Member Article

Digital businesses celebrate success at annual Big Chip Awards

The 19th Big Chip Awards, organised by digital trade association for the North, Manchester Digital, took place last night (Thursday 15th June) with 18 winners across 24 categories taking home a coveted award.

Over 400 industry professionals attended the event at Manchester’s Hilton hotel to find out the sector’s top performers over the last 12 months. Political commentator and comedienne Ayesha Hazarika announced the winners, who came from all over the North, with Flow Creative taking home an impressive four awards for its Funding Brand Campaign for Arts Council England.

Three new categories were introduced to the awards this year, including Big Chip IoT Impact Award, won by Things North, Big Chip Transformation Award, which Apadmi scooped with its work with NHS Blood and Transplant, and the Big Chip Leadership Award won by Gavin Sherratt of Mashbo.

Shaun Fensom, Chair of the Big Chip Awards Steering Group, said: “Big Chip shows us how we’re doing in the North’s digital and tech industry. This year entries are up and standards are higher than ever - across multiple sectors in this ever-specialising world. We have seen how digital in the North has become an important part of the UK economy, I look forward to watching as it increasingly measures itself against global standards.”

The winning entries were picked by judges including celebrated designer Malcolm Garrett, Alastair Cole of The Engine Group, the BBC’s Bill Thompson, Joanna Blackburn from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and Caroline Gorski, head of IoT at Digital Catapult.

Lawrence Jones MBE, founder and CEO at headline sponsor UKFast, added: “It’s incredible to see the leading talent from across the region come together to celebrate their achievements. The momentum in our digital and creative industries right now is extraordinary and I’m delighted to have the opportunity to highlight the very best projects and the very brightest talent.”

Paul Martynenko, president of awards partner, BCS: The Chartered Institute for IT, said: ‘I’d like to congratulate all the Big Chip winners, which clearly shows the vibrancy and dynamism of the digital community in the North. As sponsors of the inaugural Leadership Award, I cannot think of a better winner than Gavin Sherratt, a dynamic entrepreneur who as well as growing his own start-up digital business, has done much to promote the digital future of the North. We’re also delighted to see the Little Chip Award, go to Benjamin Sinclair of Manchester Metropolitan University, who exemplifies the wonderful future that lies ahead for those who choose a career in our wonderful industry.“

The full winners list can be found below:

Best B2B Business Project Duo Design with MathsWatch VLE

Best B2C Business Project KMP Digitata with Aberdeen Airport contextual timeline

Best Digital Marketing/Branding campaign Modern English and Foo Fighters with Foo Fighters Glastonbury Announcement Campaign

Best Freelancer/Micro Enterprise Mighty Giant

Best Game Code Computerlove with The Higher Lower Game

Best Mobile Application Silverchip with Bolster with a pioneering, application-based business

Best Public Sector Project Flow Creative with Arts Council England Funding Brand Campaign

Best Start-up Helpthemove

Best Tech for Good Project MadLab with Make Stuff

Best Use of Animation Flow Creative with Arts Council England Funding Brand Campaign

Best Use of Digital Design Flow Creative with Arts Council England Funding Brand Campaign

Best Use of Search Mediaworks & Stagecoach with All aboard for digital transformation

Best User Experience After Digital and Donmar Warehouse with A high-end theatre experience online

Big Chip Digital Business Award Reason Digital

Big Chip IoT Impact Award Things North

Big Chip Leadership Award Gavin Sherratt

Big Chip Transformation Award Apadmi with NHS Blood and Transplant – DonorPath

Little Chip Placement/Apprentice Award SharpFutures with Amy Williams

Little Chip Student Award Manchester Metropolitan University with Benjamin Sinclair

Most Innovative Application of Technology Geek Talent with redefining career advice with GoCareer

Anthony Wilson Award Thompson Brand Partners with MindMate, a website helping to improve mental health

Grand Prix Flow Creative with Arts Council England Funding Brand Campaign

For more information about the Big Chip Awards, visit www.bigchipawards.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ursula Hutchinson .