Digital firms from across Merseyside are invited to submit applications for The Big Chip Awards, the UK’s longest-running digital awards event.

This year will mark the 17th Big Chip Awards, which recognise digital talent in the North, with this year seeing new categories and an expanded judges panel.

Not only are digital and creative agencies are welcome to submit entries, but also any business or organisation that has undertaken digital initiatives in 2014: anything from developing a company website to creating a mobile app.

This year’s judging panel will include annual regulars but will also include Malcolm Garrett as a special guest judge for the Anthony Wilson Original Modern award. Renowned for his graphic design work for a number of famous musicians, including Simple Minds, Duran Duran and Peter Gabriel, Garrett is also a fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a visiting professor at UAL.

Michael Nutley, chair of the judging panel for more than a decade, and specialist business journalist and consultant in interactive media and marketing, has passed on the responsibility to new chair; Alasdair Scott. Scott is a partner at next-gen mobile consultancy C3: Connected Cloud Communications and has been on the Big Chip judges panel since 2009.

New categories included for 2015 include Best B2B E-business Project, Best B2C E-business Project, Best Use of Content Marketing, Most Innovative Application of Technology and Best Game, bringing the total award count to 22.

Entry has now opened, with a launch event to be held at UK Fast offices in Manchester on February 18th. Anyone who wants to enter the awards, or simply wants to network with judges, sponsors and last year’s winners, is welcome to attend. Entries will close on Monday 16 March, with the shortlist announced on Thursday 30 April.

Last year’s awards saw 308 entries from more than 160 companies, and the 2015 awards are expected to be even bigger. The Big Chip Awards dinner will be held in Manchester at the Midland Hotel, with winners announced on Thursday 2 July.

Shaun Fensom, chair of the Big Chip steering group, said:

“It gives me great pleasure to announce the 17th Big Chip Awards. We’ve got some great new categories and a fantastic judging panel of different industry experts, and so, we’re expecting plenty of entries.

“The Big Chip Awards is a brilliant platform to celebrate the excellence of the digital sector in the North. This wonderful part of the world is emerging as an important digital sphere and the awards celebrate this and the diversity of the sector.”

The Big Chips are run by and for the industry, not for profit – by trade association, Manchester Digital with support and help from organisations including Digital Union in the North East, Creative Sheffield, user groups and networks in Leeds and Liverpool, as well as industry volunteers.

Entries should be submitted at www.bigchipawards.com, with the first two entries free and subsequent entries costing £95.

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Words: Peter Cribley