Nominations for the fifth edition of the SPARKies, also known as the South West’s ‘tech Oscars’, open today, Friday 7^th April 2017.

The SPARKies awards shine a light on the leading people, products and companies that make up the ever-growing tech industry cluster across Bristol, Bath, Somerset, Wiltshire and South Gloucester.

With 15 categories and a great mix of judges from the South West tech scene, the event celebrates players across the entire technology spectrum – including the supporters who work tirelessly to support and grow the local tech industry.

Reflecting the growth of the tech sector in the region, the SPARKies have been going from strength to strength since their launch in 2012.

Abby Frear, Director of the SPARKies, said: “Since the first SPARKies in 2012 the number of nominations has doubled, and we had 200 entries last year. We expect we will receive even more this year, which will make our judges’ task a challenging one. We can’t wait to see what the class of 2017 has to offer.”

The judges for the SPARKies awards are all prominent figures in the local tech community.

With the SPARKies now a firm fixture in the region’s tech calendar, the event is attracting great support from businesses across the South West but also from the rest of the UK.

Tatjana Humphries, Senior Inward Investment Executive at Invest Bristol and Bath, said: “The SPARKies is a really great, fun event which brings together all the best companies and influencers within the region’s tech world.”

This year’s list of sponsors, headlined by Gradwell Communications Ltd, includes familiar names from the South West business community: Bristol & Bath Science Park, Invest Bristol & Bath, NatWest, Just Eat, Engine Shed, Hayes Parsons Insurance Brokers, Real World Studios, TLT, University of Bath Innovation Centre, The Yogscast, Future Space and Ashfords.

The event is also supported by: Shooting Star, SETsquared, Bristol Media, Bristol Games Hub, The Guild Coworking Hub, Women’s Tech Hub, Watershed, Accelerated Digital Ventures, VR World Congress, Entrepreneurial Spark and Enterprise Nation.

The winners of this year’s SPARKies will be announced and celebrated at an awards ceremony on Thursday 29^th June 2017. The event returns to Bath’s Komedia this year and as always will be hosted by a comedian soon to be announced.

Nicola Chilman, Co-Founder of EZ Education who won last year’s Best Mobile App award, said: “Winning the SPARKies Award for Best App in 2016 felt like a turning point for Doodlemaths. It kicked off a whole series of successes which culminated in winning Pitch at the Palace and meeting the Queen in November. It’s a fantastic event to get involved in and we’re looking forward to seeing the great new and established companies that will be celebrated this year!”

To nominate someone or for more information, please go to: http://thesparkies.com

Additional information

(1) Eligibility:

All entrants to the SPARKies 2017 must be based within the region detailed on the following map: https://techspark.co/the-sparkies-awards-the-best-in-tech-in-the-west/sparkies-qualifying-region/.

If the organisation is headquartered elsewhere, but has a regional office in the qualification area, it may still enter the awards. However, the activities detailed in the entry must have been led from the qualifying office.

The judge’s decision regarding eligibility of entries is final.

(2) Timeline:

Nominations open on Friday 7^th April 2017 and close at midnight on Friday 19^th May 2017.

A shortlist will be announced on Tuesday 6^th June 2017 and the winners announced at an awards ceremony to be held in Bath on the evening of Thursday 29^th June 2017.

(3) Categories:

• Best Start Up
• The ‘Totally Killing it’ Award
• The Lifetime Achievement Award
• Founder/ Entrepreneur of the Year
• Future Spark
• Best Digital Marketing Campaign
• The ‘Good’ Award
• Best Mentor / Advisor
• Best App
• Most Exemplary Use of Virtual & Mixed Reality
• The ‘Hard’ Award
• Best Digital Design
• The Data Data Data Award
• Best Place to Work in Tech
• People’s Choice

Ends

Notes to editors:

• The SPARKies are the digital and tech awards for the South West, which have regularly been held in Bristol and Bath over the last five years.
• The SPARKies shine a light on the very best people, products and companies that make up the tech sector in Bristol, Bath and the broader South West of England region.
• The SPARKies are organised by TechSPARK, the information hub for all things tech in Bristol, Bath and the South West of England.
• For more information, please go to: http://thesparkies.com

For media information contact:

Sarah-Jane Freni
Account Director
Shooting Star
0117 3131120
sarahjane@weareshootingstar.co.uk

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