Website of the UK government

The aim of the Honours List is to reflect and pay tribute to outstanding achievement and service across the entire community.

This year the publication of the New Year Honours list is accompanied by a new regional campaign designed to raise awareness of the honours system and to inform people how to nominate.

It is hoped that the campaign will lead to more nominations and, ultimately, more honours awarded at grassroots level.
 
In total, 972 people have been recommended for an award.
 
834 candidates have been selected at MBE and OBE level:

• 599 (61% of the total) at MBE
• 235 (24% of the total) at OBE

Of these people at MBE and OBE level, some 78% were involved in charitable or voluntary work, or undertook extra-curricular activities linked to their professions.

There are 378 successful women candidates in the list, including 6 Dames, 32 CBEs and 4 CBs. This represents 39% of the total, the same as the last List, but still higher than the norm.

The proportion of successful candidates from minority communities is 6%.

• Download New Year's Honours list 2008 (PDF, 258K)

• More about honours and awards, including how to nominate someone