Open to any organisation delivering a new or significantly improved technology, product, or solution in the past 12 months

1. Provide an overview of the innovation and its purpose
2. How does it solve a clear problem or create new opportunities?
3. What measurable impact has been achieved?
4. How is it differentiated from existing market alternatives?
5. Include testimonials, results or third-party recognition where possible

Open to AI-enabled and data-led projects driving smarter decision-making or operational efficiency

1. Outline the initiative and its objectives

2. How is AI or data being used in a meaningful, responsible way?

3. What outcomes or improvements have been proven?

4. Describe innovation and technical advancement

5. Highlight any governance, ethics or privacy considerations

Recognising exceptional products or services that enhance cyber resilience

1. Describe the cybersecurity challenge addressed

2. What technology or methodology drives the solution?

3. Demonstrate measurable improvements in protection or risk reduction

4. How is the approach innovative or ahead of threats?

5. Any independent testing, accreditation or feedback?

Celebrating projects modernising processes, systems or services

1. Provide an overview of the transformation goals

2. What technologies and change initiatives were implemented?

3. What efficiency, cost or service improvements are evidenced?

4. How was adoption managed across teams?

5. What makes the transformation stand out?

Open to software-as-a-service products across any industry

1. Explain the product and who it serves

2. What value does it deliver for users or customers?

3. Evidence market traction and growth

4. Showcase innovation in features or delivery

5. Share client feedback or performance data

Recognising cutting-edge tech such as VR, AR, robotics, IoT, blockchain

1. Explain the technology and its potential impact

2. How is it pioneering or future-focused?

3. Provide early success or proof-of-concept results

4. What collaboration or research supports its development?

5. Why is it significant for Yorkshire’s tech landscape?

Open to tech companies under 3 years old

1. Overview of the business and value proposition

2. Evidence traction, resilience, and successful execution

3. What makes the start-up innovative or disruptive?

4. Team credentials and growth potential

5. Any standout milestones or recognition?

Open to high-growth tech companies scaling rapidly

1. Outline growth achievements (revenue, jobs, users, etc.)

2. What strategies have accelerated progress?

3. How has innovation driven expansion?

4. Evidence market impact and future ambition

5. Highlight culture and operational excellence

Recognising large established businesses with proven excellence

1. Demonstrate sustained performance and leadership

2. How does the company support innovation and growth?

3. Contribution to the regional tech ecosystem

4. Client results, reputation and quality

5. Culture, talent and investment in people

For technology improving environmental sustainability

1. Describe the initiative and sustainability goals

2. Evidence environmental benefits or carbon reduction

3. How is technology driving change?

4. Innovation and scalability potential

5. Any certifications, data or recognition?

For outstanding leadership driving technology success

1. Outline leadership achievements and vision

2. Impact on people, culture and business outcomes

3. Innovations or major strategic decisions

4. What sets their leadership style apart?

5. Peer or client endorsements recommended

Open to individuals in early career who show exceptional promise

1. Role responsibilities and achievements to date

2. How have they shown creativity, ability or leadership?

3. Contribution to team and organisation success

4. Evidence of growth, commitment and influence

5. What recognition has the example of outstanding customer service received from third parties?  

For teams or organisations delivering outstanding customer experience

1. Describe your service approach and customer promise

2. Evidence improvements in satisfaction, loyalty or success

3. How do you use technology to enhance service?

4. Innovation in delivery or support model

5. Results, feedback or case studies encouraged

Recognising teams driving high-impact outcomes

1. Team structure, purpose and collaboration approach

2. Key achievements over the past 12 months

3. How does the team innovate and solve challenges?

4. Internal culture and working practices

5. Stakeholder or customer praise/impact

For exceptional technical expertise and delivery – Open to developers and software engineers

1. Key development achievements and contributions

2. Innovation and problem-solving examples

3. Quality, performance and user impact

4. Collaboration with teams and stakeholders

5. Any open-source, community or mentoring activity

This award recognises an exceptional trainee, apprentice, or early-career individual who has shown outstanding talent, commitment, and progression within the tech sector.

