To help you tell your story in a clear, impactful way — and to make it easier for assessors to recognise the value of your work — we invite you to structure your responses using the SPARES framework.

 

This simple yet powerful model helps ensure your application is:

• Complete (you’ve covered all key angles)

• Compelling (your achievements stand out clearly)

• Easy to assess (reviewers can quickly understand the significance of what you’ve done)

 

Whether you're responding to prompts or writing your own narrative, using SPARES will help you stay focused and communicate the full impact of your work with confidence.

 

SPARES stands for:

• S – Situation or Problem:
  Briefly describe the challenge, opportunity, or context. What was happening that made this important to address? (1–2 sentences)

• P – Plan / Action:
  Outline the specific actions your business took to respond. What did you do, and how did you approach it? (1–2 paragraphs)

• A – Achieved Result:
  Share what changed as a result. Include measurable outcomes or tangible improvements wherever possible. (1–2 sentences)

• R – Reflection / Evaluation:
  Reflect on how successful the approach was and what you learned. Use a self-rating (1 = Needs Improvement, 10 = Outstanding) to help assessors understand how you viewed the outcome.

• E – Evidence:
  Back up your claims with data, testimonials, or examples. You’ll have the chance to upload documents or links as part of your application.

• S – Summary (Optional):
  A one-sentence recap or takeaway that reinforces the strength of your response (especially useful if your answer is long or detailed).

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