Awards & Recognition

BIMA Awards

BIMA Awards 2023

The BIMA Awards are the UK’s longest standing and most prestigious digital and tech awards. Established in 1985, the BIMA Awards exist to set a gold standard in digital awarding, recognising the work in the British digital sector that is truly pushing the limits of what is possible, and that’s making a difference in business, culture and society.

The 2023 winners have now been revealed! Learn more HERE.

Submit your work for the BIMA Awards

What’s new?

A lot has changed in the past few years, and our industry is at the forefront of that change. We all have to keep up and the BIMA Awards are no different, so you’ll notice something new this time around.

We are excited to introduce brand new categories, including Web3 and AI, and we have restructured our awards into four distinct groups: Sector, Craft, Innovation and Impact. In our commitment to addressing the climate crisis, the BIMA Awards Council has partnered with the BIMA Sustainability Council to introduce a new criteria for the judges: Planet. Celebrating members’ efforts for net zero impact, from sustainable production to reducing energy emissions.

Exceptional projects

It’s not about the size of your agency or PR budget. It’s not about the sector, format or channel. BIMA Awards are about original thinking. It’s about impact. It’s about something you did – or something you’re doing – that could influence the next decade.

How to enter

It’s a level playing field for big agencies and small, new or niche companies. Entering is quick and easy. There are 25 categories and you’ll be judged by the very best in the business. All categories will be judged across four criteria of innovation, craft, impact and planet.  BIMA Members get their first entry for free.

2024 Key dates

  • Call for judges: Wednesday 3 April
  • Entries open: Monday 15 April
  • Call for judges closes: Wednesday 5 June
  • Earlybird entry deadline: Friday 14 June
  • Entry deadline: Friday 12 July
  • Late entry deadline: Friday 19 July
  • Round one judging (online): 2-13 September
  • Round two judging (in-person): 23-27 September
  • Shortlist announced: Monday 7 October
  • BIMA Awards 2024 Ceremony: TBC

The 2023 winners have now been revealed! Learn more HERE.

BIMA Web3 Council Co-chair

David Lockie, Web3 Lead, Automattic
“2023 has been a turbulent year in the Web3 space. I am genuinely fascinated to see how brands have been innovating and what people have been playing with this year”

BIMA Sustainability Council Co-Chair

Neil Clark, Planet Officer and Service Design Lead, TPXimpact
"It's great to see the planet as a central part of the BIMA awards this year... I can't wait to see how agencies have been going beyond just low carbon stuff; I want to see how and why the planet has been a stakeholder of their projects!"

BIMA Awards Judges

Ben Scoggins, CEO, Organic
"The BIMA Awards are amazing. They recognise the best thinking, craft and execution in the digital industries - they open our eyes, our hearts and our minds, and show off brilliant commercial impact. As a result, being asked to be a judge is an absolute treat!"

BIMA Awards Judges

John Paul Toher, Head of Digital, Workhouse Agency
"I found judging the 2022 BIMA Awards to be both an interesting and rewarding experience. BIMA put a lot of effort into organising the panels and the entries were enjoyable to review."

Categories

There are 25 categories across four main areas of the industry: Sector, Craft, Innovation and Impact. There are also two special awards that seek to recognise the work that has gone above and beyond. What will you enter?

The 2023 winners have now been revealed!

Learn more here
Sector

Select a sector that best represents your business (or your client’s business if you’re an agency). Please note that we allow one sector category per entry.

  • Business 

This category is for any campaign or project that targets business customers. It doesn’t matter if you are providing tech stack solutions or building immersive experiences at a trade fair, it’s all about making B2B marketing shine with brave use of tech and digital.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Consumer 

Digital transformations have altered how consumers interact with brands, forever. Loyalty, D2C, innovation in the use of emerging channels, new data sets, or an understanding of new consumer behaviour are all stories our judges are ready to review. While this category is open to any B2C work, please review all sector categories for the best match.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Services and Utilities

From DeFi to clean energy… acquisition to retention, customer experiences have been transformed with innovative use of data and technology. Any financial services campaign or project sits within this category, as does SAAS or any innovation approach to making lives easier.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Mobility and Leisure Travel

A new combination for 2023, this category brings together any form of transportation for any use. From airlines to automotive, public transport to private residencies. Judges are looking for the next iteration of data and tech-driven change in the sector. How have you helped adaption of customer behaviour change? Tell us your stories.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Popular Culture 

