SMAs are open for entry!

It is time to recognise the people behind the companies in the channel and shout about your successes

The CRN Sales and Marketing Awards, or SMAs, are now officially open and ready to receive entries.

This year the glittering black-tie awards, which celebrate team and individual success within the channel, are due to take place on Thursday 7 July at the Brewery in central London.

And because the channel never stands still, we have launched some new categories to help you shout about your successes even more. So there are now 20 categories to choose from, with at least one to suit everyone.

For VARs we have added two new categories: Best Online Marketing Innovation and Best Apprenticeship Scheme.

Distributors also have Best Online Marketing Innovation, and another new category for Best Training Initiative.

Finally vendors have a chance to shout about their technology this year in our brand new Technology Innovation Award category - but remember - judges are not interested in how the technology works, we want to know what it has done for the UK channel.

Also bear in mind that the deadline is Monday 21 March, and that really is the absolute deadline. There will be no extensions.

Sara Yirrell, editorial director of CRN, urged everyone to read the Ts&Cs before entering and study the criteria as well.

"Every category has a lengthy criteria as a guideline to follow and short of writing the entries, there really isn't much more we can say about them. Entries can be in PDF format, or video for those feeling adventurous, but please remember to keep videos short - five minutes should be the absolute maximum. " she said. "Please do read both the criteria and the Ts&Cs before entering, and if you are entering multiple categories, entries must be different and relevant to that particular category.

"If your company has done something to be proud of, it is only right that you should enter these awards, and share your success with your peers. And please bear the deadline in mind, don't leave it until the last minute."

To find out more, visit the dedicated SMA website here.