Royal Honours are announced this week – do you know someone worthy?

Date Posted:Mon, 6th Jan 2025

This week, the Cabinet and Foreign & Commonwealth Offices in London published the New Years Honours list, recognising those who are working at the top of their field, and/or for their local/global communities. The honours lists (published twice a year, at New Year, and on the monarch’s official birthday in June) acknowledge a diverse group of British and international individuals who are undertaking great work and making an important contribution – to their industry and to the people around them.

Joining this exclusive group of the great and the good brings with it a level of prestige that is unparalleled. Quite simply, it is the accolade that money cannot buy and remains the most high profile and sought after award in the world.

King’s Honour Consultant, Jo Spencer, whose company, Jo Spencer Consulting, has recently opened an office in Dubai, has, for more than a decade, helped hundreds of worthy people secure Knighthoods, Damehoods, CBE’s, OBE’s, MBE’s, and BEM’s, from entrepreneurs to philanthropists and community champions.

So, who can be recognised and how do you get a King’s Honour?

Generally, accolades are presented to those who fall into two categories: those involved in voluntary/community service and those at the top of their field such as outstanding entrepreneurs, business leaders, scientists and educators.

Individuals can nominate anyone for an honour if they live or work in the UK or abroad and have made significant impact in either. And anyone, based anywhere in the world that meets the criteria, can be nominated.

The benefits of receiving an honour are life changing. Many of those who nominate an individual do so, not only to secure recognition for their achievements, but to highlight the work they are doing. Many use their honour as a ‘platform’ to do even greater things – both through business and charitable endeavours. An honour is also hugely valuable for individuals who wish to exit their business, or move on to non-executive positions and other high-level appointments.

Approximately 2,300 honours are awarded each year across ten sectors (community/voluntary, economy/business, arts & media, health, state, education, sport, science, technology & research, public service and parliamentary & political service). Last week, more than 1,200 people from fields including sport, business, entertainment and science were recognised.

Once a nomination has been submitted to the Cabinet or Foreign and Commonwealth Office, it is passed to the Honours and Appointments Secretariat, then to one of the ten specialist committees with promising candidates assessed by the main honours committee. Definitive recommendations are subsequently made to the Prime Minister prior to final approval by the King. The process can take between 18-24 months from start to finish.

“When it comes to King’s honours, the press tends to focus on celebrities and politicians, but the truth is that the majority of recipients are ordinary people doing extraordinary things, worldwide. That’s really who the Honours Committee seeks to recognise,” explains Jo, who can spend more than 150 hours on each nomination, which can be 8,000-10,000 words long.

"Of course, anyone can submit a nomination by downloading the relevant forms from the Cabinet or Foreign & Commonwealth Office website and completing them; clients come to us however, because of our expertise, and of course, they want the best possible chance of success. After all, you only get one shot.”

Do you know someone who deserves recognition for outstanding contribution in the UAE, UK or further afield? If you would like further information on how to nominate for an honour, please get in touch: Jo Spencer – +971 58 538 6826; +44 7887 868269; [email protected]