Reseller of the Year - SMB

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Companies with turnover of up to £2.5 million

This is award is dedicated to resellers, VARs, dealers, or any other kind of Channel Partner which sell solutions directly to businesses (i.e. End users). This is a company award presented to those who can demonstrate a solid performance throughout 2020 despite the challenging environment. Performance can relate to growth, customer service, staff development and support, or defining new markets. Entries should include details of recent market activities with a recent case study, staff development plans and also a testimonial from a customer and principle supplier.

Reseller of the Year - Mid Market

Sponsored by:

Companies with a turnover of £2.5 - £7.5 million

This is award is dedicated to resellers, VARs, dealers, or any other kind of Channel Partner which sell solutions directly to businesses (i.e. End users). This is a company award presented to those who can demonstrate a solid performance throughout 2020 despite the challenging environment. Performance can relate to growth, customer service, staff development and support, or defining new markets. Entries should include details of recent market activities with a recent case study, staff development plans and also a testimonial from a customer and principle supplier.

Reseller of the Year - Enterprise

Sponsored by:

Companies with a turnover of £7.5 + million

This is award is dedicated to resellers, VARs, dealers, or any other kind of Channel Partner which sell solutions directly to businesses (i.e. end users). This is a company award presented to those who can demonstrate a solid performance throughout 2020 despite the challenging environment. Performance can relate to growth, customer service, staff development and support, or defining new markets. Entries should include details of recent market activities with a recent case study, staff development plans and also a testimonial from a customer and principle supplier.

MSP of the Year

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This is award is dedicated to Managed Service Providers which sell solutions directly to businesses (i.e. end users). This is a company award presented to those who can demonstrate a solid performance throughout 2020 despite the challenging environment. Performance can relate to growth, customer service, staff development and support, or defining new markets. Entries should include details of recent market activities with a recent case study, staff development plans and also a testimonial from a customer and principal supplier.

Distributor of the Year - SMB

Sponsored by:

1-250 employees

This is award is dedicated to SMB IT and/or comms distributors. We are interested in hearing about channel distributors that achieved success in 2020 despite the challenging environment. Activity or initiative highlights may include but not be restricted to; innovative product development, imaginative marketing programmes, effective sales and technical support programmes, appropriate but cost-effective accreditation and sales incentivisation. Applicants will need to detail these activities and place, in confidence, verifiable sales figures before the judges.

Distributor of the Year - Mid to Enterprise

Sponsored by:

251 + employees

This is award is dedicated to mid to enterprise-size IT and/or comms distributors. We are interested in hearing about channel distributors that achieved success in 2020 despite the challenging environment. Activity or initiative highlights may include but not be restricted to; innovative product development, imaginative marketing programmes, effective sales and technical support programmes, appropriate but cost-effective accreditation and sales incentivisation. Applicants will need to detail these activities and place, in confidence, verifiable sales figures before the judges.

Best Fibre Connectivity Provider

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Providers may enter multiple connectivity awards if their portfolio encompasses a number of technologies.

Do you provide fibre services to the Channel? This award is for you! As the investment in fibre continues its importance to the UK economy cannot be underestimated. Now serving as the backbone to many businesses services Comms Business will recognise those that are doing a fantastic job of launching new fibre products and making them easily accessible for the market to sell into businesses.

Best Wireless Connectivity Provider

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Providers may enter multiple connectivity awards if their portfolio encompasses a number of technologies.

It’s not all about fixed connectivity! The market is seeing new forms of connectivity hit the market which can provide either a credible alternative to fixed line propositions or equally can complement a fixed line solution. This award will reward those that are able to demonstrate the capabilities of their solution and where it has added value to partners portfolios. This category will encompass a number of technologies – including cellular, IoT, Wi-Fi and satellite – that deliver connectivity wirelessly. Entrants could include providers that take a software-based approach to wireless connectivity.

Contact Centre Vendor

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This award is designed to recognise those who excel in the contact centre space. The contact centre space is still growing and many businesses are differentiating their offerings by investing in their customer experience. Judges will be looking for those offerings which created genuine value for those business to customer and offer a step into new and innovative technology like Artificial Intelligence. These solutions must be channel friendly and vendors should be able to demonstrate how their partners have used their offerings to achieve success.

