The Channel Awards 2025 shortlist is out TODAY!
Congratulations to all those who made the shortlist in a year with a record number of entries
After much deliberation and discussion, the Channel Awards shortlist is finally out today.
Massive congratulations go to everyone who made the shortlist this year. CRN had a record number of entries in 2025, with some very highly entered categories, which made the judges’ decisions very difficult indeed.
The shortlist is pasted below, but you can also CLICK HERE to see the list on the official Channel Awards website.
Some of the shortlists may seem longer than previous year, but this reflects the number of entries received in those particular categories, and many of them have been cut by at least 50 per cent.
In an unusual move, the judges have decided to split the MSP of the Year category into two separate categories due to the sheer number of entries. It really was a record year. As a result, MSP of the Year £10m+ turnover and MSP of the Year Sub £10m turnover have been created to ensure all shortlisted entries are competing at a fairer level.
In the interests of openness and full disclosure, there have also been some changes due to some categories NOT receiving as many entries as previous years. This could be a reflection of socio-economic conditions currently, or the fact that many companies are just focusing on keeping the lights on, but for example the Best DEI Project/Initiative category for distributors and vendors has become a general category to give everyone who submitted a strong entry the chance to compete. Some categories have also been dropped due to a lack of strong enough entries to offer proper competition.
As mentioned in the Ts&Cs, the judges have also moved some entries into different categories because they either felt they were more suited to that particular category, or the entry was in the wrong category to start with, and was strong enough to go onto the next round. Please do get in touch with the team if you need any clarification.
For those that didn’t make the shortlist, we hope you don’t give up. To perhaps understand why, it might be a good idea to revisit your entry and then compare it with the criteria outlined for each award. Vendors: Did you mention UK partners and the channel in your entry? All: Did you include testimonials from partners and/or customers? Did you include any stats? Did your entry really explain why you were entering that particular category? Did you submit the same entry multiple times? Finally, was your entry easy to read, well laid out and compelling enough to beat the competition?
If you do that, it may become apparent why your entry hasn’t made the cut this year and will hopefully give you something to aim for in 2026.
The shortlisted entries will now go onto the next round of judging in London on Wednesday 1 October, and those that will be required to come along on the judging day to present, will be contacted by the CRN team with time slots to choose from. It will be a case of first come, first served.
For the full shortlist, please see below:
VENDOR AND GENERAL CATEGORIES SHORTLIST
Software Vendor of the Year
ABBYY
Keepit
NinjaOne
Scale Computing
StorMagic
Strategic Imperatives
Tekton Billing
Specialist Vendor of the Year
Akixi
Jabra
NTA
Stechad Ltd
TP-Link
Uptime
BenQ
Cloud Services Vendor of the Year
Akixi
Exclaimer
Keepit
PeaSoup Cloud
Smartsheet
Voiceflex
Zyxel Networks
Vendor Innovation Award
Akixi
Barracuda Networks
BlockAPT Limited
Circular Computing
Coro
Logitech
PeaSoup Cloud
Strand Intelligence
Strategic Imperatives
Voiceflex
Western Digital
Zyxel Networks
Best Sustainability project/initiative of The Year
Acer UK
HP Renew Solutions
NetApp
PeaSoup Cloud
Philips Monitors
Vendor Channel Team of the Year
Armis
Coro
ESET
Gamma Communications
HP
Jabra
Kingston Technology UK & Ireland
NTA
ObjectFirst
Rapid7
Schneider Electric
TP-Link
Voiceflex
Rising Star Security Vendor of the Year
Arctic Wolf
Coro
CybaVerse
ObjectFirst
Usecure
Wiz
Abnormal
Harbor Solutions
DigitalXRaid
Security Vendor of the Year
Darktrace
Forescout
Keeper Security
KnowBe4
OpenText Cybersecurity
Rapid7
Usecure
Zscaler
Vendor of the Year
AvePoint
ESET
HP
Philips Monitors
Veeam
Zyxel Networks
GENERAL CATEGORIES:
Channel Services Provider of the Year: Support
Channel Edge
CI Group
ECS Resource Group
Fresh Productions
Ice and a Slice
Illuminate Learning Ltd
Network Group
Purechannels
Resultful
Robertson Sumner
Noteworthy Support
STECHAD LTD
Channel Services provider of the Year: Technical
Agilitas IT Solutions
ANS
Comms-Care
GrillaTech Limited
Nebula Global Services
Smart CT
STECHAD LTD
Tekton Billing
Virtuoso Partners
Best DEI Project/Initiative
Westcoast
Exertis
Schneider Electric
PARTNER/RESELLER SHORTLIST
Rising Star Award
Acumen Cyber
CloudMatters
CNNECT
EquiTech Group Ltd
Layer 4 Limited
Public Sector Partner of the Year
Academia The Technology Group
Apogee Corporation
Bytes Software Services
MTI Technology
Softcat
Sync
Synyega
MSP of the Year £10m+
Air IT
ANS
Arc
Assured Data Protection
Littlefish
Mirus IT Solutions
Roc Technologies
Wavenet
MSP of the Year – Sub £10m
WWCS
Nomical
MCS Group
F One Technologies
CloudMatters
Barrier Networks
Everything Tech Group
Truly SMB
Cloud Services Partner of the Year
ANS
Bytes Software Services
Codestone
Layer 4 Limited
OneAdvanced IT Services
Trusted Tech Team
Cybersecurity/Data Protection Partner of the Year
Air IT
Bridewell
MTI Technology
SCC
Sep2
Vizst Technology
Wavenet
Best Sustainability project/initiative of The Year
Circularity First
Computacenter
Ricoh
Sumillion
WWCS
Centerprise International
Partner of the Year (up to £100m)
Arc
Cisilion Ltd
Synyega
TIEVA LTd
Truly SMB
Vizst Technology
WWCS
Partner of the Year – (£101m+)
Academia The Technology Group
Advania UK
ANS
Ricoh
SCC
DISTRIBUTOR SHORTLIST
Cloud Marketplace of the Year
Arrow ECS
Giacom
Ingram Micro
Pax8
TD Synnex
Westcoast Cloud
Security Distributor of the Year
Distology
E92plus
Giacom
Ignition Technology
TD SYNNEX
Westcon Comstor
Networking/Comms Distributor of the Year
Intec
NetXL Distribution Ltd
NTA
Best Sustainability project/initiative of The Year
Exertis UK
Exertis Enterprise
Ikonic
Distributor of the Year (less than 100m turnover)
Ci Distribution
E92plus
NetXL Distribution Ltd
Nuvias UC
Synaxon UK
Titan Data Systems
Distributor of the Year (£100m - £300m turnover)
Exertis Enterprise
Climb Channel Solutions
Ikonic
Distributor of the Year (£300m+)
Exertis
Ingram Micro
Midwich
QBS Software
TD SYNNEX
Westcoast
Westcon Comstor
Editor’s Choice
Channel Achievement Award (to be announced on night)
Best of luck to all those shortlisted and we will see you at the Awards on Thursday 13 November.
To see the full shortlist on the official Channel Awards website, please CLICK HERE.