In Pursuit of Excellence – 10 Years On

In the year before the dawn of the new millennium, when the postal industry worldwide was undergoing considerable change, sat in his office at Triangle, Neil Jackson had a ‘Eureka’ moment! The industry was developing, deregulation was happening, new operators were emerging, and yet there were no international awards to recognise achievement in one of the largest industries in the world. Buoyed with enthusiasm, Neil developed a presentation and started to take soundings from his clients within the industry. Every meeting produced a very positive response, and having worked out the logistics with his team, the World Mail Awards were born!

Over the following months extensive preparations were made ahead of the first ceremony in May 2000 in Paris at the World Mail & Express Europe conference. The initial awards consisted of just four categories – Internet Commerce, Innovation, Customer Service and Airmail Carrier of the Year. Having been deluged with applications since the Awards were launched, two further categories were added in 2001 and today, on the eve of the 10^th Awards, there are twelve awards to be won.

The awards have continued to grow from strength to strength and in 2006, reflecting changing times, two new awards were introduced – Corporate Social Responsibility and People Management. In 2007 Growth and Retail Project were introduced, reflecting not only the range of interest in the awards but also the expansion of possibilities in an industry that just keeps evolving.

One of the most prestigious honours is that given for Industry Leadership, first introduced in 2003. This award, recognising individuals or organisations for significant advancements in the postal sector, is the only one for which no entries can be made – the winner is selected by a special panel of judges from a shortlist of nominations put forward.

As the Awards have evolved, so has their commercial potential. From humble beginnings, the annual awards ceremony is now held on the evening before the World Mail & Express European conference, with presentations made at a glittering black-tie Gala Dinner attended by more than 300 senior executives in the postal industry. The awards are compered each year by an internationally renowned personality, recent hosts having included France’s most experienced journalist Alex Taylor, former Miss Belgium Anne de Baetzalier, Italian TV celebrity Milly Carlucci and BBC broadcasting legend Angela Rippon.

6^th May 2009 sees the presentation of the 10^th World Mail Awards in Munich, again on the eve of the World Mail & Express Europe conference. They are being eagerly anticipated as a host of postal operators around the world wait to see if they will be the lucky recipient of a prestigious award. Whilst they may not yet have the history and heritage of the Oscars, probably the best-known awards ceremony in the world, they are certainly getting there. As Thomas Leavey, then Director General of the influential UPU said, “I believe that the World Mail Awards is a first class incentive to encourage excellence and best practice among the world’s postal organisations”.

With an endorsement like that, and interest from around the world increasing every year, Neil Jackson can look back on his twentieth century moment of inspiration with pride!

10 years of the World Mail Awards – the key facts:

• 80 awards have been presented
• Over 1300 award nominations have been received
• More than 3000 people have attended the presentation ceremonies