Member Article

Entry deadline extended for 20th annual Big Chip Awards

The submission deadline for the 2018 Big Chip Awards has been extended, meaning that companies now have until 5pm on Monday 2nd April to enter.

The Big Chip Awards, now in its 20th year, celebrates digital and technological excellence in areas including eCommerce, UX design, search, gaming, and digital transformation.

Businesses, individuals and students from anywhere between the Scottish Borders and Derbyshire are eligible to enter the highly-regarded awards; the largest of their kind outside London. Those encouraged to submit entries include digital and technology companies of all shapes and sizes, students studying a related course at university, digital freelancers, and any organisations from other sectors that have undertaken excellent digital work over the past year.

Several exciting new categories have also been announced for this year, including the Lifetime Achievement Award, Best Creative Impact, and Best Application of Machine Learning; an area which Manchester Digital’s recent Digital Skills Audit found to be a key concern for the sector in 2018.

Chair of the Big Chip Steering Group, Shaun Fensom, said: “Twenty years is a long time. When Big Chip started there was no Facebook, no iPhone and Google was a niche search engine. So to celebrate our 20th I’d really like to see a record number of entries, and we’re extending the deadline by two full weeks. Big Chip has always given a fair chance to new and challenger businesses - some of whom have seen their fortunes transformed by winning an award. So I’d really urge everyone: if you’ve got something to enter then have a go. After all, the first two entries are completely free.

Entrants have the chance to triumph in 19 awards in total, including returning favourites such as the Big Chip Transformation Award, Best Digital Marketing/Branding Campaign, and the Big Chip Leadership Award. The Anthony Wilson award, in honour of the late Tony Wilson, and the Grand Prix award, presented to the best overall entry, will also be chosen from shortlisted entries.

This year’s panel of esteemed judges includes: special guest judge Martha Lane-Fox, design guru Malcolm Garrett - who will chair the panel - the BBC’s Bill Thompson, Nikki Barton of British Airways, Alastair Scott of C3 Connected, and Dr David Kreps of Salford University.

The shortlist will be announced on 3rd May 2018, with the Big Chip Awards dinner taking place at Manchester’s Hilton Hotel on Wednesday 4th July 2018.

Leading Manchester-based digital business UKFast have also been named as the headline sponsor for the event, for the fifth year running.

Entries can be submitted online at www.bigchipawards.com. The first two entries are free, with subsequent entries then costing £95.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Abi Smith .