The Herald Scottish
Digital Business Awards

The Herald Scottish Digital Business Awards in association with DigitalBoost rewards the success of businesses large and small in seizing the opportunities offered by digital technology recognising those who are excelling in their digital transformation journey. Now in their eleventh year, this year’s categories focus on the advancement of digital via e-commerce, charity/social enterprise, business, consumer engagement, education, AI, social media and much more.
The awards are open to all sectors and businesses from SME’s, private, public and third sector organisations.

The Herald Scottish Digital Business Awards

The Herald Scottish Digital Business Award rewards the success of businesses large and small in seizing the opportunities offered by digital technology recognising those who are on excelling in their digital transformation journey.
This year’s categories focused on the advancement of digital via e-commerce, charity/social enterprise, business, consumer engagement, education, AI, social media and much more.
The awards were open to all sectors and business from SME’s, private, public and third sector organisations.

Sponsors

We would like to thank our 2019 sponsors for their support.

Title Sponsor

DigitalBoost Stacked_Light Blue

DigitalBoost is Scotland’s national digital skills training programme, providing a free, comprehensive range of local workshops and online tutorials designed specifically to support SMEs’ development into digital technologies.

Fully funded workshops throughout Scotland are led by a team of digital experts and include topics such as social media, e-commerce, digital strategy, cyber security and creating engaging content. As the digital sphere continues to evolve, the DigitalBoost programme adapts to meet current and emerging trends that may be pertinent to businesses, such as vlogging.

Additionally, businesses that need extra support on digital topics can receive up to 21 hours of one-to-one support from digital advisers. Since the launch of DigitalBoost in 2016, over 36,000 hours of one-to-one support have been provided, free of charge, to over 2000 businesses.

Another key component of the DigitalBoost service is a five-minute online health check businesses can take to assess their digital strengths and weaknesses, guiding them to relevant support.

To give your business a DigitalBoost, or to take the free health check, visit: www.bgateway.com/digitalboost or speak to your local Business Gateway office.

DigitalBoost is funded by DigitalScotland and delivered by Business Gateway.

Category Sponsors

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Sponsorship

Would you like to align your business with the digital community?

If you would like more information on the opportunities available, please contact Holly Rutherford on 0141 302 6019 or Holly.Rutherford@newsquest.co.uk

Categories

  • E-Commerce Award – sponsored by Business Gateway

    This award is for an organisation that uses e-commerce to benefit the wider business. Judges will be looking for a site which effectively converts visitors into purchasers. Key criteria include design, functionality, checkout process and user experience as well as after sales service. The effective use of search to drive customers to the site will also be considered.

  • Business Award – sponsored by DigitalBoost

    This award will be given to an organisation that can best demonstrate the effective implementation of digital platforms and tools in a business capacity. Are you completely wireless office, have you implemented an effective chatbot? Judges will look for evidence of how the technique was adopted and has delivered consistent results in unpredictable market conditions.

  • Charity and Social Enterprise Award

    This award will be presented to an organisation that is using digital technology to tech for good across Scotland and beyond. We will be looking for charities, voluntary organisations and social enterprises where innovative digital projects have resulted in real and meaningful engagement with the people they work with, from donors and beneficiaries to the general public. This can include the use of social media, digital campaigns, websites and online platforms, and mobile apps and services. This is the perfect opportunity to showcase how digital technology can be used for social good, and to raise your profile and inspire others at the same time. Please note this category is free to enter.

  • App of the Year

    Judges will be looking for innovative and commercially successful apps. This category will reward the most effective mobile application targeting consumers/users across any platform. We understand that developers launch apps for different reasons, therefore the judges will select the winner based on the entrant’s stated objectives, user experience and app success.

  • Consumer Engagement Award

    This category will recognise the most innovative use of digital platforms and tools to engage with consumers about a product, service or event. Websites, targeted marketing campaigns, social media applications and mobile technology are all eligible. Entrants should provide examples of how they have successfully communicated with the audience and the business benefits achieved.

  • Public Sector Award

    This category is open to all government agencies, education establishments, health providers and uniformed services. Judges will be looking for evidence of how digital tools, platforms or techniques have been used to meet an objective, simplify a process, galvanise support and encourage participation.

  • Education & Training Award – sponsored by SQA

    This category will reward the innovative use of digital platforms to enhance education and training to a specific market. Judges will look at how the e-learning brief has been successful in achieving the objectives e.g. by a specific innovation or outstanding user take-up. Entrants should detail the aspirations of the programme and how it has aided the organisation or individual. Access to the e-learning tool is needed to demonstrate its working.

  • Emerging Talent Award

    To showcase emerging talent in Scotland we have launched the Emerging Talent Award for 2019. This category is open to anyone enrolled in a digital learning project or a thriving entrepreneur. Entrants can submit a project which covers one or more digital platforms which they have completed. Entrants must demonstrate creativity, new ways of thinking and potential impact rather than specific business results. This is your opportunity to showcase your skills on a national stage and show the industry you are a force to be reckoned with. This award is free to enter.

  • Best Use of Social Media Award

    This category will reward an organisation that demonstrates the best use of social media to enhance their business. Entrants should include examples of how they have successfully utilised social media through the means of social networking sites, blogs and other forms of viral communication.

  • Innovative use of AI Award

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are transforming businesses across the country. We are looking for organisations who have the creativity and innovation to leverage AI/ML, advancing user experience and driving business performance. We are looking for organisations who have designed AI/ML to provide a breakthrough in any area of business, any type of business can enter this category including private, public and third sector organisations.

