Articles by Sara Yirrell
Coronavirus update: SMAs postponed until September but still open for entries
The deadline has moved to Wednesday 8 April and the event itself will take place on Thursday 17 September
Building the best SMA entry - how to score points with the judges
Because we are asked the same questions each year, we thought it would be good to hear from the judges on what they are looking for in an entry and what will score extra points. They also share what makes them turn off and mark down as well
Flying high after an SMA win
Winners explain how taking home a trophy has given them a boost
Why everyone should enter the SMAs - Part One
In the first of a two-part article, hear from the CRN Sales and Marketing Awards' judging panel on why all companies that are serious about building their brand and attracting customers should be entering these awards
What's new in the 2020 Sales and Marketing Awards?
A quick run through of category additions, tweaks and what has been dropped this year
Sales and Marketing Awards 2020 launched TODAY!
Entry process for the longest-running sales and marketing awards in the channel is now open
Sales and Marketing Awards Hub 2020
Tips on entering, all the categories, interviews with judges and much more
A sneaky peek into the Channel Awards winners' judging day
Channel Awards winners are selected via a two-stage judging process. Now, for the first time, Sara Yirrell shares how stage two of the process works
Channel Awards 2019 deadline is TODAY
Just hours left to get your entries in on time
Sales and Marketing Awards 2019 - WINNERS!
Congratulations to all those who won and also to those who were commended by the judges
Five reasons to enter the Channel Awards
Below we explain why it is worth entering the longest-running awards in the channel
Roll up! Roll up! The 2019 Channel Awards are GO!
Today is the day we launch the 2019 Channel Awards, and this year there are some old favourite categories returning this year by demand
SMA Judges' Spotlight: Part Two: Avoiding a shortlist miss
All too often, there are firms that submit awards entries that fail to even make the shortlist. Where are they going wrong? What can they do to avoid this happening? In the second of our two-part feature, we ask our judging panel what would stop them...
SMA Judges' Spotlight: Part One: Creating a winning entry
Every year CRN is asked what the judging panel actually looks for in an entry. Read about what will get this year's judges scoring top marks in the first of this two-part judging spotlight
Will you love our new SMA categories this year?
Awards categories are just like Marmite - but there will always be something new and exciting to enter with the SMAs, writes Sara Yirrell
Sales and Marketing Awards launch TODAY
It is once again time to start sharing your success stories as the entry process for the 2019 awards officially opens
Key takeaways from Dreamforce 2018
A round-up of Salesforce's conference in San Francisco
Channel Awards 2018 - SHORTLIST
The first judging day took place in August and we are delighted to announce the 2018 shortlist.
'Diversity is a wider prism than just gender'
Apay Obang-Oyway, director of cloud and software at Ingram Micro, believes diversity is a broad issue, but it should not outweigh meritocracy
Customers Vs the channel
What is it that CIOs/MDs/CEOs actually want from their IT suppliers? What technology is top of their wishlists for the future? Find out at an exclusive CRN event in September.
'This will be our best year ever' - Microsoft channel boss on FY19
Vendor talks up partner relationship at Inspire global conference
In stitches at the Channel Awards
Who remembers all the comedians we have seen over the years? Sara Yirrell mulls over some of the big names the CRN Awards have attracted
The Evolution of the Channel Awards
How did they become what they are today and why do they still matter?
Vendors: Are you really doing a good job in the channel? Then prove it!
If your partners are not nominating your channel chiefs for CRN's newest award, then it doesn't look that way
Emma de Sousa: 'I would love to see more female candidates coming forward for jobs'
Insight's UK managing director and senior vice president of EMEA marketing talks to CRN about the value of diversity, the importance of meritocracy, and the many initiatives her firm supports to ensure a balanced workforce
Are you a Channel Awards aficionado?
Have you attended the Channel Awards multiple times, or experienced your first ever awards in the past year? We want to hear from you!
The jury's out - part two
In this second part of our 'meet the judges' articles, we ask our panellists how they feel entries have improved over the years, and also what their reply to the dreaded phrase "the awards are a fix" actually is. If you are of a sensitive nature, be warned....
The jury's out - part one
As the CRN Channel Awards gears up to celebrate its 25th birthday in November - we catch up with some of our judges - several of whom have been involved for multiple years since the judging process was introduced - to see what they enjoy about judging,...
BT boss Helen Slinger: 'Coaching, mentoring and sponsorship are key elements in helping women progress up the career ladder'
BT's director of Product Supply Business (PSB) explains why encouraging other women is very important to her
'Trust and fear are the biggest issues for some employers after childbirth'
Lindsey Fish, founder of Mums Enterprise and a CRN WiC judge, explains how perceptions about working mums are slowly changing, in part due to Brexit
'Positive discrimination is not the way to get more women in senior roles'
Alex Tatham explains how Westcoast is interacting with local schoolchildren near its bases to encourage both sexes to consider IT as a career
Celebrating 25 years of the Channel Awards
Today marks the launch of the 2018 Channel Awards and we are also celebrating our 25th birthday
Why should I bother entering the Channel Awards this year?
The answer to this question and more is covered in this tongue-in-cheek Q&A session
Sales and Marketing Awards shortlist - OUT NOW!
Today we are pleased to announce the 2018 CRN Sales and Marketing Awards shortlist. It was a tough competition this year so congratulations to all those on the list.
Why the time is right for CRN Women in Channel
Sara Yirrell explains why CRN has waited until now to launch this initiative
The SMA 2018 deadline clock is ticking
Just THREE DAYS left to get your entry submitted in time for the deadline. Don't miss out on your chance to shine.
Getting judgy with it - part three
In this final part of our three-part series, CRN asks the Sales and Marketing Awards (SMA) judges what to avoid when writing entries, and their reaction when hearing claims that the process is a 'fix'
Getting judgy with it - part two
In the second part of this three-part series, we ask the judges to share their advice to those writing entries and also why receiving a 'judges commended' award is not to be sniffed at
Getting judgy with it - part one
In the first part of this three-part series, we speak to the judging panel for the 2018 Sales and Marketing Awards to find out what makes a winning entry in their eyes and what they are most looking forward to this year
Ch...ch...changes
The eagle-eyed among you will notice that every year there are new categories rearing their heads in the Sales and Marketing Awards. Sara Yirrell explains why.
Sales and Marketing Awards 2018 launched TODAY!
It is time to start shouting about your sales and marketing success stories as the entry process for the SMAs is officially opened
Channel Awards 2017 - WINNERS
After a glittering party at the channel Oscars last night, we can reveal the list of winners
Autotask and Datto combine to make MSP-focused giant
After mounting speculation, it has been confirmed that Autotask and Datto will be merged into one super-sized company in a move they claim is 'good for the channel'
Channel Awards 2017 shortlist - OUT NOW!
After a long wait, and a testing day of judging, the shortlist is finally out. Congratulations to all those who have made the list. It is no mean feat.
What CIOs really want from their IT suppliers
CRN's brand-new event next month will feature an exclusive panel of senior decision makers discussing their true views on the channel
GDPR set to be hot topic at brand new CRN event
With a panel of VAR bosses from across the UK and Europe, everyone should be tuning into this debate
Channel Awards deadline is this Friday
With just two days to go until the entry process closes for the 2017 Awards, make sure you don't miss out on your chance to scoop a channel Oscar