Types of Honours - what they are for

Companion of Honour Awarded for a pre-eminent and sustained contribution in the arts, science, medicine, or government.

Knight/Dame  Awarded for a pre-eminent contribution in any field of activity, through: achievement or service to the community usually, but not exclusively, at national level or in a capacity which will be recognised by peer groups as inspirational and significant nationally and which demonstrates sustained commitment.

CBE Awarded for a prominent national role of a lesser degree; or a conspicuous leading role in regional affairs, through achievement or service to the community; or making a highly distinguished, innovative contribution in his or her area of activity.

OBE Awarded for a distinguished regional or country-wide role in any field; through achievement or service to the community; including notable practitioners known nationally.

MBE Awarded for achievement or service in and to the community of a responsible kind which is outstanding in its field or very local ‘hands-on’ service which stands out as an example to others.

The Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion
The Queen's Award for Enterprise Promotion recognises individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to promoting business enterprise skills and attitudes in other people – for example among young people or those in disadvantaged communities or in under-represented groups. These activities could be at a national, regional or local level. For further information go to the honours section of www.direct.gov.uk

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service 
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to volunteer groups across the UK for outstanding work in their local communities. Any group of two or more people doing volunteering work that is a social, economic or environmental service to the community could receive the award. In order to be nominated, volunteer groups should do work that provides activities and meets a need for people living in the community, is supported, recognised and respected by the community and the people who benefit from it and has developed and is run locally.
For more information on how to nominate a group in your community, go to the honours section of  www.direct.gov.uk

The Process - what happens

Nominations are usually made by members of the public and others using the form available on the honours section of the www.direct.gov.uk website and from government departments.

Nominators are asked to provide at least two letters of support for a candidate in order to be able to develop a rounded picture. The Nominations Team at the Ceremonial Secretariat receives on average 3,500 each year. 

There are eight specialist committees which assess nominations. Each candidate’s case goes through a number of stages before it reaches one of the central honours committees.

Recommendations that start as public nominationforms sent to the Honours and Appointments Secretariat are sifted and checked by the Secretariat. Some cases are forwarded to the appropriate government department for consideration. The remainder are processed by the Secretariat and comments sought from Lord Lieutenants, outside bodies and departments which have an interest in an aspect of the candidate's work. Only once all these checks have been undertaken are cases distilled into citations.

Stakeholders such as NHS Trusts, educational bodies, the CBI and universities are regularly asked for suggestions as to candidates for honours. Departments check and sift such candidates. Then, together with candidates who have come from the public, they send the citationsto Honours and Appointments Secretariat for submission to one of the specialist honours committees. Departments submit only the strongest citations for consideration.

The specialist committees examined 10,681 citations during the period 2006-
2008, 38 per cent of which had either originated from nominations by members of the public or third party/public/private sector organisations, or had been supported by members of the public.

Honours are bestowed by the Sovereign. Those in the Prime Minister’s List are bestowed on the basis of recommendations from the independent honours committees.

For further information see: Three Years of Operation of the Reformed Honours System
at www.direct.gov.uk

For further information about Do the Honours for Essex campaign contact
Stuart Rawlins on 07946468202 or e-mail srawlins@editorial-matters.co.uk