There are now just 11 days left until entries close for this year's channel Oscars. Fleur Doidge gives you all the information
Resellers, distributors, services providers and vendors are urged to get their entries in soon for the Channel Awards 2012 as entries close approximately two weeks earlier this year. No submissions will be accepted after 5pm on Friday 20 July 2012 through the special CRN Channel Awards website at http://events.channelweb.co.uk/awards -- the only route to entry.
Sara Yirrell, editor of CRN and one of the Awards judges, says the event is always well subscribed ahead of time and keenly anticipated by many players in the industry every year. The aim is for everyone to have as fair a chance as possible to actually win an award - and this means that deadlines for entry must be strictly adhered to.
"I would like to reiterate that entries are closing earlier this year, in July, so please start thinking about your entry if you have not already. You might need to put aside some time to compile the information you need to compose an entry that puts your company in the best light and gives it the best chance of a prize," Yirrell says.
Even though the prizewinners will not be announced until mid-November, the judging process takes some months - not least because the judges have their other full-time commitments to fulfil and businesses to run. First all the entries -- and there will be hundreds -- need to be carefully read and checked for eligibility, after which they will enter the first phase of judging.
"Each category will be scrutinised by another panel of resellers, distributors or vendors. No panellist will judge the shortlist for his or her own category," says Yirrell. "Finally, the Reseller, Distributor and Vendor of the Year prize candidates will be invited to present their entries to the judges in person."
The category shortlists will be announced on 28 August, with the winners to be announced at the grand dinner and party at Battersea Park on Thursday 15 November. Headline sponsor IBM and sponsors Riso, Interactive Ideas, Huawei, Fujitsu and Comms-care have already put their names down to support the event and make sure it is a night to remember for every vendor, reseller, distributor and service provider who attends.
Make an impact
Only one entry is allowed per category, per company Please keep the entry relevant to the UK market. All products and services must have been available in the UK from July 2011. Companies entering the Awards must have been trading in the UK for at least 12 months prior to the entry deadline of 20 July 2012. Projects or programmes to be considered by the judges must have been completed between July 2011 and July 2012 - again, they must be UK-based.
Read the criteria carefully, and keep your entries concise. Avoid corporate jargon or rambling. Aim to make an impact on the reader -- this is best done by making your point simply and clearly. Back up your claims with facts, figures and testimonials where appropriate. Make a separate entry for each category that you enter, as the judges will definitely notice any duplication and it could cost you a place on the shortlist.
All entries will remain confidential, although descriptions of winners' and finalists' submissions may be published. If parts of the entry are commercially sensitive, please mark them as such.
• Full details are at: http://events.channelweb.co.uk/awards
