Awards honour Wales’ digital pioneers
Anew awards scheme showcasing the very best in Wales’ thriving digital sector is open for applications.
The WalesOnline Digital Awards 2017 will recognise businesses and entrepreneurs making an outstanding contribution to the sector.
The awards’ overall sponsor is Innovation Point, whose aim is to drive and increase digital innovation in Wales.
Chief executive of Innovation Point David Warrender said: “Innovation Point are at the heart of driving growth across the Welsh digital landscape and we are delighted to be able to further demonstrate our commitment through our sponsorship of the inaugural Wales Online Digital Awards.”
Kelly Balderson of Glamorgan Telecom, which is sponsoring the Best Digital Marketing Communication award, said: “We are delighted to be involved with the first-ever Media Wales Digital Awards. Glamorgan Telecom knows just how important new technology and digital communication is for every organisation throughout Wales, and with a such a fantastic wealth of digital talent we’re really pleased to support the Best Digital Marketing Communication award category.”
Spencer Symmons, owner of CPS Group which is sponsoring the drinks reception at the award ceremony, said: “As the largest privately owned tech and digital recruitment partner in Wales, it makes perfect sense for us to support these fantastic new awards.
“As a multi-award-winning business ourselves, we know only too well the benefits of winning awards, both in terms of recognition internally and to the outside market in perception and brand awareness.”
The awards are being supported by representative body for the technology sector in Wales, ESTnet. Its own Wales Technology Awards 2017, which will be held on June 22, form part of the Wales Festival of Innovation that runs from June 19-30.
ESTnet managing director Avril Lewis said: “This year will see the Wales Technology Awards powered by the ESTnet return for the fifth year, and we are pleased that the WalesOnline Digital Awards will join us to ensure our industry’s successes are given the recognition they rightly deserve.”
Best Digital Innovation, sponsored by Innovation Point
We’ll be looking for a unique design or innovation which has helped a company or organisation take a step forward in their digital journey.
The winner of this award could work in hardware or software, refining a successful product to make it even better or coming up with a great new concept from scratch. Clever ideas for bringing traditional businesses into the digital arena will also be considered. Best Mobile App Judges will be looking for a standout app, showing innovation, imagination and flair. The app, either a stand-alone app or interactive element to a website, should be attractive but also useful and evidence of interactivity will be expected.
Apps with either a consumer or a commercial focus can be considered and the winner should be able to demonstrate strong take-up in its target market. Young Digital Person of the Year This category will recognise an individual under the age of 25 who has made an impact on the digital landscape in Wales in the past year. They could be a game designer or web developer, artist or software specialist.
The winner could be an entrepreneur or an excellent employee whose work has made a difference to their business. Best Digital Start-Up A company or organisation that has launched in the past two years and has already found a strong and loyal digital following, customer base or audience. The winner will have bold ambitions and clear evidence their growth plans have got off to a solid start.
Best Use of Technology in Education
As more schools and colleges sign up to digital, we’ll be looking for a stand-out performer in education who is using digital technology to interact with pupils, staff and the public. The winner will have embraced the internet’s possibilities for teaching and be able to show how its use has helped pupils develop their skills. Best E-Commerce A company or organisation that can show itself to be in the vanguard of digital commerce. This could range from an online retail business to a sports club using online to build its core business.
Firms of all sizes can be considered, from start-ups to major organisations driving change. Businesses which have fresh ideas for selling products online will be regarded favourably and creative thinking will be rewarded.
Best Digital Marketing Communication, sponsored by Glamorgan Telecom
We’re looking for a one-off marketing or promotional campaign, or continuous excellent use of digital tools such as social media, to promote a business, organisation or event. Judges will be keen to see eyecatching graphics, unusual videos and impressive ideas on adding value to content. Best Hardware The judges will assess entrants for evidence of creating novel devices of genuine utility or usability – hardware that supports clear impactful improvement in the lives or situations of its end-users. The category is open to firms of all sizes and could be won by a young firm with disruptive technology or an established one with a relentless focus on improvement. Best Global Reach The judges will assess entrants for evidence of leveraging their own unique digital (hardware or software) products and services to gain commercial contracts outside of the UK. Preference will be given to those organisations that have been able to demonstrate that the export of their services has led to new job creation and revenue growth. Best Emerging Technology The judges will assess entrants for evidence of creating innovative technology
HOW TO ENTER THE AWARDS
To enter, please fill out the form which can be found found at walesonlinedigitalawards.co.uk and choose the category for which you’d like to submit an entry.
You must write up to 300 words about why you believe you should win the award category, detailing achievements and results where possible.
Entrants may enter as many categories as they wish and multiple entries are permitted for different projects. (hardware or software) that broaches new territory in some significant way and that represents progressive developments within a field for competitive advantage.
Examples of currently emerging technologies include educational technology, information technology, nanotechnology, biotechnology, cognitive science, robotics and artificial intelligence. Digital Ambassador of the Year This will be awarded by the judging panel to an individual, company or organisation that is leading the way in digital application and development and helping inspire others on the community. The winner will be focused on making Wales a great place for start-ups and tech firms to work, and tirelessly promote it to external organisations. Digital Entrepreneur of the Year This award is in recognition of an outstanding individual who has made a huge contribution to the digital sector in Wales.
This could be through establishing a market-leading business, or a number of businesses as a serial digital entrepreneur. It could also include having an impact as an investor and mentor to some of the sector’s fastest-growing firms.
You are eligible to enter the Digital Awards 2017 if your website, app, organisation or business is based in or has an obvious interest in Wales.
The closing date for all entries is midnight March 31. All entries will be judged by our independent panel of judges on April 10.
The Wales Digital Awards 2017 presentation ceremony will be at the Mercure Holland House in Cardiff on June 8, starting with a drinks reception sponsored by CSG.