Department for Culture Media and Sport
honours system at dcms
DCMS has a role in promoting and advising on the UK honours system with regard to those people who undertake activities that fall within our sectors
i.e. sports, the creative industries, including fashion design and advertising, art, music, film, museums, tourism and hospitality, libraries, heritage, archaeology, broadcasting and radio.
We also work jointly with DTI on design issues (including sponsorship of the Design Council) and on relations with the computer games and publishing industries.
A quick guide to the awards
- Companion of Honour - Awarded for a pre-eminent and sustained contribution in the arts, science, medicine, or government.
- Knight/Dame - Awarded for a pre-eminent contribution in any field, usually, but not exclusively at national level, or in a capacity which will be recognised by peer groups as inspirational and significant nationally, and which demonstrates sustained commitment.
- CBE - Awarded for a prominent national role of a lesser degree, or a conspicuous leading role in regional affairs or making a highly distinguished, innovative contribution in his or her area of activity.
- OBE - Awarded for a distinguished regional or country-wide role in any field, including notable practitioners known nationally.
- MBE - Awarded for service in and to the community of a responsible kind which is outstanding in its field; or very local 'hands-on' service which stands out as an example to others. In both cases awards illuminate areas of dedicated service which merit public recognition.
Sample cases to illustrate the kind of cases that would be considered for each award can be found at www.honours.gov.uk/nominate/decisions.asp. These are generic examples and should not be used as a benchmark.
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Who decides who gets honours?
Like all Government Departments, DCMS submits its candidates for scrutiny by a number of independent advisory committees. Similar candidates are considered together so that each committee can compare like with like. These committees are made up of experts who compare candidates in their area and decide which of them merit national recognition.
Their assessments are sent to the Main selection committee who considers the balance of the proposals and forwards its recommendations to the Cabinet Secretary who, in turn, submits the list to the Prime Minister.
Further details about the committees can be found at www.honours.gov.uk/nominate/committees.asp.
Awards for Overseas Candidates
Overseas candidates who have contributed to the UK can also be considered for UK honours. Although these candidates will be subject to the same selection process as UK candidates, they will face additional scrutiny by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office's Honours Committee. Awards to overseas candidates are announced by the FCO on their website, separately from the Queen's Birthday and New Year Lists.
Ceremonial secretariat
The UK Honours System is managed by the Ceremonial Secretariat at the Cabinet Office. The Secretariat has responsibility for honours policy work across Government and is responsible for:
- preparation of the Prime Minister's Honours Lists
- the provision of advice on all honours matters to the Head of the Home Civil Service and other Government Departments
- co-ordinating policy on the award of decorations and medals in the UK - providing advice as necessary to the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Ministry of Defence
- policy on, and assessment of, individual cases leading to civilian gallantry awards
- the assessment and processing of recommendations for the Imperial Service Medal.
For further general information on the honours system, you can visit Ceremonial Secretariat's website at www.honours.gov.uk or you can check out frequently asked questions at www.honours.gov.uk/faqs.
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