Digital Tech awards return for 2025
The ScotlandIS Digital Technology Awards showcase excellence within the industry rewarding the innovation, expertise and ambition of businesses large and small – and the people that drive them.
Let’s highlight some of the great achievements within the tech sector over the last 12 months – nominate your organisation or an individual for the chance to be recognised amongst your peers.
There are a variety of different awards up for grabs that could shine a light on the fantastic work you’ve been doing, and all the criteria for each category is detailed below so you can prepare your application answers in advance.
Digital Tech 2025 will take place on 20th March, at the Radisson Blu hotel in Glasgow. We look forward to you joining us for a night of food, fun and celebration of the industry.
If you have any questions about the Digital Tech Awards, please contact catriona.blair@scotlandis.com.
Applications open
Applications for the Digital Tech Awards are now open and will close on Thursday 9th January.
You can check out each of the awards up for grabs and the application criteria below.
Don't wait until after Christmas to enter!
check out the
Award categories
Are you our next winner?
Tech for Good
This category looks to recognise companies that, in the last 12 to 18 months, diverted resources from their business as usual to other projects bringing benefit to the world.
The judges would welcome applications that include, but are not limited to, tech for safety/security, tech for health or tech for societal benefit.
To enter, all you need to do is tell us:
- What did you want to achieve?
- What did you do?
- Why did you do this instead of something else?
- What did you achieve?
- Was there any additional impact above and beyond?
Service Innovation
This category can be entered by any company that has developed a service in the last 12 to 18 months that can be viewed as innovative or disruptive. We are looking to recognise the very best achievements in harnessing the power of digital to secure a clear market success.
The judges will want to understand the strategy behind the creation of the successful service, and to know where it is headed long-term. The service being nominated for this award must be an operating service with a proven customer base.
To enter, all you need to do is tell us:
- What is the service you have created?
- Why? What was the market need?
- How did you do it?
- Tell us about your results – sales increases, market share, new customers and/or markets.
- Why do you think it’s the most innovative or disruptive?
Product Innovation
This category can be entered by any company that has developed a product in the last 12 to 18 months, that can be viewed as innovative or disruptive. We are looking to recognise the very best achievements in harnessing the power of digital to secure a clear market success.
The judges will want to understand the strategy behind the creation of the successful product, and to know where it is headed long-term. The product being nominated for this award must be an operating product with a proven customer base.
To enter, all you need to do is tell us:
- What is the product you have created?
- Why? What was the market need?
- How did you do it?
- Tell us about your results – sales increases, market share, new customers and/or markets.
- Why do you think it’s the most innovative or disruptive?
Best Wellbeing at Work
We want to celebrate the workplace that has the wellbeing of its people as a main priority and shows this in a variety of ways, both big and small.
If your organisation shows employees that they are valued, and goes that extra mile to provide a positive working environment, then you might just have the Best Wellbeing at Work.
To enter, all you need to do is tell us:
- How does the business show staff they are valued?
- What is offered that goes above and beyond the norm?
- How do you know the team benefits from this?
- Do the efforts of the organisation go beyond working hours and if so, in what way?
- How do you make sure people have a good work/life balance and can avoid burnout?
Data Trailblazer
Innovative uses of data and analytics can drive significant transformation for organisations, ranging from improved business performance or operations through to driving new solutions and capabilities.
This award is to recognise teams or individuals who, within the last year, have used data to innovate and transform their business, their client relationships or the services and products they deliver to market.
To enter, all you need to do is tell us:
- What was the new business opportunity or process that was created or transformed through the use of data?
- What did you do to leverage your data in a new way?
- What was transformational to your business by leveraging data?
- Tell us your results of using data in an innovative way. Specifically, sales increases, market share, key customers, impact, improved operational processes.
- Why do you think it’s the most innovative or disruptive?
Cyber Excellence
This award recognises cybersecurity companies that have developed/adopted ground-breaking solutions, or created a product that has effectively integrated people, process or technology that significantly enhances the ability to defend, disrupt, or support organisations in preventing, responding to or recovering from cyber-attacks.
To enter, all you need to do is tell us:
- Describe the solution or product you developed, focusing on how it integrates people, process and technology.
- Explain the inspiration and process behind the development of your solution or product.
- Explain why your solution is innovative and pioneering within the cybersecurity landscape.
- Provide evidence of your product's success, including sales increases, market share growth, new customer acquisitions, improved cyber security posture
Public Sector Innovation
This award looks to recognise a company that has worked in partnership with suppliers to create an outcome for public good.
To enter, all you need to do is tell us:
- What was the time scale of the project: when did it start and finish or is it ongoing?
- Tell us about the outcomes and how you measured the success.
- How did you guide the public sector team through the change?
- What challenges did you encounter and how did you overcome them?
- What was the impact – how did people respond to the result?
- What makes this innovative?
Outstanding IT Managed Service Provider
This award recognises and honours managed service providers that have demonstrated exceptional leadership, innovation and impact on customer service.
The judges are looking for an organisation that can demonstrate high quality, reliable managed services and can show how they have consistently met/exceeded client expectations.
To enter, all you need to do is tell us:
- Detail how the company has exhibited leadership through driving organisational growth/success, enhancing employee engagement and/or improving company culture.
