in your judging email. Your username is your company email address. Your password will have been supplied in our online judging instructions email. If you have lost this please contact [email protected].

How long does scoring take and what time do scores need to be submitted?

• It does depend on the number of entries in your category and it does vary.  We recommend setting aside 2 working days to complete your judging. However, we urge you to log into the system as soon as judging instructions are provided so you are aware of the number of entries in your category. Scores must be submitted by 17:00 GMT on 25 May.

Scoring

• You will be asked for an individual score for each question out of a possible maximum mark. Please note, the maximum marks do differ. 

Where do I find the criteria I am judging against?

• All judging criteria can be found within the system under each entry.

I notice that the criteria makes reference to the CIPD Profession Map.  Where do I find out more about this? 

• Since 2019 we have aligned the entry criteria with the CIPD’s Profession Map which is the international benchmark for the People Profession.  At its heart lies three core principles - principles-led, evidence based and outcomes driven. In each category we ask for evidence of why the decisions taken and strong outcomes driven results.  We ask you to give extra credit if the entry demonstrates one or more of the CIPD Professional Principles (Work Matters, People Matter, Professionalism Matter). You may find this video useful.  

How is the shortlisted selected? 

• The scores from all the judges in a category are added up and divided by the number of judges in the panel.  The top scoring entries are the finalists who go through to the panel stage.  

What do I do if I have vested interest in an entry?

• If for any reason you have a conflict of interest, please mark the tick-box to indicate this. You will not score this entry and we will take the marks from the remaining judges. 

What do I do if I think an entry is in the wrong category?

• This does happen and we want to give all entries the best chance.  If for any reason you think the entry is in the incorrect category, please email Monika the Event Manager [email protected] stating which category you think it should be moved to.

Can I save my scores and come back to judging at a later date?

• Yes. Please click “Save” on all scores and you can log back in to complete judging later.

Where do I fill in scores?

• Please complete scores on the provided scoresheet AND within the judging system. Please note that some questions require 15 marks and some require 20. You must mark within this range for it to be counted. A scoring grid has been included in your judge pack.

Why do you have a panel stage? 

Not all awards in our Profession have a panel stage but we believe it is a critical part of a rigorous judging process and in the words of one of our previous finalists make these awards ‘ the one to win’.  It is much valued by the shortlisted entries as an opportunity to bring their awards to life in front of industry experts and their peers.    

When and where is the panel stage and how does this work? 

The panel stage will take place on 11 - 15 July. This will take place digitally over Zoom.

The panel stage of judging gives entrants an opportunity to showcase their entries to you and your fellow judges. The day is structured in 30 minute sessions, which allows for 15 minutes presentation, 15 minutes Q&A with a further 10 minute write up period. 

Will I have access to my scores from the filter stage?

Yes. We can give you access to the judging portal to use on the day.

What do I do if I have a vested interest?

• We ask judges with any vested interest that cause bias to excuse themselves from the room and come back in when the next presentation is taking place.

Do the entrants get feedback?  

• Entrants will receive feedback on only the panel stage.

• When is the awards ceremony? 

The CIPD Awards are due to take place on Thursday 22 September. As a judge, you are invited to join us as a thank you for all your hard work, if you are not able to join us please let us know. 

Do I need to confirm my dietary requirements?

• Yes. Please email us any access or dietary requirements so we can ensure we cater to your needs.