The awards will return as a live event on Thursday 12th October 2023
This highly-respected awards programme recognising and celebrating the best in Technology and the people behind the businesses in the Solent and South Coast is back.
Lucy Porter is a well-known face on TV from such shows as Live at the Apollo, Would I Lie to You, QI, Mock The Week and Richard Osman's House of Games.
She’s also a regular on BBC Radio 4 staples such as The News Quiz and The Now Show. She is a highly in demand stand-up comedian who, according to Time Out, “is one of the most talented comics on the circuit.” A veteran of the UK comedy circuit, she has performed 13 one-woman shows at the Edinburgh Festival and taken her comedy all over the world from Las Vegas to Cape Town. Lucy has recently been touring her new show Wake Up Call ' across the UK.
1st January 2022 - 31st December 2022
Got a Question?The Cyber Security Company of the Year award recognises an organisation that has demonstrated exceptional expertise, innovation, and leadership in the field of cybersecurity. Nominees should have a proven track record of providing top-tier security solutions and services that protect businesses, government agencies, and individuals from cyber threats. Judges will consider factors such as the company's technological advancements, customer satisfaction, thought leadership, and impact on the industry. The winner of this award should exemplify excellence in cybersecurity and serve as a model for the industry.
The Emerging Tech Company of the Year award recognises a company that has demonstrated exceptional innovation and leadership in a cutting-edge technology field. Nominees should have developed a groundbreaking technology that has the potential to disrupt industries and solve important problems. Judges will consider factors such as the company's technological advancements, business strategy, market potential, and impact on the industry. The winner of this award should be a company that has shown significant promise and potential for growth and has the ability to make a lasting impact in their field.
The Innovative Tech Company of the Year award recognises a technology company that has demonstrated exceptional innovation and creativity in their products, services, or solutions. Nominees should have developed a unique and original technology that has the potential to revolutionise their industry or solve important problems in a new way. Judges will consider factors such as the company's technological advancements, business strategy, market potential, and impact on the industry. The winner of this award should be a company that has shown a commitment to innovation and has the ability to make a lasting impact in their field.
The Health Tech Company of the Year award recognises the most innovative and impactful technology companies in the healthcare industry.
Health tech companies are changing the way we diagnose, treat and manage health conditions, making healthcare more accessible, efficient, and personalised.
Winning this award can help companies gain recognition, credibility, and validation from their peers, customers and industry leaders.
By entering, companies have the opportunity to demonstrate their impact and leadership in the health tech sector during 2022.
The High Growth Tech Company of the Year award recognises a technology company that has experienced exceptional growth and success in recent years. Nominees should have a proven track record of achieving significant revenue growth, expanding their customer base, and demonstrating strong leadership and execution. Judges will consider factors such as financial performance, customer satisfaction, market expansion, and impact on the industry. The winner of this award should be a company that has demonstrated exceptional growth potential and has the ability to continue their success in the future.
The Marine or Port Technology Company of the Year award recognises the innovative use of technology in improving marine or port operations.
This award celebrates a company that has demonstrated a commitment to developing cutting-edge solutions that enhance safety, efficiency, and sustainability.
Nominees may have developed new software, hardware, or a combination of both to increase productivity, reduce costs, or improve the environmental impact of their operations, including underwater robotics, autonomous submarines, and alternative fuels.
The winner of this award will be a company that has made a significant impact in the marine or port industry by leveraging technology to drive progress, including innovation to find greener, cleaner, and safer ways of operating at sea, remote operations, and even military technology such as robotic ships and submersibles.
The Science & Tech Company of the Year award recognises a company that can demonstrate exceptional excellence at the intersection of science and technology.
Nominees should have developed innovative solutions that are rooted in scientific principles or utilise advanced technologies to solve major problems.
Judges will consider factors such as the company's scientific advancements, technological innovations, impact on the industry, and potential for societal benefit.
