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Manchester’s annual Big Chip Awards - organised by the digital trade association Manchester Digital - has today announced the shortlist for this year’s ceremony, which will celebrate the best in digital work across the North.
Greater Manchester has had a particularly triumphant year, with 63 of the total 88 shortlisted entries coming from businesses based in the region. A number of Manchester companies have seen more than one of their entries making the list, including digital agency Mosquito with an impressive four entries shortlisted, and e-commerce experts Fluid Digital, media and technology company Digital Training Solutions, and digital agency HiFi, all with two entries featured in the shortlist.
The judging day, which took place on 21st April at UK Fast, saw judges whittle down hundreds of entries to compile the final shortlist for the awards, due to be held at Manchester’s historic Midland Hotel on 23 June 2016.
Other shortlisted entries have come from companies based across the whole of the North of England, including Liverpool, Newcastle, Preston, Warrington, Chester, Nottingham, Sunderland, Huddersfield, and Sheffield.
2016’s judging panel includes a number of well-respected digital figures: design guru Malcolm Garrett (last year’s special guest judge), the BBC’s Bill Thompson, co-founder of Talenthouse Maya Bogle, Herb Kim, founder of Thinking Digital Conference, Plusnet founder Lee Strafford, Patrick Altoft of VP Ventures, Sam Michel of Chinwag, Jon Bradford co-founder of F6S, Dr David Kreps of Salford University, Emily Louise Higgins of C3UK and Alastair Cole from the Engine Group. The panel is chaired by long-standing judge Al Scott FRSA of C3.
Commenting on the shortlisted entries, Al Scott, chair of the Big Chips judging panel, said: “The judges have again been overwhelmed by the quality of the entries this year - whittling them down to even 88 was a big challenge. The scope work we have seen this year has been even more innovative and creative than ever. From great examples of user experience and animation, through to innovative not-for-profit projects and clever content marketing, it is clear to see just how much can change and progress in the industry in just 12 months.
Chair of the steering group, Shaun Fensom said: “Greater Manchester’s booming digital scene is apparent in this shortlist. There is a large number of new and exciting companies coming out of the region that we have seen entering fantastic work for the first time, which is incredibly promising for the region’s future in tech.
“We can’t wait for the ceremony and to celebrate the incredible digital work coming out of the North.”
To find out more about the awards and sponsorship opportunities, visit the website at www.bigchipawards.com.
The shortlisted entries for this year are:
Best B2C E-Business Project
· Fluid Digital & BargainMax.co.uk with The Real Toy Story - an e-commerce success
· Fluid Digital & Moda Furnishings with new UK ecommerce success
· KMP Digitata with Home Décor GB Ltd Spaceslide.co.uk
· Space 48 with Charlotte Tilbury Go Global
Best B2B E-Business Project
· BigChange Apps with JobWatch
· Digitangle with Workmobile rebrand, re-launch and optimisation
· H2 Gambling Capital with Website Overhaul
· JH with Website development & Design for Selco
· SystemCheck Web App with Sentinel’s SystemCheck Web App by Access
Best Public Sector Project
· British Broadcasting Corporation with TAP - Television Application Platform
· Clicks and Links with the Age of Energy
· Gencia & Greater Manchester Police with CTZN project
· HiFi with Operation Resolve
· Rhythm with V&A Europe 1600-1815 interactives
· University of Salford Business School with #passion4digital MOOC
Best Not for Profit Project
· Comma Press with The MacGuffin self-publishing platform
· Digital Training Solutions with Mission Ready
· Mosquito and BNF with My Cooking Counts
· Reason Digital and Gone For Good with The Gone for Good charity app
· The Fresh Group with Fresh CAMHS
Best User Experience
· BBC CBeebies with Storytime app
· Blueleaf with Tate with Curating the perfect user experience for Tate Shop
· Corporation Pop with 'Course Finder' app for Study Group
· Stardotstar with Chips, Investigating Psychology for the OU
· The Levi’s® Tailor Academy with Cutting Edge Sharing Platform
· Where The Trade Buys v2 with Where The Trade Buys v2
Best Use of Mobile
· Corporation Pop with 'DazzleIt' app for 1418NOW
· Degree 53 with Vibe Tickets
· Gospelware with REALRIDER®
· Knocker with Knocker!
