UNAWARDS16 - YOUR GUIDE TO THE BIG DAY

The end of any year is a time for some quiet reflection - what went well, what didn’t. Reflection is a good thing. But so is a great big celebration. And the #UnAwards16 is a day to celebrate all that’s brilliant about our industry and your hard work and achievements this year.

by Darren Caveney

Well after a three-month build up the #UnAwards16 is finally here.

If you have managed to bag a ticket, well done. They really have been in huge demand. Should we get a larger venue next time? Maybe, but then if we’re not careful the UnAwards would become the very thing it set out not to be. As my Dad used to say - they don’t make diamonds the size of house bricks.

Win, lose or draw you’re in for a great day

The UnAwards is my favourite work event of the year. It’s quite unlike any other industry event I’ve been to.

Of course if you’re shortlisted but don’t win you’ll be disappointed.

But the day is designed so that win, lose or draw you can genuinely enjoy a fun event and a unique opportunity to network with industry colleagues new and old. That in itself is reason to be there.

Not winning…

I spent a small fortune earlier this year to attend a London hotel awards event. You know the kind of thing - black tie and £300 a ticket. In truth we were never going to win the award and I left feeling a bit miffed. Not because we didn’t win – I’m a Birmingham City fan so I’m no stranger to defeats. I was miffed because I felt like I was a bit like room fodder, and for the amount of cash I shelled out I could have taken the family away for a long weekend.

I don’t want anyone to feel like that when they leave the UnAwards so a lot of thought and love has gone into the event.

Twitter and Snapchat use at the event

If you can’t be at the UnAwards16 follow it on Twitter using the #UnAwards16 hashtag.

We have a Snapchat filter for the event too so if that’s your platform it would be great to see your pics there.

Announcing the winners and snaps of the big day…

We’ll be posting the winners names to the UnAwards16 website directly after the event.

We also have the fab Nigel Bishop taking snaps and filming the event and we’ll get these online as soon as possible.

Timings, film and food

The venue for the UnAwards16 is the rather lovely Everyman Cinema in Birmingham's Mailbox.

If you’re coming along aim to be at the venue between 9.30am and 10am for registration, a cup of coffee and a croissant. We’ll ask you to take your seats at 10.20am.

After the ceremony we’re watching a cool film (for those of you badgering me for the title or a clue, my lips are remaining zipped)

After the film you’ll tuck into hearty bowl of veggie chilli and be done by 3pm.

And the dress code is…

Whatever you fancy. Literally. This is NOT black tie, as you’ll have guessed J But if you want to come in your fancy clobber then go for it.

Saying thanks

Thanks so much for your support – 332 entries and 4.6k public votes is a brilliant response from you.

And I’ll be thanking our UnAwards partner, GovDelivery, and our sponsors the Local Government Association, Alive With Ideas, the NUJPRCC and Social Simulator. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – we couldn’t do this without you.

Finally…

If for any reason you have a ticket but can no longer come along please let me know as we have a waiting list of eager folks bursting to be there.

I look forward to seeing lots of you on Thursday

Darren Caveney is creator of comms2point0 and organiser of the UnAwards16

image via Thomas Leuthard

THE UNAWARDS16 ARE OPEN

The UnAwards are back – and here’s everything you need to know to enter, showcase your best work and attend the coolest communications event of the year bar none…

By Darren Caveney

Following their huge success and popularity in 2014 and 2015, the comms2point0 UnAwards return on 1 December 2016. Bigger and better than ever, but remaining true to their original ethos.

So step forward and enter your best work now and show why you and your team deserve to be recognised in 2016.

What are the UnAwards?

The ‘UnAwards’ are different to any other comms, pr marketing and digital industry awards and, we believe, all the better for it.

They mean a lot to us because we know they make a real difference to the people working on the front line of comms across the sectors. We believe that you deserve proper recognition and real celebration.

The UnAwards are laid back, take place in a cool, quirky venue, and they recognise genuine creativity, innovation and results.

And with awards determined through a mix of independent judging panel and community voting, they’re also fair.

They are free to enter and intentionally cheap to attend. This is about connecting and celebrating you and our industry, not stripping you of your precious budgets.

The UnAwards in numbers…

The communications industry really bought into the UnAwards concept when we launched them in 2014.

Over 350 entries and 5k public votes have made them the ‘peoples’ awards’.

Shedding a tear…

Leading figures from the comms and digital industry got involved, entered and attended the ceremony. Some of the winners shed a tear. And many more of you took the opportunity to share a cool space with colleagues from around the UK for some important networking.

This year’s theme

We theme the UnAwards each year. This year themes are team work and collaboration, the thinking being that you can't achieve much without them however small or large your team.

Now, more than ever before, collaborating with good partners and suppliers is vitally important to the success of organisations and their communications achievements.

Strong team work and collaboration will resonate as a theme across our industry, and we suspect it will resonate with you too.

New and fresh for the UnAwards16

True to form, we’re keeping the UnAwards fresh and exciting. So this year we’re introducing some new categories, including ‘best social media account’ – now that’s going to be a battle royal...

The #UnAwards16 FAQs

OK, I’m in – how do I enter?

It couldn’t be simpler – you complete this short word document and you email it to us at admin@comms2point0unawards.co.uk  That’s it.

Here's our entry page for more info.

You could nail it is 30 minutes. And that may just be the best 30 working minutes you spend this year. Get yourself to a coffee shop one lunch time, order yourself a nice flat white and get cracking armed with good intel on what your work delivered.

How much is it to enter?

These are the UnAwards - there is no entry fee. Free, zilch, nowt, nothing. We want to see your best work so we strip away all of the barriers to make it as easy as possible for you to enter.

How long have I got to get my entry in?

The closing date for entries is 31 October 2016 (midnight)

So there really is no excuse to enter this year. We know that we comms folks can be coy about shouting about our own work. But if you don’t no one else will.

Who can enter?

The UnAwards are open to all sectors – public, private, third, charitable and education - and if you’re based outside the UK you’re also very welcome to enter.

How do I attend the UnAwards16?

You will definitely want to attend the UnAwards16.

Keep them peeled for an announcement on event tickets very soon – the UnAwards15 sold out so don’t hang around bagging your ticket to the coolest comms event of the year.

The UnAwards16 will be held at the rather lovely Everyman Cinema in Birmingham’s iconic Mailbox on 1 December, running from 10am - 3pm.  Make sure you’re there to enjoy the UnAwards ceremony, a fab film, and a rather nice meal.

Be a part of #UnAwards16

Darren Caveney is co-creator of comms2point0 and organiser of the UnAwards

If you’ve forgotten how epic the UnAwards15 were, or you’ve not been involved in them before, here’s a neat little short video which should hopefully whet your appetite...