The winner of this award will be able to show exceptional advancement in either science or technology that could make a significant impact on society.
ESG is no longer just a label, it is a vital business consideration. Today it is necessary that the climate and sustainability is factored into business models, into technology, into working practices and even the workspaces that we use. Technology plays a huge part in this.
This award is for companies that have developed (or are developing) products or services that support the ESG ambitions and objectives of their industries, consumers, or clients. Entrants should have developed the technology in-house and own the IP. Successful nominees will be able to demonstrate how this is contributing to the growing push for sustainable practices and business, while reducing the impact of business on the environment.
This award is open to tech companies of any size or turnover, based in the region. Judges will take into account the achievements of the company in 2022 in; innovation, sales and profitability, product development and/or contribution to the sector – and will assess the winners of other categories to decide the overall ‘South Coast Tech Company of the Year’.
The Tech Employer of the Year award recognises a technology company that has demonstrated exceptional commitment to its employees' growth, development, and well-being. Nominees should have a proven track record of providing a positive and inclusive work environment that fosters innovation, creativity, and collaboration. Judges will consider factors such as employee satisfaction, benefits and perks, professional development opportunities, diversity and inclusion efforts, and impact on the industry. The winner of this award should be a company that has shown a commitment to its employees and has the ability to attract and retain top talent in the industry.
The Tech Leadership Team of the Year award recognises a group of leaders within a technology company who have demonstrated exceptional vision, strategy, and execution. Nominees should have a proven track record of driving the company's growth and success, fostering innovation and collaboration, and promoting a positive and inclusive work culture. Judges will consider factors such as the leadership team's vision and strategy, execution and delivery of results, innovation and creativity, and impact on the industry. The winner of this award should be a leadership team that has shown exceptional leadership and has the ability to drive continued growth and success in the future.
This award is presented to an SME that has shown enterprise and invention in using technology to either transform its own business or that of its clients. Judges are particularly looking for SMEs that are forging new paths and, through new concepts and/or products, are standing out from the crowd. Companies with annual turnover up to £20 million that have been trading for a minimum of two years are eligible for this award.
Judges are looking, in particular, for SMEs that are forging new paths and, through new concepts and/or products, are standing out from the crowd.
Startups have been the talking point in the tech market over the past decade. They continue to attract attention for developing the latest technologies as well as creating jobs and wealth. If your company is under 3 years old, or is Series A or pre Series A funded, and is making waves, then this is the award for you. We will be celebrating the best of the new wave of startups in the South Coast Region.
Booking a table of 10 includes a 10% discount which is reflected in the price.
Ticket includes networking drinks reception upon arrival,
three-course gala dinner,
half bottle of wine per person,
teas and coffees.
Price excludes VAT
£1,650.00
Ticket includes networking drinks reception upon arrival,
three-course gala dinner,
half bottle of wine per person,
teas and coffees.
Price excludes VAT
£900.00
Ticket includes networking drinks reception upon arrival,
three-course gala dinner,
half bottle of wine,
teas and coffees.
Price excludes VAT
£180.00
SPONSORSHIP OF OUR AWARDS OFFERS MORE THAN JUST BRANDING
Positioning your brand as a key supporter of the region and more...
Partnership with an award delivers more than simply brand presence.
Sponsorship benefits include:
- Brand building and brand positioning
- Corporate Hospitality
- Business networking
- Business development
Supporting Partnerships offer tickets to the event plus branding and advertising opportunities.In Association partnerships are available for public and education sectors offering low cost access to the South Coast Tech Awards programme.
Register your interest in next year's event
RegisterAn impressively strong line-up of businesses across 13 categories was honoured at this year’s South Coast Tech Awards.
The ceremony returned to the Hilton at the Ageas Bowl, where 250 guests celebrated the cream of the region’s technology talent.
Richard Thompson, Managing Director at The Business Magazine, said: “A few years ago, tech was never a sector that you could say was synonymous with Southampton and the South Coast. But that has changed.”