1. Please describe the nominee’s role, responsibilities, and length of time in the position.

2. What development, training, or qualifications has the nominee undertaken during this period?

3. How has the nominee contributed to their team, organisation, or specific projects?

4. Can you provide examples where the nominee has shown initiative, problem-solving, or personal growth?

5. Why do you believe this trainee stands out this year? Include any feedback or testimonials that may support the nominee’s achievements.

6. How has the nominee demonstrated future potential within the tech sector?

For advancing healthcare delivery, accessibility or outcomes

1. Explain the health challenge addressed

2. Demonstrate value for clinicians/patients

3. Evidence improved efficiency, quality or safety

4. Regulatory, data security or ethical strengths

5. Collaboration with healthcare partners

For tech that enhances education and learning

1. Describe the initiative and who benefits

2. What makes the approach innovative?

3. Evidence improved engagement, skills or outcomes

4. Scalable and inclusive design

5. Feedback from educators or learners

For organisations unlocking value through cloud transformation

1. Community Impact AwardDescribe the cloud technology deployed

2. Efficiency, cost or performance improvements

3. Security, integration and scalability strengths

4. Innovative use of architecture or automation

5. Client or stakeholder results

Recognising technology that transforms digital marketing performance, automation, audience insight, campaign management, or brand engagement.

1. What is your marketing technology, and what challenge or need does it address?

2. How does the technology enhance campaign management, personalisation, automation, or audience insight?

3. What innovative or unique features distinguish your solution from others in the marketing tech space?

4. What measurable improvements have been achieved? (e.g., ROI, engagement, lead quality, acquisition cost)

5. How does your technology integrate with wider marketing systems (CRM, CMS, analytics)?

6. Please provide case studies or evidence that demonstrate impact.

7. How is the platform evolving to meet future marketing trends or demands?

This award recognises technology that enhances the online buying journey, improves conversion, or drives operational efficiency for e-commerce organisations.

1. What is your e-commerce technology, and what challenge or opportunity does it address?

2. How does your technology improve the online buying journey, conversions, or customer experience?

3. What innovation or unique features set your solution apart from others in the market?

4. How has the technology demonstrated measurable results? (e.g., sales uplift, conversion rates, repeat purchases, operational efficiency)

5. How do you use data, automation, personalisation, or UX design to enhance performance?

6. Please provide supporting evidence or case studies from clients or internal users.

7. What ongoing development or future roadmap supports continued growth and improvement?

Celebrating outstanding technology improving physical or omnichannel retail operations, customer experience, logistics, or point-of-sale innovation.

1. What is your retail technology, and what specific retail challenge does it solve?

2. How does your tech enhance in-store, online, or omnichannel retail operations or customer experiences?

3. What innovation or new approach does your solution introduce to the retail sector?

4. What measurable results or benefits have been achieved? (e.g., increased footfall, higher basket value, stock efficiency)

5. How does your technology integrate with or improve existing retail systems (POS, CRM, inventory)?

6. Please share case studies, user feedback, or client testimonials demonstrating success.

7. How is the technology being developed or scaled for future retail needs?

This category honours technology improving talent acquisition, hiring processes, candidate engagement, or workforce planning.

1. What recruitment or HR technology are you entering, and what specific hiring challenge does it solve?

2. How does your solution improve sourcing, screening, matching, onboarding, or overall hiring efficiency?

3. What innovative or unique features make your recruitment tech stand out?

4. What measurable results or improvements has the technology delivered? (e.g., reduced time-to-hire, improved candidate experience)

5. How do you use data, analytics, AI, or automation to enhance hiring outcomes?

6. Please provide client, user, or candidate feedback or case studies.

7. How does your technology support fair, consistent, or inclusive recruitment practices?

Celebrating technology improving property management, sales, lettings, construction, planning, or real-estate data.

1. What is your property technology, and which part of the property sector does it support?

2. What challenge or inefficiency does your technology solve for agents, landlords, tenants, developers, or investors?

3. What innovation or unique value does your solution bring to the property market?

4. What impact has the technology had? (e.g., cost savings, reduced admin, improved occupancy, better decision-making)

5. How do you use data, digital tools, automation, or smart technology within the solution?

6. Please share case studies, user feedback, or testimonials showing measurable success.

7. How is your technology being developed or scaled to support future market needs?