ARA Excellence Awards – why you should nominate your service, yourself, or someone you know for an award

‍ ‍I have worked in a wide variety of sectors over the many years of my career – everything from advertising, property, utilities, health, arts and culture, and management consultancy – of all of these the recordkeeping sector has the most modest and self-effacing people – keen to just quietly get on with their vital work.

‍ “Our national and local archives steward collections that make up our nation’s memory. They contain stories that bind us, offer insight into our own genealogy, provide inspiration that sparks creative works, and unlock vital data that enable research and effective administration. By safeguarding our collective knowledge, archives connect individuals to their identities and communities to their shared histories. They preserve the essence of who we are, support social justice and protect our cultural heritage. Archives provide transparency on past actions, support evidence-based policy making and play a pivotal role in public inquiries that hold decision makers to account. They have an impact on every part of society and underpin our democracy.”

‍This quote from Baroness Twycross as Minister of State for Heritage comes from the Government’s strategy for archives. We know that the work of records managers, information governance professionals and those working in archive conservation is a vital part of all the above. We know that what the sector does is important and should be valued – and yet when we open the nominations process for these awards we barely get a trickly of applications!

Here is a golden opportunity to show the world the wonderful work you are doing – to shine a light on best practice and inspirational professional journeys and achievements. This is not about blowing your own trumpet but sounding the horn to let everyone know that the sector exists and the work that is does is excellent!

‍Three of our awards are voted on by the general public – this provides an opportunity to engage with your users, your local community, your local media outlets to get local support for your nominee – this might seem an odd thing to do but it can help you reach parts of your community who might not even know you exist. Particularly for recordkeeping services the award presentation and celebration can be held at your premises with an option to invite your internal and external stakeholders – whether that is local government officials or politicians or funders and community groups.

‍For recordkeeper of the year here is an opportunity to celebrate the difference that an individual can make -it can make a difference to their career but also highlight the work that they are doing – think about someone you know that you respect and admire in this profession – talk to them about nominating them – many recordkeepers work within organisations that don’t know what recordkeeping excellence looks like – give them a helping hand.

‍The same goes for new professionals – nominating them could give their career (and confidence) a boost. Shockingly last year we had NO nominations for this award – even though we all know someone who could have been put forward. Don’t let that happen again. Maybe you work with a new professional in one of ARA’s groups or have worked with them in a previous role – maybe you are mentoring them through registration? New Professionals can’t nominate themselves so please consider who might deserve to be celebrated.

‍We have changed the criteria for the Distinguished Service Awards this year and this is now also an award that can not be self-nominated for. Please take a look at our updated criteria and checklist for this award.

Nominations are now open – they close on 19 June. You can find all the criteria and nomination forms here: https://www.archives.org.uk/ara-awards

‍If you would like an informal chat about putting together a nomination either for yourself or your service or someone else then please do get in touch – I’m very happy to help!

‍You can contact me at deborah.mason@archives.org.uk – or simply reply to this email.

Deborah Mason

Head of Communications

Thumbnail image shows winners from the 2025 awards.

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