Terms and Conditions - International Quality Awards 2026

Terms and Conditions 

These terms and conditions are between the Chartered Quality Institute (‘the CQI’), a registered charity in England and Wales (charity no. 259678), and each Applicant for one or more awards that may be announced at the International Quality Awards (‘the Awards’) ceremony at Quality Live 2025.The Awards Process is set by the CQI. The CQI assembles one or more Judging Panels that decide the finalists and winners of each award through a Judging Process that is part of the overall Awards Process. 

Applications 

The Applicant may make one or more applications for the Awards across the available categories. Where an Applicant submits more than one application for a category of Award, only the latest submission before the final deadline for submitting applications for that category of Award will be considered by a Judging Panel. The Applicant agrees to comply with all rules set by the CQI regarding the Applicant’s entry for the Awards. The Applicant agrees that failure to comply with any relevant rule may lead to disqualification of the Applicant’s entry to the Awards.  

For example, the Applicant understands that failure to evidence a current, fully-paid CQI membership or IRCA certification, for awards categories that are restricted to members will result in the disqualification of the Applicant from those awards. Applicants will be disqualified from receiving any Award that is in a category sponsored by their employers. The Applicant warrants that the work submitted by the Applicant for consideration in the Awards is the work of the Applicant. The Applicant agrees to procure, from the Applicant’s employers or former employers, any permission that may be needed to submit an application, before that application is submitted. 

Entry fees 

There is a fee of £299 +VAT per entry to the Digital Transformation, Developing Quality Talent, Quality Team of the Year and Quality Organisation of the Year award categories. The only exemption is for CQI corporate partners who can enter these awards for free as part of their partnership. 

Entry fees should be paid at the same time as the final award submission is made and should be paid using a credit or debit card through the awards portal. Submissions that are made without the accompanying entry fee having been paid will be disqualified. The deadline for all entries and related entry fees is 11:59pm GMT on Friday 30 January 2026. 

There is no fee for Applicants entering the Emerging Talent, Quality Professional of the Year or Honourary Award categories. 

The judging process 

Each category has a Judging Panel made up of independent subject-matter experts. The CQI does not have influence over the shortlisting process, with the exception of the Honourary Awards. In the case of a conflict of interest identified by a member of the Judging Panel, the CQI will appoint a reserve Judge who will score that particular entry. 

The Applicant understands that the Judging Panel will only consider the first 1,500 words of any entry for the Awards, and the first six PowerPoint-compatible slides. 

The Judging Panels for the Digital Transformation and Quality Organisation of the Year award entries will consider a 2,000-word limit and the first eight PowerPoint-compatible slides. 

Text or slides over these limits will not be considered by the Judging Panels. No other information will be considered during the Judging Process unless it is otherwise specifically required by the award category in question. 

The Applicant understands that decisions of a Judging Panel with respect to the merit of an application are final and non-justiciable. Complaints with respect to the Judging Process may be submitted to the CQI, who will establish any parameters for the investigation of such complaints. The Applicant agrees that the decision of the CQI is determinative in the case of a complaint regarding any aspect of the Judging Process. There is no process of reconsideration or appeal from the final decision of the CQI.  

The CQI may take any measures in response to a complaint that it deems necessary, at its sole discretion, to preserve the integrity or the reputation of the Awards. In particular, the CQI has the right to terminate this Agreement at any time. For example, the CQI may terminate this Agreement if an Applicant is linked in any way, directly or indirectly, to any situation that could bring the CQI or the Awards into disrepute. There is no process of reconsideration, appeal or arbitration from the decision of the CQI to terminate this Agreement, and the Applicant agrees that any such decision of the CQI is determinative. 

Case studies and publicity 

The CQI may process the personal data of any Applicant who is designated a finalist or a winner in any category of Award – including but not limited to data concerning competence, experience and achievement that were submitted in the relevant application – to create one or more case studies. If a case study is to be produced, the CQI will provide the Applicant an opportunity to review the Case Study for accuracy of the material before publication. The CQI agrees not to publish personal data of a sensitive nature without the approval of the Applicant or confidential data which could compromise the business activity of the Applicant or their employer. The Applicant agrees to procure from their employers or other third parties implicated in a case study, any necessary approvals for publication. Footage of the Applicant’s presentation to the judges at interview stage may be featured in case studies. Case studies may take the form of print, video or digital articles and may be shared in Quality World magazine, on the CQI website or via CQI’s digital channels.