Award Categories 2023


Before entering a submission we recommend reading the guidelines page and the criteria points for each category carefully. Campaigns can be submitted for more than one category.

The Awards are designed to showcase and celebrate marketing talent across the region. We have refreshed our award categories for 2023 to reflect the breadth of specialisms and roles across the profession, enabling talent to be recognised across the sector.

The relevant period for work for the 2023 awards is from October 2022 to October 2023

Judging Day will take place on Monday 6th November 2023 at Hilton Newcastle Gateshead.

 

Deadline for nominations Friday 6th October 2023

Rising Star of the Year

This award shines a light on our leaders of the future and is open to marketers with less than 5 years’ experience who have excelled in their role.

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • Your commitment and willingness to development in the role
  • Overall enthusiasm for the industry!
  • Examples of your most recent work and any stand out achievements
  • Examples of where you’ve shown creativity or innovation
  • How your role supports your clients and/or your company
  • What you bring the team or company – what makes you stand out
Nominate
Marketer of the Year

​This award is open to all marketing managers or similar who have had a positive impact on their organisation or client base. They should be able to demonstrate strong strategic planning, creativity and innovation.

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas

  • Overall enthusiasm for the industry!
  • Proven results and effectiveness of campaigns / projects – include ROI / reach etc
  • Evidence of detailed research and analysis – use of data etc
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Client service excellence – going above and beyond
  • Examples of leadership and team working
  • What makes you stand out as a marketer
Nominate

Marketing Director of the Year

This award is open to all marketing directors or similar who have overall responsibility for their companies marketing strategy and delivery. They should have at least 10 years experience in the industry and be able to demonstrate strong leadership and strategic overview.

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • Increased/sustained financial achievement for the company
  • Team leadership and their development and growth models from your activities
  • Strategic and business planning
  • Proven results and effectiveness of work produced under your leadership – include ROI / reach, etc.
  • Examples of client or stakeholder service excellence
  • What makes you stand out as a Marketing Director
Nominate

Campaign of the Year (Agency) - BUDGET UNDER £50K

The judges will be looking for campaigns that show the best use of platforms, creativity and innovation as well as return on investment and value creation. The nomination should show a clear strategy, objective, and an understanding of the target audience. This category is open to agencies who have run a campaign on a budget less than £50k. (Please note budgets will not be displayed publicly and are only shared with the judges and event organisers) 

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • Overview of the campaign – include objectives, client brief, key targets
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the target audience
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Demonstrate use of multiple channels
  • Effectiveness of the campaign – ROI, value creation, reach
  • What makes this campaign stand out
Nominate
Campaign of the Year (Agency) - BUDGET OVER £50K

The judges will be looking for campaigns that show the best use of platforms, creativity and innovation as well as return on investment and value creation. The nomination should show a clear strategy, objective, and an understanding of the target audience. This category is open to agencies who have run a campaign with a budget more than £50k. (Please note budgets will not be displayed publicly and are only shared with the judges and event organisers) 

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • Overview of the campaign – include objectives, campaign brief, key targets
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the target audience
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Demonstrate use of multiple channels
  • Effectiveness of the campaign – ROI, value creation, reach
  • What makes this campaign stand ou
Nominate
Campaign of the Year (In-House)

The judges will be looking for campaigns that show the best use of platforms, creativity and innovation as well as return on investment and value creation. The nomination should show a clear strategy, objective, and an understanding of the target audience. This category is open to in-house teams.

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • Overview of the campaign – include objectives, campaign brief, key targets
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the target audience
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Demonstrate use of multiple channels
  • Effectiveness of the campaign – ROI, value creation, reach
  • What makes this campaign stand out
Nominate
Not for Profit Campaign of the Year

The judges will be looking for campaigns that show the best use of platforms, creativity and innovation as well as return on investment and value creation. The nomination should show a clear strategy, objective, and an understanding of the target audience. This award is open to all those working in the public and not for profit sectors.

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • Overview of the campaign – include objectives, campaign brief, key targets
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the target audience
  • Creativity and innovation
  • Demonstrate use of multiple channels
  • Effectiveness of the campaign – ROI (if applicable), value creation, reach
  • What makes this campaign stand out
Nominate
 
Brand Creation of the Year

This award looks at the development or creation of a brand identity and is open to all agencies. The brand must have been running for at least one year in order to demonstrate results and ROI. This category is open to both in-house teams and agencies.

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • A clear understanding of the client’s (or companies) strategy, needs and aspirations for the rebrand, changes or creation of the brand identity.
  • The design concept
  • Originality, innovation and creativity
  • Implementation of the new brand, include launch strategy, PR etc
  • Consistency across platform
Nominate
Best use of Social Media

This award recognises the best use of social media, looking at use of channels, creativity, compelling content and audience engagement and reach to achieve desired objectives.

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • Provide clear objectives and strategy for the campaign
  • Creativity, innovation and originality
  • How well the campaign maintained the brand identity and messaging consistency across social media channels and content types
  • Whether the campaign effectively utilised multiple social media platforms and adapted its content and approach to each platform’s unique audience and features
  • Use of social influencers or similar to drive awareness, if applicable
  • Effectiveness of campaign – reach, audience engagement, ROI
Nominate
 
Product Launch of the Year

This award recognises the launch of a new product or service to the market. This could include a digital campaign, launch event, PR, social media etc. The nominee must demonstrate an understanding of the audience and an effective use of the medium to engage with the end user. This category is open to both in-house teams and agencies.