  • Digital Professional of the Year Award

    This category will recognise the best Digital, Media or Creative professional. The individual will demonstrate technical / creative expertise as well as commercial success for their team or business. Evidence of work and client/peer testimonials must be provided.

  • Digital Agency Award

    This award will be presented to the agency which has carried out the most advanced digital innovation in Scotland. This category will celebrate a digital leader with an impressive client list, diversity of work and excellence in creative execution. Judges will review the agency’s overall quality of work, commercial success and fulfilment of client briefs (please supply client testimonials). Overall, we are looking for an agency that is using digital to excite, enthuse and
    inspire.

  • Outstanding Contribution to the Digital Community

    This award will be awarded to an individual who has made an outstanding contribution to the digital community.

Judges

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Laura Kane
Digital Marketing Manager, itison

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Gary Higgins
Group Head of Digital Products & Marketing, Arnold Clark Automobiles

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Melinda Matthews-Clarkson 
CEO, Code Clan

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Gordon Stevenson
Digital Transformation Director, Newsquest Scotland

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Derek Houston
Regional Manager, SQA

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Hugh Lightbody
Chief Officer Business Gateway National Unit, Business Gateway

Event

The Herald Scottish Digital Business Awards in association with DigitalBoost took place on Wednesday, October 23, 2019 at The Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow.

Attendance included a sparkling drinks reception, a 3 course meal, entertainment and the awards presentation.

HOST

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Steven Mill

Click here to download a list of previous finalists and winners.
Download

2019 Winners & Finalists

Business Award – sponsored by DigitalBoost

  • Brand Calibre
  • PODFather – Winner
  • Wheatley Group

E-Commerce Award – sponsored by Business Gateway

  • ARRAN – Sense of Scotland
  • Blue2 Digital – Simon Howie, The Scottish Butcher – Winner
  • Drinkly
  • Storm ID – The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo
  • Wholesale Domestic

Charity and Social Enterprise Award

  • Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland – Discover Digital
  • Health and Social Care Alliance Scotland – Humans of Scotland
  • Know You More – Winner
  • Storm ID – Scottish Wildlife Trust

Public Sector Award

  • eCom Scotland – Children’s Hearings Scotland and West Lothian College – Commendation
  • Horisk Leslie Development – OSCR
  • Storm ID – NHS Scotland – Winner

App of the Year

  • Blue2 Digital – Oor Wullie Big Bucket Trail
  • Intelligent Mobile – Longleat App – Winner
  • Neu Studio – ExitBrexit
  • Screenmedia – Northumbrian Water Group

Consumer Engagement Award

  • After Digital – Chase Distillery – Winner
  • Blue2 Digital – Simon Howie, The Scottish Butcher
  • Enterprise Screen – The Power of Attorney campaign – Winner
  • Equator – Dalata

Education & Training Award – Sponsored by SQA

  • Daydream Believers – Commendation
  • Neu – Quenchable – Winner
  • University of Aberdeen – Toolkit
  • Wheatley Group – MyHousing

Emerging Talent Award

  • Adrian Cybulski – Commendation
  • Jenn Hood – Winner
  • Lauren Pluss – Commendation
  • Natalie Woods – Commendation

Best Use of Social Media Award

  • DYW Glasgow – Winner
  • Hydrogen – Highland Park
  • Hydrogen – SSE
  • McQueens Dairies
  • Scoffable

Innovative Use of AI Award

  • Airts
  • Storm ID – NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde – Winner

Digital Professional of the Year

  • Barry Fearn, The Lane Agency – Winner
  • James Duff – Wheatley Group
  • Wendy Edie – eCom Scotland – Commendation

Digital Agency of the Year

  • After Digital
  • Intelligent Mobile – Winner
  • Screenmedia
  • Storm ID

Outstanding Contribution to the Digital Community

  • Brian Corcoran

 

FAQ

Any sector and business are eligible to submit an entry from SME’s, private, public and third sector organisations.

Not only does being shortlisted (or better yet, winning) a Herald Scottish Digital Business Award mean recognition for you or your organisation, it is a major morale boost for you or your workforce and is a great PR opportunity both at the event and long after.

You must complete our entry form to submit a nomination. We will then send across your entry pack which will include the rules and requirements of your entry. Head to the ‘How to Enter’ section above for instructions.

You can submit as many nominations as you like across all the different categories. The categories and the criteria for each can be found in the ‘Categories’ section above.

The entry deadline is Friday, September 6, 2019

Each individual entry costs £60+VAT. The Charity and Social Enterprise and Emerging Talent awards are the only categories that are free to enter. ALL payments must be made upon submitting your entry and prior to the entry deadline. Any entries not paid for will not be put forward to the judging panel.

Once you have submitted an entry and made payment, we will add your nomination to the judging pack for consideration. Once the judging has taken place, we will contact you to let you know if your entry has been shortlisted or not.

All the entries we receive will be considered by our judging panel at the judging session in September. Please note that the shortlist and winners are decided solely by our panel and do not come down to a public vote or number of nominations received.

The shortlist will be announced in The Herald and on this website in September.

The winners will be announced at the 2019 Herald Scottish Digital Business Awards on Wednesday, October 23, 2019.

We are happy to answer any additional questions you may have regarding the entry process or event. Please contact Holly Rutherford on 0141 302 6019 or Holly.Rutherford@newsquest.co.uk with all enquires.

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Contact Us

If you have any questions or need more information on the awards, please contact Event Executive, Holly Rutherford on 0141 302 6019 or holly.rutherford@newsquest.co.uk.

Holly Rutherford

Events Executive

holly.rutherford@newsquest.co.uk

0141 302 6019
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