The hidden benefits of entering M+H Awards, according to winners

With entries for the 2026 Museums + Heritage Awards closing this Friday 30 January, last year’s winners have reflected on their roads to success.

Their message, time and again, is that the application process itself has delivered benefits that extend far beyond the trophy.

A team exercise in its own right

Kim McCabe, director of people at the National Galleries of Scotland, whose team won Team of the Year, emphasised the collective value of the application process.

“It’s a fantastic chance to pause and appreciate everything you’ve accomplished as you prepare your submission. There’s nothing to lose and so much to gain!” McCabe says.

“I’d encourage anyone with a great story to go for it and celebrate what you’ve achieved. Even if you don’t win, it’s a wonderful way to come together as a team and reflect on your hard work.”

Alexander Goodger, director at Stourbridge Glass Museum, which won joint Sustainable Project of the Year, frames it as an act of institutional documentation.

“Entering awards is not just about winning, it’s about declaring your value, raising your profile, and giving your incredible team the external recognition they so richly deserve. It forces you to articulate your successes and can be a transformative moment for morale, just as it was for us.”

It's a fantastic chance to pause and appreciate everything you've accomplished as you prepare your submission. There's nothing to lose and so much to gain!

Taking stock of incremental progress

For Rachel Minott, head of access, diversity & inclusion at Wellcome Collection and winner of the inaugural Visitor Accessibility Award, the application provided a rare moment of recognition in work where progress can feel invisible.

“Working in access, diversity and inclusion, it can be difficult to focus on the wins because the work is about progress against larger inequities and the incremental changes can be very difficult to notice,” Minott explains.

“Moments like these are so important, to take stock to record how far we’ve come and the fruits of our labour.”

Cathy Hakes at The D-Day Story, which won Shop of the Year in 2025, said the act of documenting their shop transformation crystallised what the team had achieved.

“It’s another thing to do, and you’re tired and you’ve had a long week,” the Head of Museums at Portsmouth City Council admits. But the exercise proved more valuable than she expected.

“Even just the process of filling in the application form… it’s really worth it for people putting themselves forward.”

‘Your size is your superpower’ 

Goodger is particularly keen to challenge the assumption that awards are the preserve of major institutions. His volunteer-led museum competed against the Natural History Museum, National Trust, and Perth Museum.

“Your size is your superpower, not your weakness. Large institutions have vast resources, but you have agility, passion, and a unique story,” Goodger argues.

“Awards panels aren’t just looking for the shiniest, most expensive project; they are looking for innovation, genuine impact, and authentic stories. Your grassroots perspective, your deep community ties, and your ability to pivot and innovate out of necessity are precisely what set you apart.”

Hakes echoes this encouragement for hesitant applicants. “I’m sure there’s lots and lots of projects going on across the country, and maybe people just don’t feel that their project is up there, but I think they should give it a go. Sometimes people find it hard to sell what they’re doing.”

“I come across people all the time, they’re doing brilliant, amazing things and sometimes they just need a bit of a nudge.”

Anna Preedy, director of Museums + Heritage, said: “We know entrants are time-stretched, and that’s why we’ve worked hard to craft an application process that is easy for all to complete”.