A few days on and I still have a lovely warm glow from the incredible 10th annual UnAwards.
by Darren Caveney
I spent last weekend wading through lovely messages and chatter on social and email, reflecting on the love, celebration, connection and atmosphere at the UnAwards 2025.
I’ve said it many, many times before but I’m so fortunate to be able to run and host the UnAwards. Plus, it’s a great excuse to unleash the velvet once a year. But this year featured an all-new number. More on that later.
I always say that the UnAwards is the best work day of the year. I’m biased but it really is. The feedback from many of you is that you love it too.
Thank you to everyone who made it possible and who came along and supported it.
What a room-full of talent we had in the 141 capacity audience.
Here are some reflections…
Glorious winners
24 winners were crowned, and 31 entrants gained highly commended status. From a mammoth near 600 entries that’s a huge achievement.
A few honorable mentions…
Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service grabbed 7 (seven) shortlistings, winning one category, as well as boss Jack Grasby becoming the first man EVER to win the best guest post UnAward.
The National Crime Agency picked up a double, with wins in Best use of evaluation and research, and best use of behaviour change.
NHS England picked up best low cost comms UnAward in a category which saw a staggering 65 entries.
Local Government were the big winners with 11 UnAwards, including best comms team for Telford and Wrekin.
Clare Abbotts of Staffordshire County Council won best comms professional, and James Bird of Ealing Council best young comms pro. What a talent.
And Eva Duffy picked up the prestigious Lifetime Achievement UnAward, presented by past winners Fran Collingham, Ruby Bhattal and Jayne Surman. Eva looked happy, it was lovely to see.
You can see the full winners’ list here.
Well done to everyone.
But the most important thing to me – always - is that, whether you won or nor, or entered or not, you had a fun day. I hope we delivered on that outcome.
New faces
Over half of the audience were there for the first time. I just love that. If that’s you, please let me know how you found it.
Attendees travelled from Scotland, Wales and England.
Many attendees have been to the UnAwards multiple times. There were a couple of 9-time attendees in the room – Ian Curwen and Luke Williams - plus ever-present 10-star Adrian Stirrup. That’s quite a record.
Smile…
We had a new photographer this year, who took so many snaps her battery ran out! You can find the official pics HERE.
Tunes and Fusion
Ben Capper and Mark Gardner did us proud with the music – over 250 of you had requested songs to be played, and so each of the 24 winners walked on to their own favourite tune.
What’s the film, Darren?
During the past couple of weeks almost every conversation I seemed to have with a comms person centred on the choice of film for the UnAwards!
I think some people were more excited about learning the identity of the secret movie choice than the actual UnAwards and ceremony itself, which I love and which makes me smile.
My friend Andrew Walked has written about the film, better than I could, in a great UnAwards post HERE.
A new look
So many people fed back on how much they loved the new look branding for the UnAwards this year. I know I did. Huge thanks to the talented Alan Oram and Alive with Ideas.
Saul Bass-inspired, each winner’s certificate was a very cool poster based on a well known movie. I would love one on my wall.
The finest threads
Talking of a new look, I was spoiled rotten with a brand new velvet jacket - handmade in India, courtesy of sponsor Ruby Bhattal. As well as a WBC style boxing belt, courtesy of Alan Oram. My kids will be mortified by the posed pout on my photograph 😂
A lovely surprise
At the end the was an unplanned (to me at least) takeover where some naughty people surprised me with an UnAward on my own, a cup and a very touching video featuring all sorts of friends and colleagues I know from the industry. Thank you for this - I had no idea and it was lovely moment.
What next?
Well, I’m looking forward to reading through the entries as I haven’t had a chance to look at yet, and with some down time looming in a couple of weeks.
The vast majority of the 593 entries this year will go into an updated new COMMS:FILES – surely the largest new treasure trove of commsy goodness anywhere and all free to access and browse.
And pencil in Friday 4 December 2025 for the 11th annual UnAwards. We have big plans for it already.
I will again organise the UnAwards Winners Masterclass for the spring when we will get as many winners as possible into the room for the best free learning day of the year.
Giving
Each year the UnAwards supports a charity and this year it’s one which is important me and a loved one – the Epilepsy Society. A wonderful charity which offers support and help often not available elsewhere. If you would like to support them you can do HERE. Thank you.
Saying thanks…
Thank you to everyone who entered. Finding the time to enter can be tricky I know but it’s always a useful exercise and opportunity for self-evaluation and reflection, in my experience.
Thank you so much to everyone who came to the big day. I hope you enjoyed it. That’s always the aim.
Thank you to the army of 35 judges for their hard work and skills.
And special thanks too to the official UnAwards 2025 partners and sponsors: CAN Digital, Alive with Ideas, Orlo, e-shot, the Local Government Association, Perago, Letterbox Distribution, Seashell Communications, Grey Fox Communications and Marketing, Whetstone Communications, the Behaviour Change Network and Ruby Bhattal Coaching and Consultancy.
And finally
I came to realise a couple of years ago that the UnAwards is absolutely not my event. It’s the community’s event. And a big team are responsible for its success. It would be nothing without the people who make it happen and elevate it sky high with a hell of a lot of love and enthusiasm
And it’s STILL the best work day of the year. This one may have been my best ever 🖤
Darren Caveney is creator and owner of comms2point0 and creative communicators ltd and organiser of the UnAwards.