· Reason Digital and Gone For Good with The Gone for Good charity app
· Video Interviewing with TribePad
Best Use of Visual Design
· Access/ SmartFocus website with SmartFocus website made by Access
· Anything with Ven Amsterdam Website
· Gospelware with REALRIDER®
· Music with MCFC Annual Report Website
· Tom Rainford Animations with Animated series for the US Toy Industry Association
· Uniform with Greenwich Peninsula's interactive paper world
Best Use of Content Marketing
· Democracy & CORGI HomePlan with A Crisis for the Digital Age
· Latitude and London & Country Mortgages with Game of Loans Content Project
· Mosquito & Turtle Wax with Life Get's Mucky Digital Campaign
· PushON with BTSO – The Perception of Colour
· Topspin Digital with Super – a campaign to inspire a generation
Most Innovative Application of Technology
· Digital Training Solutions with Mission Ready
· Dreamr and Athletec with Corner App
· Play with Evermix, the new streaming service for DJs
· Stardotstar with LAMP, a big data service for further education colleges
· Waymark and New World Designs with software to streamline Bullet Time film process
Best Use of Animation
· Fettle Animation and Lifetime FM with Big Questions - Here is a Man
· Flipbook with Reebok & NHL All-Stars Virtual Reality Experience
· Kilogramme with Manchester Christmas ad 2015
· Mi - Makers and Innovators with Playstation pets story intro
Best use of Search and CRO
· CandidSky & Peninsula Business Services with Website development & technical SEO
· Integrity Search Ltd with INTERNATIONAL GROWTH PAID SEARCH CAMPAIGN
· iProspect and Safestyle UK with Turning Offline ROI Data into Regional KPIs
· Latitude and Post Office with Live Exchange Rates in Paid Search
· Mediaworks with Currencyfair
Best Use of Social
· Liverpool ONE with #MagicalMoments Social Media Campaign
· Mosquito & Turtle Wax with Life Get's Mucky Digital Campaign
· Mosquito & Zoflora with GrapeFruit Machine Fragrance Launch
· myclever™ Agency with Bench | #LoveMyHood
Best Digital Marketing Campaign
· Democracy & CORGI HomePlan with A Crisis for the Digital Age
· Engage with Jet2Holidays - Advent Calendar
· Illuminated Mirrors and We are AD with Driving Profitability Online
· MBNA Digital with 'Super September' Premier League Football Card Campaign
· Mediaworks with Freeze Pro Shop
· Topspin Digital with Super – a campaign to inspire a generation
· Vivid with Manchester Ship Canal Cruise-Gift Voucher 2015
Little Chip Student Award
· Manchester Metropolitan University Department of Languages, Information and Communications with Matthew Windle, Evangeline Teall, Michelle Rabaya, Faiz Qazi, Anique Husson, Michael Delooze and Jason Chibanda
· University of Central Lancashire with Jason Dumont, Ant Harrold, Rebecca Marginson
Little Chip Placement/Apprentice Award
· Wildings Solicitors and Salford Business School with Abdallah AlQareh
· MBNA with Joey Whitehall
Best Start-Up
· Knocker
· Leaf.fm
· Push Doctor
· WhoCanFixMyCar.com LTD
Best Freelancer/Micro Enterprise
· 180ºSouth
· Bearded Fellows
· Cedita
· HiFi
· Mighty Giant
· TomFitton.com Online Marketing Consultancy
Big Chip Digital Agency Award
· CandidSky
· Degree 53
· e3creative
· Reason Digital Ltd
· Space 48
· Studio Mashbo
