Investor relations teams at any company listed and domiciled in Europe can be entered.

Entries can be submitted directly by a company nominating themselves, or by a vendor/service provider on behalf of a nominee.

There are no restrictions on the number of categories a company can be entered into. Multiple entries may also be submitted into the same category, but make clear who is being nominated.

IMPORTANT: for all categories, entries must be based on activities over the past 12 months.

• Best IR by a small-cap senior managment team: Best performance by an IR team, which can include a CFO, CEO or other c-suite professional that contributes to the IR function of your company.
  
  
• Best IR by a small cap company (under EUR 250 million): Best overall performance in investor relations for a small cap company whose market cap is under (EUR) 250 million. Have an outstanding IR website? Is your IR team on the cutting edge of technology? Use multimedia innovatively? Has your team gone above and beyond to support a recent corporate transaction? Tell us about it. Your company could be our next all-star!
  
  
• Best IR by a small cap company (EUR 250 million - 500 million): Best overall performance in investor relations for a small cap company whose market cap is between (EUR) 250 million and 500 million. Have an outstanding IR website? Is your IR team on the cutting edge of technology? Use multimedia innovatively? Has your team gone above and beyond to support a recent corporate transaction? Tell us about it. Your company could be our next all-star!

Before starting your entry, please carefully read the information provided to ensure you fully understand the requirements and criteria. 

Entrants will be asked to complete three mandatory parts of the entry form and there will be an opportunity to add supporting documents, where relevant. 

1. Challenges and objectives* (150 words max): set the scene! Outline the reasons the team should be considered in the category and a description of the relevant circumstances, objectives and timeframes.

2. Strategy and implementation* (150 words max): a summary of the strategy adopted by the nominee and the activities he or she has undertaken.

3. Results* (300 words max): why the outcome was a success, including details about the cost-effectiveness, impact on company, effect on share price, involvement of outside service providers and creativity of approach.

4. Supporting materials: submit up to three supporting materials with your written entry, although this is not mandatory. Documents should be relevant to the nominated category and referred to within the previous sections.

* Mandatory sections

How much does it cost to enter?
For 2018, the awards are free to enter.

Can I start my entry online and finish it at a later date? 
Unfortunately the online entry form does not allow you to save an unfinished entry to be completed at a later date. We advise that you write your entry in a word document and gather all supporting materials before completing the online entry form.

Can I amend my entry once it has been submitted?
No, entries cannot be amended once they have been submitted, which is also why we urge you to draft your entry and gather all supporting materials before completing your entry online. 

What supporting materials are allowed?
We accept the following file types: pdf, doc, docx, xls, xlsx, csv, txt, rtf, html, zip, mp3, wma, mpg, flv, avi, jpg, jpeg, png, gif. Any links to websites should be collated in a document and uploaded seperately.

There is no limit or word count for supporting documents, but please avoid including superfluous documents if they are not relevant to the entry, as these may damage your submission rather than support it.

Remember it is quality and relevance that matter, and we want to see anything that showcases excellence!

Can I submit supporting documents that are written in my native language?
No. We can only accept supporting documents written in English. 

Who are the judges?
The judging panel is made up of investment professionals and IR Magazine editorial team members. Keep checking our website for updates: events.irmagazine.com/smallcapeurope/

How will my entry be judged?
The judging process is made up of two simple phases:

Phase 1: Judges are sent all submissions for review. They are asked to score the entries for each category based on the criteria. The judges scores will then be collated and averaged, which will form the initial short lists. 

Phase 2: For the second phase, judges come together to discuss, with renewed scrutiny, those entries that have made it through to the shortlist. This final stage will determine the winners in each category. 

The judges scores will not be shared with nominees, however, comments may be published in articles or reports after the event. The judges are not required to make comments against every submission. 

Will my entry be shared with anyone else apart from IR Magazine and the judging panel?
Your entry (including any files you upload) may be made public after the awards to substantiate your nomination. If you do not wish for your entry to be shared in this way then you should mark it as confidential. There will be an opportunity to do this during the entry form. 

When will I know if my entry has made the short list?
We will inform short listed companies and individuals from mid-March by telephone and email.

I have a question that is not answered here. Who do I contact?
You can contact Lauren Wilson, senior events manager by email at lauren.wilson@irmagazine.com or call +44 (0)20 8004 5339.

I have all of the information I need, how do I start my entry?
Click on the Next button below. You will be asked to fill in the written entry fields, upload your supporting materials (if applicable) and finally, enter your contact details. 

How do I book seats for the event?
You can book your place at the event directly on our website: events.irmagazine.com/smallcapeurope/home/book-seats/

Good luck!