Service with a smile

This year the CRN Channel Awards, to be held at Battersea Park on 19 November, introduces a brand new category: Services Provider of the Year. Many onlookers expect it to be very hotly contested, writes Fleur Doidge

Last year's awards at Battersea Park Arena was filled with glamour for the lucky prizewinners and attendees

Winners are grinners and it is time to start getting your company’s entries together for the UK channel’s hot night in the city. Entries have opened for the CRN Channel Awards 2009, which on 19 November will again be held in the glamorous surrounds of the Battersea Park Events Arena.

CRN editor Sara Yirrell says a new award that recognises the increasing breadth and solution-oriented focus of UK resellers has been introduced: Services Provider of the Year.

“This was due to unprecedented reader demand, and reflects the high calibre of entries we receive every year,” she says.

“Last year, the competition was so fierce the judges sometimes had to resort to a show of hands to decide the shortlist.”

“We expect to see many VARs performing well above par in response to the challenge of the current economic climate, and we want to recognise those efforts.”

You have to be in to win, and those companies that start early can press their advantage. It isn’t about being the biggest or most flush, but nailing those votes.

“This year’s event is going to be even bigger and better,” says Yirrell. “Entries close this year on 17 July, so get them in on time.”

Hammer this year will sponsor the SME Reseller of the Year prize.

Jason Beeson, solutions director at Hammer, says the distributor is proud to be sponsoring the SME Reseller of the Year Award at this year’s Channel Awards.

“In a turbulent market, resellers that bring individuality and expertise to the channel deserve recognition,” said Beeson. “A channel award is a great way to commend their accomplishments.”

Tony Lock, programme director at analyst Freeform Dynamics, will be a judge for the first time.

“I am delighted to be invited on the judging panel and look forward to considering some interesting approaches to the various IT markets,” he said.

“As an analyst I struggle to simply say ‘no’ or, indeed, to keep my replies shorter than 30 minutes. Seriously, I consider the channel the primary route to market for successful business solutions.”

Lock hopes to see entries that help firms deliver innovative services with great business value.

“In tough economic conditions, businesses must find new services or ways of serving their customers. IT can help get business back on track,” Lock says. “The awards are a great opportunity to show what can be achieved.”

Bob Tarzey, service director at Quocirca, says he will be looking out for entries that demonstrate innovative thinking about how IT can help end users in the recession.

“The standard last year was higher than ever,” he said. “The introduction of judges’ commendations allowed us to recognise some excellent entries from up and coming organisations.”

Keith Warburton, chief executive officer at the PC Association, says that each year the awards have proven more difficult to judge as the standard of entries rises.

“I look forward to the judging process. I know it will swallow a weekend of my life, but I always learn something new,” he said.

There are no major changes this year to the entering or judging processes. Companies must submit entries of up to 1,500 words by 17 July. The judging panel will subsequently meet to decide the short-lists for each category, which will be announced 2 September.

The web site will open for voting from then until 9 October.

Any resellers or IT companies with a verifiable email address may vote, along with verifiable customers and partners. As ever, the votes will be scrutinised for block-voting and companies that vote for themselves.

Votes from generic or webmail addresses will be discounted.

To attend the awards night, contact [email protected] for further details.