Just days left to present your digital credentials
There are just days left to enter a new awards scheme showcasing the very best in Wales’ thriving digital sector.
The WalesOnline Digital Awards 2017 will recognise businesses and entrepreneurs making an outstanding contribution to the sector.
In total there are 12 categories, including Best Digital Start-Up, Young Digital Person of the Year, Digital Entrepreneur of the Year and Digital Ambassador of the Year.
And there is still time to enter, with the closing date for entries extended to midnight, April 4.
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 Bolderson 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, a specialist recruitment company for the technology industry 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 Wales Digital Awards 2017 presentation ceremony will be held at the Mercure Holland House in Cardiff on June 8, starting with the reception sponsored by CPS Group.
The awards are being supported by ESTnet, the representative body for the technology sector in Wales, whose own Wales Technology Awards 2017 on June 22 form part of the Wales Festival of Innovation that runs from June 19-30. The WalesOnline Digital Awards 2017 categories in full:
■ Best Digital Innovation, sponsored by Innovation Point: A unique design or innovation which has helped a company or organisation take a step forward in their digital journey.
■ Best Mobile App: Judges will be looking for a stand-out 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.
■ 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.
■ Best Digital Start-Up, sponsored by Acorn Recruitment: 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.
■ 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.
■ 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.
■ 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.
■ 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.
■ 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 (hardware or software) that broaches new territory in some significant way and that represents progressive developments within a field for competitive advantage.
■ 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.
■ 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.
■ To enter, please fill out a form which can be found at walesonlinedigitalawards.co.uk