He pointed out that Southampton has established itself as a growing UK tech hub. In a recent national survey, Southampton came 5th in a list of 23 technology hotspots in the country, ahead even of Cambridge.
Thompson continued: “The city and surrounding area have seen the emergence of home-grown digital companies – and down the coast in Bournemouth the number of tech start-ups in the past few years has also put Dorset firmly on the hotspot map.”
This year’s event was supported by headline sponsor Spectrum IT Recruitment (South) as well as category sponsors James Cowper Kreston, Gresham House Ventures, BGF, Blake Morgan LLP, BDB Pitmans, BDO LLP, AllPoints Fibre, Evelyn Partners, Infinigate Cloud, BizNews and the University of Southampton Science Park.
Back by popular demand to host the ceremony with only a touch of seriousness was Lucy Porter, the comedian, podcaster, playwright and BBC Radio 4 regular.
This year, the awards supported Wessex Cancer Support, which supports local people affected by cancer. On the night, generous guests donated £3,000 to the charity.
And the winners are…
Highly Commended: CloudTech24
Winner: Vizst Technology
“About two years ago we merged three companies and have spent the last 18 months re-positioning the business with a focus on cyber security. We have made a lot of internal changes to allow that to happen and have been honing our offering around cyber security. We have a strong leadership team with CEO Richard Betts plus a flat management structure, so everyone has the autonomy to make changes in their areas quickly when they need to.” Gemma Roalf, Head of Marketing, Vizst Technology
Winner: Filament AI
“Having a large customer base with recurring revenues has been really important for us. Our existing customer base has helped us to form and shape our product, which has given us a head start in the way we can build our product out. Also, we know it serves customers’ needs. We took our first round of investment funding in April 2023, which was really exciting as it unlocks new opportunities and enables us to make new hires.” Dr James Ravenscroft, Chief Technology Officer, and Alex Horsfield, Head of Data Engineering, Filament AI
Winner: TouchNetix
“We have spent five years developing our own silicon for touch technology, which is a relatively short time in this business. Our customer base is automotive, medical and industry. Once they see what you can do things ramp up pretty quickly, so we are massively optimistic. It has been tough finding really good talent to come and join a semi start-up business but we are getting more recruits coming along and choosing to invest in a career with us.” George East, Managing Director, TouchNetix
Winner: Lifelight
“I think it was the scale of our ambitions that helped us win this award. Our technology is designed to turn any smartphone into a blood pressure monitor that can detect hypertension. Around 1.3 billion people in the world have hypertension but only half know they have the condition. Our mission is to allow the other half to discover they have it and seek treatment. In the last 12 months, we have achieved the accuracy we need to get regulatory approvals, initially in the UK and Europe and next year we will extend this to the US and then the Far East and Middle East. It is already live in the UK with the NHS.” Laurence Pearce, CEO, and Gina Pelletier, Business Support, Lifelight
Winner: TEKEVER
“Our technology has been improving over the last 18 months or so and a lot of regulatory issues have been sorted out. We are now able to fly our unmanned systems in places we hadn’t been able to before. One of the highlights for us in the last year has been working with scientists to enable them to monitor whales, dolphins and other sea mammals. They have made discoveries about behaviours that are totally novel as they can now locate and monitor them over extended periods using our unmanned planes.” Paul Webb, Managing Director, Tekever
Winner: Appello
“There’s a huge change going on in the telecare industry. We are focusing on digital technologies to keep vulnerable people in communities safe, especially the elderly, and also improve their wellbeing. We have a market lead in our industry with 50,000 digital connections.” Carl Atkey, CTO, Appello
Highly Commended: Paqua
Winner: Kelda Showers
“We are on a mission to deliver the best sustainable showers that use the least amount of water. They help to reduce hot water use and reduce carbon emissions. We are at the point now of taking this into the house-building sector. It's a global opportunity for us to make a real difference. We are working with UK national house builders to help them meet their targets on carbon emissions and reducing water usage. This is just the start for us. Our air-powered technology is very scalable so there are many more opportunities ahead.” Paul Ravnbo-West, Marketing Director, Kelda Showers