- Describe how the company develops solutions by integrating people, process and technology.
- Provide evidence of the company’s success such as sales increases, new customer acquisitions, improved staff satisfaction.
- What sets you apart from your competitors? What makes you different to other service providers?
Digital Tech Rising Star
This category aims to recognise someone who is early in their career within a digital tech role but showing real skill already.
The judges want to shine a light on early career talent and the leaders of tomorrow.
To enter, all you need to do is tell us:
- Name of the person you’re nominating
- Email address of the person you’re nominating (so we can contact them if they’re successful)
- Do they know you’ve nominated them?
- Why are you nominating them (in as much detail as possible)?
Digital Tech Business of the year - Start-Up/Scale-Up/Enterprise
Our top awards will go to the business that most impress the judges with their commercial success and growth.
The business will be demonstrably well-managed, produce outstanding technology products or services – and above all has outstanding long-term growth potential.
To enter, all you need to do is tell us:
- What size is your business?
(Start-Up = Under 4 years, Scale-Up = Fewer than 100 staff, or Enterprise = 100+staff)
- Tell us of your commercial success and evidence of growth.
- Explain to us why this is impressive compared to your competitors and peers.
- Demonstrate that your success is sustainable long term.
- How many customers do you have and how many of these are new customers?
Find out what's in store
Read about last
year's winners
Register interest for Tickets
Connect with tremendous individuals and organisations that are leading in their field for innovation, growth and bettering the wider society.
Join us to celebrate the high calibre of Scotland's tech scene.Thank you to our sponsors
Looking for the opportunity to boost your brand visibility and establish yourself among the best and brightest of the Scottish tech scene? Sponsoring Digital Tech Awards 2024 can help you do just that!
Running for almost fifteen years, the Awards attract the innovative up-and-coming stars of the tech landscape, to the hugely successful, established players.
By becoming a sponsor, you’ll get the chance to align your brand to this incredible audience, and show your unwavering support for the growth and success of the Scottish tech community. Title Sponsor will have the opportunity to give a welcome address, and Awards Sponsors introduce each award on stage and present them to the winners.
Take a look at our sponsorship opportunities for Digital Tech 2025, or get in touch with catriona.blair@scotlandis.com.
frequently asked questions
Does my company need to have a scottish base (or scottish clients)?
Yes
Who can make a nomination?
The awards are open to any person or company who have a base in Scotland and work within the digital space.
IS THERE ANY COST INVOLVED IN APPLYING?
Nope, it’s completely free to enter. The only cost involved is the cost of attending the Awards dinner if you are shortlisted. For members a table of 8 is £850+vat and for non-members £1000+vat. An individual ticket is £110+vat for members and £125 for non-members.
HOW DO I ENTER?
Easy, complete the online application form by the deadline of 5pm on Thursday 9th January 2025. You will continue to be able to view your application and amend or update it until the deadline.
CAN I ENTER BY POST OR EMAIL?
No unfortunately not, entries must be submitted using our online platform.
CAN I APPLY FOR MORE THAN ONE AWARD?
Yes, you can apply for as many categories as you like.
WHAT FORMAT SHOULD SUPPORTING INFORMATION BE?
PDF, jpg, or docx – and less than 2MB.
WILL I RECEIVE FEEDBACK ON MY SUBMISSION?
Due to the overwhelming number of applications we receive, we will try to provide feedback where possible to unsuccessful applicants but we cannot guarantee this. When shortlisted applicants are announced, we will reveal the reasons they were shortlisted.
WHAT MAKES A GOOD ENTRY?
Try to bear the following tips in mind when completing the online entry form:
- Make sure that you have answered all the questions as fully as possible.
- Ensure that you show clearly how your nomination meets the criteria defined for this award category. Keep your entry concise and focused.
- Do not exceed the maximum word count. The judges will be looking for tangible evidence to support your entry.
- Please supply examples, testimonials or feedback where possible. Only submit supporting evidence if it helps to support your success.
WHAT HAPPENS AFTER I’VE SUBMITTED MY ENTRY?
All nominations are kept confidential until the judging panel sits. We will then write to all those who were nominated or who submitted nominations to advise them whether or not they were shortlisted. The submission document will provide the basis for shortlisting entrants where a final decision will be made on the winning entry. The winners will be announced at the award ceremony on Thursday 20th March 2025. Please ensure a representative of the nominated company will be available to attend the ceremony in Glasgow on this date, in order to receive their award if successful. The finalists and winners will be selected by an independent panel made up of experts. ScotlandIS staff do not sit on the panel and have no influence on the panel’s decisions.
HOW CAN I ATTEND THE AWARDS?
All shortlisted companies and individuals will be invited to attend the awards at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Glasgow, with tables and individual tickets available for purchase.
Is there a dress code?
Dress code is business casual.
WHAT IS THE SCHEDULE OF THE AWARDS DINNER?
Drinks reception and registration starts at 5:30pm and runs until 6:30pm, when we are called for dinner. A welcome address from ScotlandIS CEO Karen Meechan is followed by a two-course dinner, and another short comfort break before the awards ceremony begins just before 9pm.
The event ends at 10:30pm, however the bar is open until midnight.
Any other questions? Get in touch with Catriona Blair, catriona.blair@scotlandis.com
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