Another newly conjoined category, if your client is in Gaming, Entertainment, Fashion, Sports, Music, or other contemporary culture then this category is for you. Judges will be looking for projects that exemplify Britain’s reputation in popular culture and have set new standards for creativity.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Health and Wellness

This category is for any work from the health sector … from pharma and fitness, to products and apps. Judges are looking for campaigns and/or projects that have made real advances in the healthcare space either physically, mentally or by increasing awareness of specific health issues. Work that promotes wellness from a brand in another sector could also go in the relevant sector category (for example a zero alcohol version of a famous drinks brand could go in Consumer).
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Charity and Social Enterprise

After a bumper submission number in last year’s category, we have decided to break out into two separate categories for ‘23. Judges are looking for the best demonstration of how you helped your clients to build awareness, improve fundraising, encourage behaviour change or promote the purpose of any organisation in this sector.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Education

In any form and for any audience group, if your project or campaign was built to promote Education clients or education-led initiatives then please enter here. Perhaps it’s a purposeful approach to improving education attainment in underserved communities, or an ambitious digital-first approach that’s emerged post-pandemic … we’re excited to see how you’ve enabled the work and the results achieved.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

Craft

Select the categories that best represent the outstanding craft of your entry. You may select multiple categories per entry within this group.

  • Digital Design / UI

Think Art Direction for digital experiences. Judges are looking for brave, bold and beautiful designs on any screen. This is the category for Art Directors and Graphic Designers to have their moment of fame. Any entry focussing on UX Design should be placed in the User Experience category.
This category will be judged across 30% Innovation, 40% Craft, 20% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • User Experience

Judges are looking for exemplary UX submissions, so be sure to include all the research and strategic thinking behind the work. Let’s see some of that famed British design thinking brought to the fore.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Content

Celebrating content in its broadest sense, from video series to technical copywriting and even podcasts. Judges are looking for original and brave work that’s pushed beyond the typical, especially keen to see how it has engaged with its audience and created impact.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Web3

A new category for 2023; as brands experiment and collaborate with native web3 projects, how are your clients exploring topics including ownership, identity, collectibles, community building, technical innovation and more?
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Digital Product Development

We are looking to champion the design and build of any digital product from websites to apps. Tell a complete story from inception to impact.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

Innovation

Select the categories that best represent the innovation behind the execution of your entry. You may select multiple categories per entry within this group.

  • Technology-driven Experience

Going further than events for this year, we want to celebrate experiences powered by data, technology and creativity. Projects that utilise immersive tech for AR, VR, XR, gaming platforms or think about how to create an experience within in-person gatherings. Judges want to be blown away.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Digital Product Build

One for the developers in the community. Now’s your time to shine as you impress our judges with your technical prowess and problem solving skills. How have your team adapted or augmented current platforms, embraced new languages and generally kicked ass(ets).
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Use of Data

“Data is a precious thing and will last longer than the systems themselves.” We suspect Sir Tim knows a thing or two about the subject, so let’s embrace his POV and celebrate the real rock stars – the scientists and strategists who create impact with data. Impress us with your best data-driven approaches and experiences.
This category will be judged 40% Innovation, 20% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Use of AI

Another new category for an emerging practice area for members. How are you using AI or machine learning in your creative process, customer interactions, builds or analytics? This category is judged by our AI Council who want to see projects that have understood and exceeded in providing an experience that implements AI in a responsible and innovative way.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Transformation Project

Judges want to understand how you’ve gone beyond comms campaigns here and see how strategic thinking can holistically transform a business for the digital age. How have you solved problems with platform integration, e-commerce evolution, and delivered impact for your client’s organisation?
This category will be judged 40% Innovation, 30% Craft, 20% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Use of Digital Media

Highlighting innovative use of digital media, whether it’s out of home, search or streaming or mobile. Judges want to read about a thorough strategy behind the media choices and demonstration that it hit its objectives.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

Impact

Select the categories that best represent the impact of your entry. You may select multiple categories per entry within this group.

  • Effectiveness

This category is for the best comms campaign using digital and technology. Could be ATL advertising or an influencer campaign. It can be designed to sell, change behaviour or raise awareness. Just be clear what the objectives are and tell your story as this category is all about demonstrating that it worked!
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 20% Craft, 40% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Trailblazers

While most of the other categories are judged across criteria, this award is for the disruptors … so far ahead of their time that the full impact of the work might be years away. So don’t get hung up on results, the judges are looking for totally fresh ideas and those with bravery and determination to launch something different in the market.
This category will be judged on Innovation only.