Highly Commended: Utilita Energy
Winner: CV-Library
“Winning this award was an unexpected surprise. The company has invested a lot in the last year in our people. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, we recognised that we got some things wrong. Since then, we have really turned it around by putting people front and first in everything we do. We have also invested heavily in technology, especially AI and machine learning. We are in the middle of a programme to completely rewrite our whole platform. Our founder, Lee Biggins, maintains the energy and drive to move the business forward and that includes new opportunities outside the UK.” Derren Stroud, CFO, and Barney Ritchley, CTO, CV-Library
Winner: Sumillion
“We are a vegan organisation that promotes the environmental as well as the health benefits. As we have grown we have attracted more people who are open-minded to this kind of change. We don't force it on people, so long as they respect the fact that we are a vegan company. It leads to a healthier way of life. We have a dedicated wellbeing manager, which is quite unusual for a smaller organisation. She is also a yoga teacher and gives staff free lessons. Our approach to wellbeing is engrained in everything we do.” Kelly Abrahams, Team Leader of Major Accounts, Sumillion
Special Recognition: Catholic Diocese of Portsmouth
Winner: Trusted Technology Partnership
“When the company recently became an Employee Ownership Trust our leadership team used this as a catalyst to improve the working environment for all of our 100 staff. A shareholding gives employees a feeling of ownership. Since the change in business model, our productivity has gone up and our customer satisfaction surveys have improved. As well as our management structure we have also put in place a colleague council with elected members, so employees have their own voice.” Pauline Gray, Managing Director, Trusted Technology Partnership
Winner: Fresh Relevance
“It has been an important year for us, particularly our collaboration with the University of Portsmouth where we have undertaken a major AI project with them. This has been instrumental in creating some of the AI technology we use in our products that help our clients make more money from their websites. The company has grown to around 70 staff and about 350 clients. We have just been acquired by a publicly listed UK company that is the perfect partner who will provide a home in which we can take our product to the rest of the world.” Mike Austin, CEO and Co-founder, Fresh Relevance
Winner: Renovos Biologics
“I joined the company as I was impressed with the tenacity of CEO Agnieszka Janeczek. Fundraising in the UK is not easy and a lesser person would have quit, but she didn't. She left academia and took the technology she had developed into clinical use. In the last year, we have made huge progress technically, secured serious new IP and achieved encouraging trial results. We have developed a relationship with a trade investor that helped secure Innovate UK funding. We are now moving from start-up mode to proper company mode. We are making the business an investible proposition.” James Otter, Chair, Renovos Biologics
It’s very much up to you, but typically the main entry is 300-500 words.
Most nominations are completed quickly in less than 30 minutes.
From supporting documents that bring your entry to life, through to testimonials that demonstrate the support from your clients and customers (dated testimonials are better as we then know that they are current).
Executive Summaries at the start of your nomination that clearly lay out who you are, your achievements and why you think you should win are also great ways to stand out.
All of our awards have both category judges and independent judges.
After the nomination period has ended, judges are invited to a judging day where finalists and winners are decided.
All judges have a say in the winner for each award.
We will contact all finalists after the judging day and the list of finalists will be published in an article on https://thebusinessmagazine.co.uk
Not really, it’s set at 1000 words for the main category, but most nominations are 300-500 words.
Yes, it’s totally free to enter a nomination.
Absolutely
Yes, but please confirm that they are aware that you are making the nomination.
Contact us at [email protected] we’ll be glad to help
If you've saved a nomination and are having trouble recovering it, please get in touch. We can help retrieve your entry for you. Our team is always here to assist with any technical difficulties or issues that may arise during the nomination process. [email protected]
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