An arbitration award usually arises out of a contract to submit a dispute to settlement by arbitration. Such an award has not the same effect in English law as a judgment, and if it requires enforcement the assistance of a court is needed. An English arbitration award (i.e. one made in England, whoever is the arbitrator) may be enforced by an action in the courts, or by summary procedure under the Arbitration Act 1996, section 66, by an originating summons made ex parte asking for leave of the court.

A foreign arbitration award (i.e. any award made in a foreign country) can be enforced in England in several different ways: (a) at common law, by securing an English judgment; (b) if the award is within the Geneva Convention (1927) and the Protocol on Arbitration Clauses (1923) – for which provision is made by Part II of the Arbitration Act 1950 – or is within the New York Convention (1958), enacted into law by the Arbitration Act 1996, Part III (ss. 100–4), either by action at common law or under the 1996 Act, section 66; (c) even if it is not within these statutory provisions, under section 66; (d) if it has been made enforceable by a foreign judgment, by an action on the judgment; (e) if it was made in a country to which the Administration of Justice Act 1920, Part II, or the Foreign Judgments (Reciprocal Enforcement) Act 1933 extends, as if it were a judgment rendered by a court in that country; (f) if it was made in another part of the United Kingdom and enforceable there as a judgment, it is enforceable by registration in England.