  • Social Good

BIMA believes that together we can make a large, positive difference through our tech and innovation. Here’s our chance to be the proof point that digital practitioners can drive measurable change to how we live our lives, our wellbeing, our self-determination.
This category will be judged 30% Innovation, 30% Craft, 30% Impact and 10% Planet.

  • Environment

This category champions the innovators among our membership who are trying to create a net positive effect on our planet, with real tangible data as evidence of that impact.
This category will be judged 20% Innovation, 10% Craft, 20% Impact and 50% Planet.

Special awards
  • Member of the Year

As a community driven by purpose, we’ve added a new category this year to celebrate our members who typify our mission to drive innovation through knowledge sharing, showcasing best practice and developing talent. They will have been judged to best represent our three focus pillars of Skills Gap, Culture, and Growth.

Judges won’t be motivated by billings and wins. They’re interested in the positive impact you’re creating for your people and your clients alike. So, tell us about yourselves – use those storytelling talents for a little self promotion.

  • Client of the Year

As an extension of BIMA, we love to celebrate the amazing progress our members’ clients make each year. Here’s your chance to nominate those brands that treat you as valued partners, that appreciate your people and they themselves feel aligned to our pillars. What makes them Client of the Year though? Only you can make their case for them.

Performance and profit is important of course, but our judges are looking for stories of purposeful leaders, of innovative products and services, and a willingness to push boundaries for their people and our planet.

  • Inclusive Design

You can now opt in to have your existing submission put forward for the Inclusive Design Award. This award will be judged by BIMA’s Inclusive Design Council and will acknowledge projects that have understood, implemented, and exceeded in providing a digital experience that is truly inclusive. They will be
looking for the following points of difference against the criteria of innovation, craft, impact and planet.

How to enter the BIMA Awards

BIMA Members get one free entry.

The 2023 winners have now been revealed!

Learn more here
Entry requirements
  • Must be DIGITAL and/or TECH (or have a significant digital and/or tech component).
  • Submissions must be the work of a British agency and/or be for the British market.
  • To keep BIMA Award winning work current, your project must have been launched, completed, redeveloped, or shown substantial measurable progress since 1 January 2023.
  • Projects in beta are considered eligible
    Your work must have in some way moved the game on and demonstrated how the organisation, product, service, or idea is at the vanguard of digital.
Entry process

All BIMA Awards entries must be submitted online via the awards platform at bima.awardsplatform.com

  • You can enter projects into multiple categories. Please note you will be charged per entry per category for your submissions.
  • Entries consist of a 200-word overview of your work, followed by a 1000-word more in-depth explanation of how your project meets the category criteria. More information on the category criteria can be found on the awards platform. You can also upload images and links to support your project.
  • In addition, you can provide images, audio or video links and any other information that will help the judges to experience your work.
  • You can enter your submission into multiple categories by selecting ‘Copy’ from the ‘My entries’
    tab on the platform.
Entry support

If you have any questions about entering the BIMA Awards, please contact the team at awards@bima.co.uk.

How much does it cost

BIMA Members get one free entry.

The 2023 winners have now been revealed!

Learn more here
Early bird entry fee
  • BIMA Member: £205+vat
  • Standard: £310+vat
General entry fee
  • BIMA Member: £265+vat
  • Standard: £370+vat
Late entry fee
  • BIMA Member: £315+vat
  • Standard: £420+vat

£50+vat will be charged as an extra admin fee, for entries made after the entry deadline.

Judges

Be one of the industry experts reviewing this year’s BIMA Awards.

Meet the experts reviewing the 2023 Awards.

MEET THE JUDGES
Who can be a judge?

We’re looking for a variety of people from across the industry to make up our judging panel. All we ask is that you have 5 years experience in industry to qualify.

How are the BIMA Awards judged?

The judging process will take place in September 2024, and will focus on recognising the innovation, craft and impact of submitted work. You will be asked to participate in one of two rounds of judging.

First round of judging

The first round of judging will be held online on 2-13 September. Here judges will be asked to assess all submissions within a category(-ies) for eligibility against the three criteria above using a point scoring system. Low scoring entries will be knocked out at this round.

Second round of judging

The second round of judging will be held in-person on  23-27 September, and the judges will discuss the remaining entries, pick a shortlist in each category and privately submit scores that will decide who will win bronze, silver or gold; all to be revealed at the ceremony in November.

How to win a BIMA Award

Watch our on-demand webinar on the entry process and how to win a BIMA Award, with BIMA MD Matt Sullivan.

Watch now

Sponsors

Join BIMA

Not a BIMA member yet? Join our vibrant and forward-thinking community today.

Learn more here