Channel Awards 2020 - Reseller Criteria

Below is the full set of entry criteria for all the Reseller categories in the 2020 Channel Awards. Please do read them before crafting your entry.

Award Name Rising Star Award

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Reseller Awards

Reseller Awards will recognise excellence in the delivery of solutions, service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the reseller's ability to deliver real benefits to the end user organisation, and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, ROI and investment protection, and cost reduction. Companies that demonstrate innovation in developing and bringing-to-market new concepts and solutions will also be candidates for these awards.

Rising Star Award

This category is open any company that is seeing phenomenal growth in their field and has been in business for a MAXIMUM of five years and MINIMUM of 18 months in their current form. There is no specific business model that is more qualified than others to enter - so you could be an MSP, VAR, integrator or a specific vertical sector IT provider. If you can demonstrate strong growth over the past year, feel you are a disruptive force and can give some example of your potential growth in the future, then you are the ideal candidate for this award.

Entry Criteria: Your entry should be based around the following criteria, which is what the judges will be using as a basis to score each entry. Please do not address each point separately and just base the entry on these points alone -try to add some colour/personality and just incorporate them into your entry as you see fit. Also bear in mind that the judges are accepting PDF or multi-media entries, but at the very least please make sure your entries that are easy to read and digest if in plain text format.

Outline why you are entering this category, and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category - give examples of customer demographics and include some information about your business to set the scene - size, staff, how long company been in business, what exactly you do etc.
Provide evidence of your growth over the past year and why you should be considered as a rising star in your field - what will you achieve in the coming year and how will you make an impact on the market? Use stats and figures to back up your points. Include any investment in new systems/vendor accreditations/services for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate. Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable player and a one to watch in this space?
Pick a particularly successful case study from the past year that has contributed to your amazing growth and explain to the judges why it was such a success and perhaps what different skills you brought to the table. A customer testimonial must be used to back up the study and again use stats.
People - how do you keep your staff happy and motivated? Do you offer anything different from the norm?
Company image - describe any marketing activities you undertake to raise awareness of your company to customers, and how you go the extra mile to keep customers happy and ensure you continue to grow.

Entries are actively encouraged to include hard facts and figures - all of which will be kept strictly confidential and used for judging purposes only. All campaigns and initiatives must have been new or further developed in 2020 to qualify. Resellers are actively encouraged to enter for more than one award if they so wish, and if the category is relevant to their business. But every entry MUST be different.

NOTE: The Coronavirus Pandemic has had an impact globally on companies' performances - please do feel free to mention how the crisis has affected your strategy/goals in the UK and how you have innovated around that, but bear in mind we also have special Covid-19 related categories this year ONLY.

Maximum word count: 1,000.
Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant customer testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,000 maximum word count.

Award Name MSSP/Security VAR of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Reseller Awards

MSSP/Security VAR of the Year

With security being the number one concern of end user customers, this category is aimed at VARs/Service providers to highlight excellence in cybersecurity. This category is open to all VARs/MSPs/integrators that specialise in security solutions and services to customers of any size, whether this is SMB, mid-market or enterprise, or to those that have a strong security flavour to their portfolio of services.

Outline why you are entering this category and why you should be considered as a contender for this award. How much of your business is security based? What standards do you comply to? What are your customers' biggest security fears? Please include stats and figures to back up your points.
Provide evidence of the value provided to your customers. Include any investment in new technologies/vendor accreditations/services for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate. Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable partner for vendors in this space?
Pick a particularly successful customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that customer overcome particular security concerns/beat hackers/cybercriminals, or protect against further security breaches. A customer testimonial must be used to back up the study and again use stats.
People - How have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible security-based service to your customers and are fully trained? Do you invest in training/team-building exercises to keep your staff happy? Do all your staff comply with all the necessary rules and regulations? If so, which ones?
Company image - describe any marketing activities you undertake to raise awareness of your company to customers, and how you go the extra mile to keep customers happy/why they keep coming back to you for all their security needs.

