One of the region’s most prestigious technology awards has officially opened for 2022 nominations and is calling for Yorkshire’s finest, most innovative digital businesses to enter.
Hosted in partnership with Amsource, a specialist recruitment consultancy focused on the tech sector, and Ward Hadaway, a top 100 UK law firm with offices in Leeds, the awards celebrate the talent, creativity and sheer brilliance of the region’s tech start-ups, SMEs and large businesses. The awards recognise innovation spanning a number of categories including export success, entrepreneurship, sustainability and more.
Andrew Maeer, founder and CEO, Amsource, said: “We’re delighted to announce that entries for this year’s Leeds Digital Festival Awards are officially open and are looking forward to recognising the innovation and skills among our regional business tech community. These awards not only champion talent and originality, they also celebrate the resilience, grit, razor-sharp focus and dogged determination shown by tech businesses across the region. We’re looking forward to a fantastic awards night, raising a glass to Yorkshire’s finest digital businesses.”
Running for the fifth consecutive year, the awards are free to enter and there are 10 categories to choose from. Facilitator of the Year is back in the mix, with a sustainability award category making its debut this year. Other categories include Entrepreneur of the Year, Best Tech Place to Work, and a Tech4Good award.
Bill Goodwin, head of IP/IT at Ward Hadaway Leeds, said: “Ward Hadaway works with a wide range of SMEs in the regional technology space, supporting them on all kinds of business-related legal issues. We’ve experienced first-hand the great skills, ambition and commercial acumen the region’s digital businesses have and the awards celebrate these achievements and more. It’s wonderful that all of this ingenuity and talent is homegrown, right here in Yorkshire, and I can’t wait to hear the stories of success and journeys to continued growth at the awards ceremony.”
The judging panel consists of Eve Roodhouse, who leads on culture and economic development at Leeds City Council, Anna Sutton, founder of The Data Shed, which helps organisations optimise the data they hold, Sarah Hex, head of deal origination for Mercia Asset Management PLC and Alina Cameron who works for Tech Nation to support Yorkshire’s game-changing founders and leaders.
The deadline for entry is Monday, August 18 at midnight. Entries are free and businesses can enter multiple categories. The awards ceremony will take place on Thursday 29th September at Belgrave Music Hall, Leeds City Centre and is also free to attend.
The Leeds Digital Festival is an open, collaborative celebration of digital culture in all its forms with the awards recognising all that is great about the digital and tech industry in Leeds and the wider region in the last year.
Stuart Clarke, director of the Leeds Digital Festival, added: “The Leeds Digital Festival Awards celebrates its 5th birthday this year and we’d like to invite tech businesses in Leeds and the wider region to enter the awards, choosing from a diverse range of categories. It’s an opportunity to put Yorkshire businesses centre stage and highlight the achievements and innovation that we have here right on our doorstep.”
