The Trusted Trader of the Month award started life as a simple competition on our Facebook page and @WhichTraders on Twitter.
But as Trusted Traders has grown and the standard of entries has increased, the scope has changed.
It’s evolved into an award to recognise the businesses that best embody our values and offer exceptional service to their customers and communities.
As a result, we’ve refined the rules and entry procedure to help our judges find the most deserving winners.
How to enter
Traders are no longer entered automatically for the Trader of the Month award. You also can’t enter anymore by using #WhichTOTM on social media, although you can still use the hashtag to link up with the Trusted Trader community and find out about the winners.
The only way to be considered for the award is to apply, by contacting your account manager for an application form.
There are several essential criteria you must meet to be eligible to apply. These include factors such as the length of your endorsement, the number of recent reviews you’ve had, and your use of the Trusted Trader logo.
Our judges also look to see if you meet certain desirable criteria showing that your business has the ‘wow factor’. These could include:
- reviews that show you’ve gone ‘above and beyond’ what is expected
- using the Trusted Traders scheme creatively within your business
- evidence of community engagement or working to improve industry standards.
You can find a full list of the essential criteria, and more ideas to meet the desirable criteria, in our guidance to the Which? Trusted Trader Award process.
Or why not take a look at the past Which? Trusted Trader of the Month winners for inspiration?
What’s in it for you?
To put it simply, winning the award is good PR for you and your business.
You get a winner’s logo that you can use for a year, which traders have displayed in locations such as their shop window, on their van, and on their website.
We shout about your achievements, too, by publishing an article about you on our website. This is shared in our monthly newsletter and on the Which? Twitter and Facebook channels.
Some of our past winners have even used the award to promote their business in their local press.
You’ll also have a shot at being part of the annual Which? Awards – a high-profile scheme that recognises the UK’s very best companies across a number of categories, as judged by our experts, Which? members and the general public.
All our monthly winners are put on the longlist for the scheme’s Trader of the Year accolade, so you could find yourself lifting the trophy at the Which? Awards ceremony in London.
So what are you waiting for? Read our guidance to the Which? Trusted Trader Award process for all the rules, deadlines and the terms and conditions, and get your entry in.