Award Name Corporate VAR of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Reseller Awards

Corporate VAR of the Year

This category is open to all VARs/MSPs/integrators that deal with either mid-market (loose definition: 250-1,000 seats) or enterprise (loose definition: 1,000+ seats) customers, or a mix of both - supplying products, managed services or a mix of both, preferably from a mix of vendors. These customers can be UK based, have multiple UK offices, or be multi-national companies with a significant base in the UK, in the private sector. At least 50 per cent of your business needs to fall under the ‘corporate' definition to be eligible to enter.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category - give examples of customer demographics and include some information about your business to set the scene - size, staff, how long company been in business etc. Please include stats and figures to demonstrate growth and company size.
Provide evidence of the value provided to your corporate clients over the past year- use stats and growth figures to back up points. Include any investment in new systems/vendor accreditations/services for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate. Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable partner for vendors in this space?
Pick a particularly successful corporate customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that customer save money/streamline their business/improve their service. A customer testimonial can be used to back up the study and again use stats.
People - How have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible service to your customers? Do you invest in training/team-building exercises to keep your staff happy?
Company image - describe any marketing activities you undertake to raise awareness of your company to customers, and how you go the extra mile to keep customers happy.

Award Name Public Sector VAR/MSP of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Reseller Awards

Reseller Awards will recognise excellence in the delivery of solutions, service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the reseller's ability to deliver real benefits to the user organisation, and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, ROI and investment protection, and cost reduction. Companies that demonstrate innovation in developing and bringing-to-market new concepts and solutions will also be candidates for these awards.

Public Sector VAR/MSP of the Year

This category is open to VARs/MSPs that have a clear focus on doing business, providing products and solutions to public sector customers. These organisations can be in any part of the public sector from education to healthcare, from local government to government, and emergency services.

AT LEAST 40 per cent of your business must be public sector-based to qualify for entry.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category.
Set the scene and describe in detail the percentage of your business that is public sector as per requirements, using stats and figures where possible, and explain which part/parts of the public sector you serve and what exactly you specialise in.
Provide evidence of the value provided to your public sector clients over the past year- use stats and growth figures to back up points. Include any investment in new systems/vendor accreditations/services for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your public sector offerings, please elaborate. Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable partner for vendors in this space?
Pick a particularly successful public sector customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that customer save money/streamline their business/improve their service. A customer testimonial must be used to back up the study and again use stats.
People - How have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible service to your customers?
Company image - describe any marketing activities you undertake to raise awareness of your company to public sector customers, and how you go the extra mile to keep those customers happy.

Award Name SMB Reseller of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Reseller Awards

Reseller awards will recognise excellence in the delivery of solutions, service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the reseller's ability to deliver real benefits to the user organisation, and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, ROI and investment protection, and cost reduction. Companies that demonstrate innovation in developing and bringing-to-market new concepts and solutions will also be candidates for these awards.

SMB Reseller of the Year

The award is open to resellers that have a focus on the SMB market, whether this is on very small companies (1-9 employees) within a locality or region, or larger firms that fall within the ‘SMB' definition i.e. fewer than 250 employees. Firms that are fairly young and consider themselves an ‘up and coming' player in the SMB space, and have seen excellent growth since launch can also enter.

NOTE - More than 75 per cent of your business must be SMB to qualify for entry. Please make sure you address this point.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category - give examples of customer demographics and include some information about your business to set the scene - size, staff, how long company been in business etc. Please include stats and figures to demonstrate growth and company size.
Provide evidence of the value provided to your SMB clients over the past year- use stats and growth figures to back up points. Include any investment in new systems/vendor accreditations/services for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate. Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable partner for vendors in this space?
If you are entering as an ‘emerging' company - give evidence of rapid growth in the form of facts and figures, and explain why you stand out from your peers. Plus give some ideas of growth expectations in the years to come.
Pick a particularly successful corporate customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that customer save money/streamline their business/improve their service. A customer testimonial must be used to back up the study and again use stats.

NOTE: The Coronavirus Pandemic has had an impact globally on companies' performances - please do feel free to mention how the crisis has affected your strategy/goals and how you have innovated around that, but bear in mind we also have special Covid-19 related categories this year ONLY.

Maximum word count: 1,000.
Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,000 maximum word count.

Award Name MSP of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Reseller Awards

Reseller Awards will recognise excellence in the delivery of service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the reseller's ability to deliver real benefits to the user organisation, and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, ROI and investment protection, and cost reduction. Companies that demonstrate innovation in developing and bringing-to-market new service offerings will also be candidates for these awards.

