Honours

[Whicker]

I’m noticing some of my peer group picking up honours in the past few years. There’s not much difference between those who do and those who don’t get one - it’s the same peer group as in same professional fields and levels, same extra curriculars, same type of boards, trustee-ships, advisory councils and so on. What makes the difference? Is it something you’re meant to ask for, but no-one tells you you’re meant to ask, or how to?

You have to be nominated to get one. Anyone can nominate you, and although in theory you’re not supposed to talk to them about it/ ask for it, obviously that happens.

Thanks @RightSaidFrederica , that’s what I’d been wondering. But how do you know who to ask? Is it a question of finding out the committee for your field, or someone who regularly nominates and then just being shameless about saying “I’m interested in being put forward for an honour?”

Anyone can nominate you, they have to submit a form about why you’re wonderful. Details here https://www.gov.uk/honours

Thanks - I understand how the technical side of nominations works. It’s the backroom conversation bit that I’m really trying to understand.

Hi - I used to sit on some of the Honours Committees. You need someone to nominate you and other people to write letters confirming that you are, indeed, wonderful.

Most people - mostly men - are shameless and we used to see self nominations (I think these are no longer allowed) and thinly veiled self nominations, where they wrote the nomination themselves and got a colleague to sign it.

It can all be a bit of a game at the end of the day. I found the whole thing distasteful, particularly the lobbying and the bitchfest for senior nominations where committee members often knew the person nominated.

I actually sit on a sort of panel too - an ALB sift panel, before it goes on to the proper committee that I guess is the type you sat on, @ThePussy . I think I might just have been a bit naive about thinking that the nominations we looked at were made quite genuinely by dispassionate observers, without any prompting or agitating!

I don’t disagree with anything you’re saying about the distasteful elements of the whole business, by the way!

There are consultants you can pay to advise you on how to secure one. Quite expensive consultants, but within reach of ambitious high fliers. And they get results.

Oh my God, that’s madness!

My husband just got an OBE 😊

I know a few people who have Honors and TBH are not any more deserving than others who I know! Maybe in some cases, far less deserving.

It definitely wasn't a surprise to them, the majority of them at least 'colluded' with persons who nominated and recommended them. Definitely who you know. I'll pat your back if you'll pat mine kind of thing.

It does also seen highly skewed towards the rich and famous who receive them. It's nice when someone gets one who was totally, and genuinely, unaware they were going to be a recipient.