Dragon Awards

Apply for an Award

The Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards celebrated excellence in social impact both within Greater London and nationally, for the Lord Mayor’s Award category.

The Dragon Awards welcomed applications from all businesses and community organisations (community organisations including social enterprises are eligible to apply for the Community Partners Award only).

This section of the website sets out information on how to apply to the Dragon Awards. Find out about the different award categories, the application process and the guidelines.

For further information on the Awards, have a look at the frequently asked questions to find out more.

See who will be choosing the winning applications by reading more about the Dragon Awards judging panel.

Dragon Awards

Eligibility

Before applying to the Awards, we asked all aspiring applicants to read our terms and conditions below to check eligibility. A list of categories can be found here.

  • Any organisation making an application must have a significant presence in London.
  • With the exception of the Lord Mayor’s Award, all categories focus on work carried out in Greater London. If you are describing a national project with a London element, make sure the London part is clearly identified, quantified and described fully. Only give as much detail about the wider project as is necessary to set the context.
  • Applications encouraged from organisations that work with a number of different community partners, and from organisations that have chosen to invest in one partner.
  • If your initiative is part of a wider programme with other organisations, you must focus on the impact your business has made specifically rather than the programme as a whole.
  • Applications from small and medium-sized organisations (SMEs) are encouraged.
  • The Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards recognise and celebrate organisations going beyond their core business product or service to have a social impact. Applications will be disqualified if the initiative described is judged to form part or an extension of the organisation’s core commercial and/or delivery activities or if activities are part of any legal obligation. For example, businesses required to engage with communities as part of their Section 106 obligations will need to demonstrate how their community contributions significantly exceed their legal requirements in order to be eligible.
  • The same initiative cannot be submitted in more than one category and and only one application can be made per initiative. All partners involved in the same initiative must decide which category it best fits into and submit one application to that category only. There is no limit to the number of applications each organisation may submit provided the initiatives detailed are different.
  • Corporate charitable foundations should apply in the business facing categories only.
  • In order to score highly, you will need to be able to demonstrate the impact of your initiative to your business, your beneficiaries and wider society.
  • Any initiative you apply with must still be running at the time applications open.
  • If your initiative was shortlisted in 2022 you can apply again with the same initiative (or another) in any category, however the judges will be looking for ways in which your initiative has developed over the past year.
  • If your initiative won an award in (2022), it should not be entered in any category for three years following receiving the award. For example, any initiative that won in 2022 should not be entered again until 2026 (i.e. ineligible for 2023, 2024 and 2025).  When submitting in following years the initiative should have had substantial changes made to it since winning the award. You may apply with a different initiative to this year’s Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards.

Entries received after applications close will not be processed.

The Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards are open to businesses of all size and sector that are achieving excellence in social impact.

Before Deciding Whether to Apply Please Read the Following Conditions:

The following does not apply to the Lord Mayor’s Award category. Please see separate conditions below.

  1. Any organisation making an application must have a significant presence in London.
  2. With the exception of the Lord Mayor’s Award, all categories focus on work carried out in Greater London. If you are describing a national project with a London element, make sure the London part is clearly identified, quantified and described fully. Only give as much detail about the wider project as is necessary to set the context.
  3. The Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards recognise and celebrate organisations going beyond their core business product or service to have a social impact. Applications will be disqualified if the initiative described is judged to form part or an extension of the organisation’s core commercial and/or delivery activities or if activities are part of any legal obligation. For example, businesses required to engage with communities as part of their Section 106 obligations will need to demonstrate how their community contributions significantly exceed their legal requirements in order to be eligible.
  4. The same initiative cannot be submitted in more than one category and and only one application can be made per initiative. All partners involved in the same initiative must decide which category it best fits into and submit one application to that category only. There is no limit to the number of applications each organisation may submit provided the initiatives detailed are different.
  5. Corporate charitable foundations should contact us to discuss whether or not you are eligible to apply. If eligible you are welcome to apply in the business facing categories only.
  6. In order to score highly, you will need to be able to demonstrate the impact of your initiative to your business, your beneficiaries and wider society.
  7. The judging panels reserve the right to transfer applications to a different category if they believe them to have been incorrectly assigned.

Previous Applicants:

  1. If your initiative was shortlisted in 2022 you can apply again with the same initiative (or another) in any category, however the judges will be looking for ways in which your initiative has developed over the past year.
  2. If your initiative won an award in (2022), it should not be entered in any category for three years following receiving the award. For example, any initiative that won in 2022 should not be entered again until 2026 (i.e. ineligible for 2023, 2024 and 2025).  When submitting in following years the initiative should have had substantial changes made to it since winning the award. You may apply with a different initiative to this year’s Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards.

Use in Promotion of the Awards:

  1.  Your responses to the questions may be used on the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards website, Twitter feed, and for press releases. Any photographic material you provide may also be used on the website or to promote the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards or other City Corporation work, unless otherwise specified. However, this material will not be considered by the judges.
Dragon Awards

FAQs

I am based outside the Square Mile - can I still apply?

Yes. The Dragon Awards are open to any organisations making a positive impact in any of the 33 boroughs in London. Our Regional Impact Award recognises national impact and work outside of London. If you have any questions or concerns about the application process, please email us.

Why aren't environmental issues covered by the Dragon Awards?

Environmental issues are covered by other awards programmes hosted by the City of London Corporation – such as the Clean City Awards.

Can I apply to the Dragon Awards with a partner organisation?