MSP of the Year

This award is ONLY open to companies that can truly call themselves a managed service provider (MSP). Vendors or support companies DO NOT qualify for this award and will be removed from the category. Business has to consist primarily of managed services TO END USER CUSTOMERS, this can be any or as many of the ‘as-a-service' disciplines as you like - although bear in mind there is a separate cloud category, so non-cloud entries will be given priority and cloud entries could be moved by the judges. Entries can cover managed services to enterprise, mid-market or SMB level customers. We would ask that at least 75 per cent of your business is through managed services to qualify for entry.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category - explain the managed services part of your business, using figures and stats to demonstrate the size of that business, and ensure it meets the criteria requirements.
Provide evidence of the value provided to your customers over the past year through your services - use stats and growth figures to back up points. Include any investment in new systems/vendor accreditations/services for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate. Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable partner for vendors in this space?
Pick a particularly successful corporate customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how you helped that customer save money/streamline their business/improve their service to their own customers. A customer testimonial must be used to back up the study and again use stats.
People - How have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible services to your customers? Do you invest in training- if so what type and how often?

Maximum word count: 1,000.

Please read the criteria before submitting your entry. Relevant partner testimonials and supporting materials are welcome but must not exceed the 1,000 maximum word count.

Award Name Cloud Services Provider of the Year

Eligibility Is this the Award for you?

Reseller Awards

Cloud Services Provider of the Year

This category is open to channel players with a specific focus on providing cloud-based services to their end user customers. This can be in any vertical sector with any relevant cloud technology set, whether it is security, storage, infrastructure, datacentre services or a mix of the above and others.

NOTE: Resellers/MSPs entering this category should derive at least 40 per cent of their business from the provision of cloud products and services. Please address this point in your entry.

Outline why you are entering this category and convince the judges why your entry should be considered in this category. Are you a true cloud provider? If you have been on a journey to the cloud, or are a born in the cloud player, please include a full but brief outline.
Explain your cloud business - the services and products you offer and what customer demographic you serve with your offerings. Please include stats and figures to help set the scene and ensure you meet for criteria cut off point for entry.
Provide evidence of the value your cloud offerings provide to your clients over the past year- use stats and growth figures to back up points. Include any investment in new systems/vendor accreditations/services for example. Or if you have made an acquisition to further bolster your offerings, please elaborate. Why do you stand out from the competition in this category? Why are you a valuable partner for vendors in this space?
Pick a particularly successful customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success, how your cloud solutions helped that customer save money/streamline their business/improve their service. A customer testimonial must be used to back up the study and again use stats.
People - How have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible service to your customers? Do you invest in training to ensure your teams are always up to date with the latest cloud technology?

Award Name: Best Covid-19-related project/initiative of the Year - Reseller - For 2020 ONLY

This has been a year like no other for all of us, and while there has been far too much sadness and tragic loss, the Coronavirus Pandemic has also brought out the best in so many people and companies.

Firms have been forced to innovate like never before, and channel firms have been at the very heart of this innovation - whether it is helping customers shift almost overnight to a full remote working strategy, or being involved in many initiatives that have helped vital organisations such the NHS keep going under immense pressure.

This award is to recognise that innovation and give some much-deserved recognition to those companies that have gone out of their way to help keep this country running during the most challenging conditions we have experienced in living memory. This award is to celebrate that innovation and raise awareness of some of the fantastic initiatives and projects that the channel was involved in during the heart of the crisis.

Entry Criteria: Please use these criteria as a rough guide to shaping your entry - but feel free to make it as personal as possible, including photographs

Outline what initiative you are entering in this category and explain how it came about during the pandemic. Tell us what the initiative was in as much detail as possible.
Feel free to explain how your company was personally affected by the crisis and how this initiative has not only helped customers, but has also impacted on the company itself.
The personal touch - how did your teams pull together to get this initiative off the ground? How much work went into it and how did they implement it under difficult social distancing conditions?
Testimonial - ask the customer to provide a short explanation of how your initiative has helped them and how vital it has been to helping them serve their own customers.
Any figures/facts you can share to demonstrate the achievements of the initiative will be welcomed by the judges.

Entries can be anything between 400 and 1,000 words - please include as much relevant information as possible and make it as personal as you like.

Award Name: Hero/Heroes of the Year - Reseller - For 2020 ONLY

2020 has been a year like no other for all of us, and while there has been far too much sadness and tragic loss, the Coronavirus Pandemic has brought many stories of human compassion and joy.

The channel has always been a caring environment with people right at the very heart of it, and there are many unsung heroes that just keep giving. Now is the time to recognise them.

This award is aimed at giving some much deserved recognition to those individuals or teams that have gone out of their way to help others during this crisis - this could be in a business capacity - such as a company owner/director/team leader helping vulnerable staff put food on the table, working with partners to provide an essential service, or a team working together to provide PPE to local NHS organisations or businesses, or individuals and teams helping their local community in other ways.

