Guild awards for rookie motoring writers open

Two awards from the Guild of Motoring Writers are aiming to launch new faces into careers in automotive media. The Sir William Lyons Award, aimed at young people, and the Breakthrough Award aimed at people currently outside professional motoring journalism, are open now and both are free to enter.

Candidates for these awards need to act fast – the closing date for both awards is 17 November.

Sir William Lyons Award sponsored by Jaguar

The prestigious Jaguar/GOMW Sir William Lyons Award is now open for entries, offering aspiring motoring journalists aged 17-23 their first step on the career ladder to becoming a professional writer.

After celebrating 50 years of the award in 2016, the 2017 prize will once again be presented at the Royal Automobile Club during the Guild Annual Dinner and Awards. It gives the winner their first chance to network with potential employers and PR colleagues.

The prize also includes £1,000 in cash, two years’ provisional membership of the Guild of Motoring Writers, and a work experience package arranged with the help of the Guild Committee.

On the judging panel for the 2017 Award is Sir William Lyons’ grandson, Michael Quinn, plus Guild Chairman Andrew Noakes and the Jaguar UK PR team.

Known as the one to win for young writers keen to break into the motoring industry, former winners include 2016’s Helena Hicks, plus Tony Dron, David Vivian, Tim Pollard, Richard Aucock and Andrew Brady.

Entrants are asked to produce TWO features.

1: Conduct an interview with an important figure in the automotive industry. This should be EITHER 500 words OR up to a 2-minute video OR a 2-minute podcast/radio interview.

2: Write a 1,000-word article OR film up to a 5-minute video OR a 5-minute podcast/radio interview on: “How will the world of motoring change in the next decade?”

The prize includes:

  • Cash prize fund of £1,000
  • Work experience package
  • Two years’ provisional membership of the Guild
  • Invitation to the Guild Annual Dinner at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London, on 30 November

CLOSING DATE 17 NOVEMBER

(Entrants are required to confirm their availability to attend the Annual Dinner and Awards on the evening of 30 November if they win)

Entries should be submitted to GOMW Honorary Secretary Chris Adamson at: . They should include the following details:

  • Full name
  • Address
  • Telephone
  • Date of birth
  • Current employment status
  • Education
  • Journalistic experience

For more information, see: https://www.gomw.co.uk/awards/sir-william-lyons

Breakthrough Award sponsored by Motoring Research

The Motoring Research Breakthrough Award aims to help give the most promising enthusiast motoring journalists their first professional editorial gig.

Formerly the Breakthrough Blogger Award, it’s been refocused for 2017 to look at new talent across all platforms – including social media, YouTube, podcasts and other emerging outlets.

Judges are looking for clear demonstrations of talent, creative uses of platforms and channels, strong editorial potential and a good helping of enthusiasm. All the necessary ingredients to give Breakthrough winners the best possible chance of turning their hobby into a paid professional career.

The prize is, thus, professionally focused: the winner will get their first paid work experience job, providing content for the Motoring Research publishing network.

Former winners of the Motoring Research Breakthrough Award include Keith Jones (now continuity editor at Parkers), Chris Auty, John Redfern (now newsletter editor at Motoring Research) and Ben Gribbin.

Candidates are asked to tell us why they deserve the opportunity to make a breakthrough into the professional world of motoring journalism. 

Up to three examples of work can be highlighted, along with a link to the title, channel or other platform they would like to be considered for the Breakthrough Award.

The award is only open to rookie journalists who would not be eligible for either Full or Associate membership of the Guild of Motoring Writers.

The prize includes: 

  • Paid work experience package with Motoring Research
  • Two years’ provisional membership of the Guild
  • Invitation to the Guild Annual Dinner at the Royal Automobile Club in Pall Mall, London, on 30 November

CLOSING DATE 17 NOVEMBER

(Entrants are required to confirm their availability to attend the Annual Dinner and Awards on the evening of 30 November if they win)

Entries should be submitted to GOMW Honorary Secretary Chris Adamson at: honsec@gomw.co.uk. They should include the following details:

  • Full name
  • Address
  • Telephone
  • Date of birth
  • Current employment status
  • Education
  • Journalistic experience