Billing Platform Vendor

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The importance of billing cannot be underestimated. For Channel Partners, it will be the most important piece of software they have within their internal systems. In a market with tight margins, ensuring you bill in a timely and accurate manner could make the difference between thriving business and one that is constantly plagued with cash flow ‘issues’. This award seeks to recognise those companies who many consider to be the engine room of the Channel.

UC Vendor

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This award is for unified communications suppliers who service the Channel. As one of the biggest growth areas in the Channel the UC market is attracting new suppliers and is driving innovation among its established providers. Applicants need to detail their activities over 2020 and how they are enabling their channel with an innovative platform and business model. This is open to all hosted telephony and collaboration providers if they can demonstrate UC features.

Hardware Vendor

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This award is for hardware vendors who sold hardware through the Channel during 2020. Entrants should include details of their business success and product development during the year. Judges will be looking out for innovation, design and disruptive business models which have brought new dynamics to the Channel. Entries should include information about the flagship product and provide reseller testimonials. This award can be entered multiple times if vendors have multiple success stories to share.

Cybersecurity Vendor

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This new award is for cybersecurity vendors that sold through the Channel during 2020. Entries should include details on product development and business success during the year, as well as including information on core products and partner progammes, with supporting partner testimonials.

SMB ICT Solution (up to 250 users)

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This is award is dedicated to resellers, VARs, dealers, or any other kind of Channel Partner which sell solutions directly to businesses (i.e. End users). This category is for those selling a particular solution which is suitable for businesses in the SMB sector up to 250 users. Solutions will be accepted from across the ICT sector which includes telecoms, IT and data. All submissions should include a case study which clearly states before and after snapshots so judges can identify users’ needs were identified and met. Submissions should also include evidence of ROI and end user testimonials.

Mid-Market ICT Solution (250-500 users)

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This is award is dedicated to resellers, VARs, dealers, or any other kind of Channel Partner which sell solutions directly to businesses (i.e. End users). This category is for those selling a particular solution which is suitable for businesses in the mid-market sector for between 250 -  500 users. Solutions will be accepted from across the ICT sector which includes telecoms, IT and data. All submissions should include a case study which clearly states before and after snapshots so judges can identify users’ needs were identified and met. Submissions should also include evidence of ROI and end user testimonials.

Enterprise ICT Solution (500+ users)

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This is award is dedicated to resellers, VARs, dealers, or any other kind of Channel Partner which sell solutions directly to businesses (i.e. End users). This category is for those selling a particular solution which is suitable for businesses in the Enterprise sector for 500+ users. Solutions will be accepted from across the ICT sector which includes telecoms, IT and data. All submissions should include a case study which clearly states before and after snapshots so judges can identify users’ needs were identified and met. Submissions should also include evidence of ROI and end user testimonials.

White Label Solution

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This new award for 2020 will recognise those who have white-labelled products to sell through the Channel. We will be looking for innovative uses of white-labelling, as well as detail on how the product has been branded and positioned to customers. White-labelled products could include handsets, software, communications platforms or integrated services.

Diversity in the Workplace

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This is a company award to those channel businesses who are going above and beyond to attract and retain a diverse workforce. We are looking for detail on different aspects of diversity, including but not limited to gender, religion, ethnicity, education, and disability. This award isn’t simply for those with a standard diversity policy but for those who can demonstrate they are making a tangible difference to the business and the market as a whole.

The Workplace Award

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Any great business will recognise the value of its employees. This award will recognise those businesses who are going above and beyond for their staff. This may include staff reward systems, team building, small perks, or could be a fundamental ‘people-first’ philosophy. Comms Business wants to support those businesses that genuinely look after their staff. 

Please note: This award will also take into consideration your Glassdoor reviews where applicable.

Services to the Channel – Hall of Fame

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Our judges will nominate 3 candidates that will be put through to a reader vote to decide this very special winner.

Nominees will have displayed certain qualities over their Channel tenure.  These include; innovation, entrepreneurialism, forward thinking, pioneering, financial success and longevity within the Channel market. Once you are in the Comms Business Hall of Fame you will not be nominated again.

Judges' special awards for Pandemic Response

Awarded by the judges