The awards overload is proving a winner for one Midlands company.
Stratford-upon-Avon-based corporate gift and awards firm Special EFX has seen demand almost treble during the past two-years.
It has produced almost 6,500 individually-designed awards during the last 12 months alone.
"Britain has gone award crazy, as businesses and organisations both large and small implement new non-financial schemes to recognise the achievements of their employees," it admitted.
Special EFX's sales director, Melanie Osborne added: "There's no doubt that companies are increasingly looking for alternatives to pure cash as a means of rewarding and motivating their employees.
"People are working harder and often longer hours than ever and in many cases it's just not possible to recompense them fully financially. However an award has an intrinsic value far greater than any cash payment, as it makes an open public statement of a person's real worth to a company, whatever their status within the organisation.
"At a time when business and commerce has become essentially impersonal, award schemes play a vital role in making people feel noticed and good about themselves."
Not everyone would agree. Critics say there are now so many awards schemes they are almost meaningless.
But Special EFX is cashing in while the gravy train continues to roll.
Ms Osborne said: "In addition to monitoring a dramatic increase in the number of award schemes during the last couple of years, Special EFX has also noticed a subtle change in their nature.
"Sponsors are becoming increasingly demanding in the quality of awards they present.
"Whereas something relatively plain and simply personalised would have been the choice a few years ago, sponsoring companies are now demanding dramatic, individually designed awards that reflect fully the perceived values of their brand and of the scheme itself."
And it is not just larger companies - organisations and public bodies are following suit.
"The days when awards were largely amorphous lumps of glass, metal or plastic, that were usually relegated to desk drawer or back of cupboard, are long gone. Awards have become stylised works of art, visually stunning three-dimensional sculptures," said Ms Osborne.
The aim, she said, was "to motivate potential recipients to go out and achieve their goals to win next time".
The company is a family affair - Ms Osborne's husband Peter is managing director while their daughter Holly is creative director.
It has a turnover of £2 million and employs 20 people.
One big deal for Special EFX has been an order for more than 1,100 awards for the well-being product maker Nikken - for conventions in the UK, France, Germany and Sweden.
Other recent award commissions have included Autosport magazine, Barclays Churchill Cup rugby world championships, Stella Artois tennis tournament, the Football League Awards, Icelandic Eurovision Song Contest, the Drum 'n' Bass awards, Music Week Awards and Vodafone's gold ingot staff recognition awards.