While they may be embarrassed - it is crucial that these unsung heroes get the recognition they deserve for their efforts.

Entry Criteria: Please use these criteria as a rough guide to shaping your entry - but feel free to make it as personal as possible, including photographs

Outline who/what team you are entering for this award. Please name everyone involved so they get the recognition they deserve. It is perfectly acceptable to nominate a team you are part of.
Explain what they have done and how it came about in as much detail as possible.
Feel free to explain how your company was personally affected by the crisis and how what these heroes has done has not only helped the intended recipients, but how their actions have impacted on the company itself.
Testimonial - feel free to get colleagues and those actually helped by their actions to say a few words about what they have done.

Entries can be anything between 400 and 1,000 words - please include as much relevant information as possible and make it as personal as you like.

RESELLER OF THE YEAR AWARDS

IMPORTANT: If you make the shortlist in one of the below categories, you will be required to produce further material to show to the judges on or before the official judging day. Normally this is a face-to-face presentation, but depending on how the Covid-19 situation progresses, this could be a five-minute video presentation instead. We will keep you informed as this develops.

Award Name: Reseller of the Year (£101m+ turnover)

Reseller Awards

Reseller Awards will recognise excellence in the delivery of solutions, service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the reseller's ability to deliver real benefits to the user organisation, and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, ROI and investment protection, and cost reduction. Companies that demonstrate innovation in developing and bringing-to-market new concepts and solutions will also be candidates for these awards.

Reseller of the Year (£101m+ turnover)

This category is open to all VARs/MSPs/Integrators with a turnover above £101m, that feel they have done a particularly outstanding job over the past 12 months that deserves a top reseller accolade at the CRN awards. Any IT supplier, regardless of specialisation or focus is eligible to enter this award, but to be in with a chance of winning you have to have done something spectacular to impress the judges and be prepared to shout about it. Plus your turnover threshold must qualify to enter.

Demonstrate why you feel you qualify for the Reseller of the Year (£101m turnover) award (this can be staff happiness/retention, impressive achievements, vendor accolades etc) and remember to use stats/figures to show growth and back up claims.
What has your business achieved in the past 12 months that makes it stand out from the competition - this can be either significant revenue growth (both organic and through acquisition), a large number of vendor accreditations in one year, significant amount of major contract wins or just punching above your weight in a challenging economic climate. Again use stats and figures.
What has been your company's most impressive achievement this year? Why are you proud of it, how did your people help achieve it? Again back up with stats and figures.
Pick a particularly successful corporate customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success and why it should help you win the award. Remember to include stats and testimonials.
People - How have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible service to your customers? Do you do anything unusual for your staff that the competition doesn't?

Award Name: Reseller of the Year (sub £100m turnover)

Reseller Awards

Reseller Awards will recognise excellence in the delivery of solutions, service and support to end user customers, taking into consideration the reseller's ability to deliver real benefits to the user organisation, and to meet customer objectives in terms of improved efficiency, ROI and investment protection, and cost reduction. Companies that demonstrate innovation in developing and bringing-to-market new concepts and solutions will also be candidates for these awards.

Reseller of the Year (sub £100m turnover)

This category has been launched to give the smaller players in the market a chance to compete on a more even playing field against their peers. The award is open to all VARs/MSPs/Integrators with a turnover up to £100m, that feel they have done a particularly outstanding job over the past 12 months that deserves a top reseller accolade at the CRN awards. Any IT supplier, regardless of specialisation or focus is eligible to enter this award, but to be in with a chance of winning you have to have done something spectacular to impress the judges and be prepared to shout about it. Plus your turnover threshold must qualify to enter.

Demonstrate why you feel you should win the Reseller of the Year (sub £100m turnover) award (this can be staff happiness/retention, impressive achievements, vendor accolades etc) and remember to use stats/figures to show growth and back up claims. You must also let the judges know your turnover to qualify.
What has your business achieved in the past 12 months that makes it stand out from the competition - this can be either significant revenue growth (both organic and through acquisition), a large number of vendor accreditations in one year, significant amount of major contract wins or just punching above your weight in a challenging economic climate. Again use stats and figures.
What has been your company's most impressive achievement this year? Why are you proud of it, how did your people help achieve it? Again back up with stats and figures.
Pick a particularly successful corporate customer case study from the past year and explain to the judges why it was such a success and why it should help you win the award. Remember to include stats and testimonials.
People - How have you invested in your people to ensure they provide the best possible service to your customers? Do you do anything unusual for your staff that the competition doesn't?