Stop Scrolling Past Your Own Achievements

Zafia Marria | Marketing & Communications Executive

Celebrating others comes easily. Celebrating yourself? That’s a different story.

You’re quick to champion your colleagues, mark their milestones, shine a light on their wins. But when it comes to your own impact, your own growth, it’s easy to underestimate just how far you’ve come.

Talent is everywhere across Greater Manchester. Emerging leaders, rising stars, entrepreneurs, innovators, incredible people creating change across every sector.

MiMA exists to give those achievements the recognition they deserve.

The Made in Manchester Awards (MiMA) celebrates the next generation of business talent across Greater Manchester, recognising ambitious individuals who are making an impact, driving change and helping shape the future of our city region.

Nominations for MiMA 2027 opened on Monday 3rd August 2026, inviting young professionals aged 18–39 to share their stories and celebrate the impact they’re making across Greater Manchester.

Following a dedicated judging process, winners will be celebrated at the MiMA 2027 awards ceremony at Emirates Old Trafford on 11th February 2027.

Why putting yourself forward matters

Self-recognition isn’t showing off. It’s recognising the value you bring.

A MiMA nomination can help you stand out, build trust and showcase the difference you’re making within your industry:

1. Showcase your achievements with confidence: Develop the ability to articulate your successes in appraisals, interviews and everyday professional conversations.
2. Increase your visibility: Put your work in front of influential leaders, employers and decision-makers across Greater Manchester’s business community.
3. Demonstrate your ambition and commitment: Show your employer that you’re proactive about your development and committed to your future career.
4. Create valuable opportunities: Open doors to new connections, conversations and possibilities that may never happen if your achievements remain behind the scenes.

The challenge: Writing a nomination that stands out

A strong nomination isn’t about using complicated language or listing every achievement you’ve ever had.

It’s about telling a clear story of impact. Ask yourself:

1. What challenge did you face? What needed to change, improve or be solved?
2. What action did you take? How did you use your skills, creativity or initiative to make a difference?
3. Choose the right category. The category shapes the story, look closely at the MiMA categories and pick the one that best reflects the journey you want to tell.
4. Focus on impact, not job description. What changed because of this work? What was overcome? What were the results? Specific examples and measurable outcomes stand out every time.
5. Tell the story, not just the summary. The best nominations show the challenge, the action taken and the impact created, not just the end result.
6. Own it. This is the moment to celebrate the achievement fully. Be clear, be confident and show the judges why it deserves recognition.

Want expert guidance before you write?

future-pro is hosting a free webinar How To Write An Award-Winning MiMA Nomination on Friday 4th September 2026, 12:00 PM- 1:00 PM (online).

Winners will tell you what recognition really changes. Judges will tell you what makes them sit up and take notice and what makes them put an entry down.

Joining the webinar to share their insight:

• Nick Rose MSc, CMgr MCMI | pro-manchester Chair, Director of Commercial and New Business, Sharp
• Herbie Hursthouse | future-pro Chair & Sales Innovation Manager, Together
• Nathan Ross | Regional Manager, HR North West & North East, Michael Page
• Kellie Kellett | Cyber Resiliency, Senior Associate, BNY

Between them, they’ve sat on judging panels, backed nominees to the stage and know exactly what separates a nomination that gets shortlisted from one that gets overlooked.

Register for the webinar here

Your achievements deserve to be recognised

Don’t let another year pass without celebrating the impact you’ve made.

Whether you’re recognising a colleague, championing a rising star, or putting yourself forward, MiMA 2027 is your opportunity to showcase the ambition, innovation and talent shaping Greater Manchester’s future.

With 22 award categories to explore, there’s a place for every story worth celebrating.

Start your nomination today and give your achievements the recognition they deserve.

Explore the award categories and submit your nomination here: https://www.mimamcr.com/categories

Have questions about MiMA or need support with your nomination? Get in touch: [email protected]