Judges will assess the nomination on the following areas:

  • A clear understanding of the client’s (or companies) strategy, needs and aspirations for the product launch
  • Effectiveness of the campaign – ROI, product engagement, reach
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the target audience
  • Originality, innovation and creativity
  • Best use of platforms – events, PR, social media etc
Nominate
 
Best use of New Technology

For this award we’re looking for campaigns that have successfully harnessed innovative and effective applications of new technology with improved results from previous comparative approaches. This may include AI, augmented reality, big data etc

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • Originality of the technology used in the marketing campaign, and how the tech differs from existing solutions.
  • How well the new technology aligns with the overall marketing goals and objectives of the campaign. How was the campaign enhanced?
  • How did the technology positively impact the customer experience? Did it provide unique and valuable interactions, personalisation, or convenience for the target audience?
  • What was the measurable impact of the tech on KPIs such as engagement, conversion rates, sales, or brand awareness.
  • How well the emerging technology integrated with existing marketing systems, platforms, and processes.
  • Whether the use of new tech provided the organisation with wider internal or external benefits such as improving internal efficiencies, accessing new or broader target audiences, etc.

Nominate

 
Best example of CSR

For this award we’re looking for a team or agency who can demonstrate the best marketing of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, recognising efforts to make a positive impact on society and the environment.

You will be required to provide examples in as many of the following areas:

  • Whether the agency or team demonstrated transparency in their CSR efforts, including clear communication about the initiative’s purpose, goals, and outcomes.
  • How well the CSR initiative aligns with the core values and mission of the agency or in-house organisation, as well as the overall objectives. Does it reflect a genuine commitment to social and environmental responsibility?
  • Measurable impact of the CSR initiative on the community, environment, or social cause it aimed to support. Consider metrics such as funds raised, volunteer hours, number of people benefitting, etc.
  • Whether the CSR initiative was designed for long-term sustainability and positive change, rather than being a one-time campaign.
  • Initiatives that involved collaboration with stakeholders, such as non-profit organisations, local communities, or other businesses to effectively leverage partnerships to amplify the impact.
  • How the CSR initiative demonstrated creative thinking and innovative approaches to address social or environmental challenges.
  • Assess how the initiative engaged agency or in-house teams in meaningful ways such as fostering a culture of social responsibility and encouraging employee participation?
Nominate
 
In-House Marketing Team of the Year

This award is for an in-house Marketing Team that has been instrumental to the success of their organisation can demonstrate outstanding achievements.

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • Effectiveness of campaigns and results measured – examples of creativity, innovation originality
  • How your results have benefited your company and/or clients
  • Resilience in light of challenges
  • Ability to work well as a team
  • Effective collaboration with other departments or service providers
  • Team culture, employee wellbeing and development
  • What makes your team stand out from the rest?
Nominate

 
Agency of the Year (Under 20 employees)

This award is open to all agencies with an employee count of 20 or less who have enjoyed an exceptional year and can demonstrate outstanding achievements. The judges will be looking at a number of areas including strategy, growth, innovation, client service and staff development.

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • Your company structure, set up and growth plans
  • Effectiveness of campaigns and results measured – examples of creativity, innovation originality
  • How this has gone on to benefit your clients
  • Company resilience in light of challenges
  • Examples of CSR, sustainability and environment impact
  • Company culture including inclusion & diversity, working environment, employee wellbeing and development
  • What makes your agency stand out from the rest
Nominate
Agency of the year (Over 20 employees)

This award is for a Marketing Agency which has enjoyed an exceptional year and can demonstrate outstanding achievements. The judges will be looking at a number of areas including strategy, growth, innovation, client service and staff development.

You will be required to provide examples in the following areas:

  • Your company structure, set up and growth plans
  • Effectiveness of campaigns and results measured – examples of creativity, innovation originality
  • How this has gone on to benefit your clients
  • Company resilience in light of challenges
  • Examples of CSR, sustainability and environment impact
  • Company culture including inclusion & diversity, working environment, employee wellbeing and development
  • What makes your agency stand out from the rest
Nominate

 

Outstanding Achievement Award

This Award is for individuals who have shown significant achievement over many years and made an outstanding contribution to the marketing profession or the company which they are part of.

There are no interviews taking place for this award as the winner is chosen by a committee. If you would like to put someone forward for consideration please email info@northeastmarketingawards.co.uk with a brief explanation of why they would be a worthy winner.

 

Why Nominate?

There’s no better feeling than walking up on stage and collecting that award. Knowing all your hard work, enthusiasm and diligence has been recognised, not only by your company and clients but by the whole region.

But there’s more to our awards than that, the journey starts long before the night of the awards and is a fantastic way of putting your company in the spotlight. Finalists are announced months before the awards through the press, social media and industry bodies as well as the awards website and email marketing. Promo banners are sent to display on your email signature and website offering valuable promotional activity for you and your company.

Our awards are much more than one evening, they’re a year long process which offers our finalists and partners unique exposure that can’t be gained through traditional advertising.

Click here to view press coverage from other Echo awards.

We look forward to receiving your nomination and good luck!