Member Article

Northern businesses triumph at annual Big Chip Awards

The 17th Big Chip Awards, organised by Manchester Digital, took place last Thursday night and businesses from across the North of England came together to celebrate the very best in digital excellence.

With more companies shortlisted than ever before, the ceremony was highly anticipated in the digital community and over 400 people attended to hear comedian Andrew Ryan announce the winners for the third year running. Companies from regions across the North, including Greater Manchester, Merseyside, Newcastle, Cheshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire were shortlisted for 18 awards, which encompass all elements of digital, from mobile apps to social media, animation to websites, and digital brand to cloud software.

18 winning entries were picked by head judge Alasdair Scott FRSA (Connected Cloud Communications) and the rest of the judging panel; Alistair Cole (The Engine Group), Bill Thompson (BBC journalist), Daniel Nye Griffiths (Wired UK journalist), Dr David Kreps (Salford University), Herb Kim (Thinking Digital), Jon Myers (Marin Software), Nicole Yershon (Ogilvy) and Tom Evans (BleepsBleeps).

Two new categories were also introduced to open the awards up to more businesses this year, including Best B2C E-Business Project, won by Manchester-based Ampersand with Harvey Nichols: A Success Story of online Luxury and Best B2B E-Business Project, won by Climb Creative with Where the Trade Buys.

Celebrated designer Malcolm Garrett chose Rhythm and ThirtyThree, with DB Play, a Different Dimensions game for Deutsche Bank, as the winner of the reputable Anthony Wilson Original Modern Award. The award is in honour of the late Tony Wilson, who was heavily involved in the Big Chips from 2002 to 2007. The Grand Prix award - which the judges award to the winner that impressed them the most – went to Engage Interactive, with Mr Men and Little Miss for Beefeater Grill.

Shaun Fensom, Chair of the Big Chip Steering Group, said: “The judges keep raising the bar and yet we’ve got more entries shortlisted for Big Chip this year than ever before. We prove year after year just how much the digital sector in the North is thriving and meeting the challenge of finding the skills we need - a problem faced in all parts of the UK.”

The full winners list:

Best B2C E-business Project: • Ampersand with Harvey Nichols: A success story of online luxury

Best B2B E-business Project: • Climb Creative with Where The Trade Buys

Best Public Sector Project: • Stardotstar with First Steps

Best Not for Profit Project: • Connect Internet Solutions Ltd with SENDirect

Best User Experience: • Access with BAFTA Website

Best Application of Mobile • Glow New Media with Merseyrail Official Passenger App

Best Use of Visual Design: • Music with Music website Commended: • We Are Empire with Anthony Joshua

Most Innovative Application of Technology: • wejo with Rewarding Driving Commended: • Relative Insight with A transition from Crime Detection into the Marketing world

Best Use of Animation: • Kilogramme with Tall Tales pt2

Best Use of Search: • iProspect Manchester with Driving Sign Up Growth across the UK for PureGym.

Best Use of Social: • Engage Interactive with Mr Men and Little Miss for Beefeater Grill

Best Game: • Lamplight Studios with A Pixel Story

Best Digital Marketing Campaign: • Engage Interactive with Mr Men and Little Miss for Beefeater Grill Commended: • iProspect Manchester with GO Outdoors Tent Domination

Little Chip Student Award: • Manchester Metropolitian University with Chris Chippindale, Richard Evans and Katrina McLaughlin

Little Chip Placement/ Apprentice Award: • UK Tights and Salford Business School with Marta Rodriguez Casares

Best Start-up: • Mumsintheknow.co.uk

Best Freelancer/Micro Enterprise: • Block 8

Big Chip Digital Agency Award: • iProspect Manchester

Anthony Wilson Original Modern Award

• Rhythm and ThirtyThree with DB Play, a Different Dimensions game for Deutsche Bank

Grand Prix

• Engage Interactive with Mr Men and Little Miss for Beefeater Grill

To find out more about Manchester Digital and its events programme or become a member, please visit http://www.manchesterdigital.com

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by PR Agency One .