Yes. Two or more companies may apply jointly where they are working in equal partnership on a particular initiative, but only one application should be submitted. In the event that the application should win, Dragons may be awarded to all parties named as applicants.

Can I apply to the Dragon Awards in more than one award category?

Each initiative should only be submitted in one category, but there is no limit on the number of different applications submitted by an organisation.

Can I nominate a business that I partner with for an award?

Schools, charities and community organisations may submit applications on behalf of their corporate partners in any of the business facing categories but should discuss it with the company first. It should be noted that in the event that the application should win, the Dragon would be awarded to the company and not to the community partner. Failure to discuss the application with your corporate partner may lead to disqualification.

Can I nominate a community partner for an award?

Businesses or public sector organisations may submit an application on behalf of their community partner in the Community Partners Award but should discuss it with the community organisation first. It should be noted that in the event that the application should win, the Dragon would be awarded to the community partner and not to the corporate partner. Failure to discuss the application with your community partner may lead to disqualification.

Can I submit extra material with my application?

You may submit up to 10 photos with your application. We ask that one of these be your organisation’s logo. Extra material will only be used if your application is shortlisted. Judges will not use extra material to assess your project. We do not accept any other material, such as CSR Reports or Annual Reports.

I do not have any photos to submit with my application. Will I be disadvantaged?

No. Any extra material or media submitted with your application will not be used to judge your application.

I won a Dragon Award last year. Can I still apply?

If your initiative won an award in (2021), it should not be entered in any category for three years following receiving the award. For example, any initiative that won in 2021 should not be entered again until 2025. When submitting in following years the initiative should have had substantial changes made to it since winning the award. You may apply with a different initiative to this year’s Dragon Awards.

I am a small or medium sized enterprise. Can I apply?

Yes. Small and medium-sized enterprises are encouraged to apply in any of the categories. The judges will take into account the relative size and resources of applicants, so smaller organisations (including community organisations) will not be disadvantaged.

I am a charity or school. Can I apply?

Charitable organisations and schools can apply for the Community Partners Award. Charitable organisations and schools can also nominate their business partners in the other categories, but they should check with their business partner beforehand (if the application wins, the nominated business would receive the award).

Can you offer me an example of a good application?

Our Case Studies provide descriptions of the winners and short-listed candidates.

Can I have help with my application?

Members of the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards team will be available to answer your questions. Please contact us.

How do you choose the winners?

A preliminary judging panel made up of responsible business professionals will meet and decide on a shortlist of applications. You will receive an email informing you whether or not your application has been shortlisted. Feedback will be available on request. The Lord Mayor’s final judging panel will then meet to decide on the winners.

When will the Dragon Awards winners be announced?

At the Dragon Awards dinner, the date of which is 26 September 2023.

Why does the Lord Mayor hold the Dragon Awards?

The Lord Mayor is the head of the City of London, the body that provides local government services for the financial heart of Europe. The policies that the City of London Corporation pursues, and the high standard of services that it provides, are dedicated to maintaining and enhancing the Square Mile’s status as the world’s leading international financial business centre.

Still have a question? Please email us.

Dragon Awards

Application Process

1) All applications must be made on the official online application forms which have set word limits. These have been set to assist the judges in making the fairest decisions possible. If you encounter any problems or have any questions regarding your application, please don’t hesitate to contact us directly.

2) If you have any photographic material relevant to your application, please submit it with your application form (please see note about visual material on the right of this page). Do not send any other supporting information such as annual reports, CSR reports or other literature associated with your project.

3) Once you have completed your application you will need to click ‘submit’ at the bottom of the page. After your application has been submitted you will not have the option to edit the application form. If you are not ready to submit your application you have the option to ‘Save Draft’ until you are happy with your completed application. After you have submitted your application you will receive an email confirming your submission.

4) A preliminary judging panel made up of responsible business professionals will meet and decide on a shortlist of applications.

5) You will receive an email informing you whether or not your application has been shortlisted. Feedback is available for all non-shortlisted applications; you may also check the website for a posting of shortlisted candidates.

6) The Lord Mayor’s final judging panel will meet to decide on the winners from the shortlisted applications.

7) The winners of the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards 2023 will be announced at celebration dinner hosted by the Lord Mayor at Mansion House on 10 October. Finalists will be contacted about invitations in due course. Feedback is available for non-winning applications if required.

8) After the Awards Ceremony you may be asked to provide feedback on the application process. Your comments will help us continuously improve the Lord Mayor’s Dragon Awards scheme.

Dragon Awards

A note on visual material

Please provide a high resolution organisational logo and any photography that represents your initiative. These will only be used if your application is shortlisted, for publicity and during the Dragon Awards dinner. They will not be used as part of the judging process. Please include the name of your organisation in the title of the file of any logo’s and photography you upload.

Dragon Awards

A note on visual material

Please provide a high resolution organisational logo and any photography that represents your initiative. These will only be used if your application is shortlisted, for publicity and during the Dragon Awards dinner. They will not be used as part of the judging process. Please include the name of your organisation in the title of the file of any logo’s and photography you upload.

Dragon Awards Apply

Guidance

We want you to put your best foot forward and we have plenty of help on hand. We suggest that all applicants take a look at the information below for guidance on your application. You should also download the Guidance for the category you are applying to (found on the Award Category pages) and follow this when making your application.

You must read the terms and conditions before applying to the Awards. By making an application to the Awards you are agreeing to the terms and conditions.

FAQ
Terms and Conditions