• Swindon & Wiltshire News
• Sunday May 1 2022
• Author Name: Peter Davison

Tech South West Awards return to celebrate the best of the sector

The annual Tech South West Awards have opened for entries as the prestigious event returns for a fourth year to celebrate the region’s tech sector.

Covering the whole of the South West from Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset to Bristol, Bath, Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, the awards showcase innovation across the region’s fastest-growing sector.

Awards include Best StartUp, Women in Tech, MarineTech, Commitment to Diversity, Workplace Culture, AgriTech, Tech For Good, FinTech and Commitment to Talent.

The launch comes hot on the heels of the release of the SW Tech Analysis Report – the most comprehensive study ever conducted into the South West tech ecosystem, which forecasts the sector to grow to almost £20 billion gross value added (GVA) a year by 2026, creating more than 125,000 new jobs.

Bristol- and Bath-based accountancy firm Bishop Fleming return as headline partner for this year’s awards, having been involved with the annual event since its inception in 2019.

Pippa Clarke, head of technology, innovation, and growth at Bishop Fleming, said: “Relationships are a hugely rewarding aspect of our work with tech businesses. We know so many people across the sector, it’s right for us to support the community, and we’re delighted to increase our support for Tech South West.

“As headline partner for the awards, which we have supported from day one, we will continue to help the community celebrate success. As financial partner for the new Scale Up programme and for the Start Up programme, we will be providing support and guidance for tech businesses as they face the challenges of growth.”

Award-winning marketing and PR agency Astley Media has been announced as the first Supporting Partner. The South West-based agency specialises in promoting innovation across the technology, government and education sectors.

Tech recruitment specialists CA Tech Talent are supporting this year’s awards as Drinks Reception Sponsor.

Clodagh Murphy, director at CA Tech Talent, said: “We are thrilled to sponsor the Tech South West Awards again this year. With such a vibrant and ambitious tech community it is wonderful to play a role in supporting and celebrating the tech talent in the region.”

Last year’s Tech South West Awards took place at the immersive dome in Devonport’s Market Hall, and received over 200 entries from across the region.

Winners included Brixham-based ARC Marine, which specialises in rehabilitating reef habitats, Bristol-based microplastic capture pioneers Matter, Somerset biotech firm Singer Instruments, Cornwall-based offshore specialists Feritech Global and Bristol-based e-commerce fulfilment company Huboo.

Software Cornwall’s Mike Barrit scooped the Lifetime Achievement Award, with software development trainer Ash Coles of iO Academy winning the TeachTech Award.

Harry Singer, CEO of Somerset-based biotech firm Singer Instruments which won the Workplace Culture Award at the 2021 awards, said: “The Tech South West Awards are the biggest event in the tech calendar for anyone working in or around tech in the South West of England.

“Our team was delighted to win the Workplace Culture Award last year in recognition of our flexible working arrangements and staff benefits including our ‘Equity for Nerds’ scheme and zero-notice time off policy for last-minute surfing opportunities.

“The South West is fast becoming one of the top destinations in the UK for ambitious tech organisations to grow. The Tech South West Awards are testament to the depth and breadth of innovation, talent and boundary-pushing creativity that make the South West tech ecosystem such a key player on the global stage.”

Alongside the main categories, the Cluster Awards celebrate tech initiatives and organisations across the South West in particular local areas where the likes of TechSpark, TechExeter, Software Cornwall, Torbay Hi-Tech Cluster, Digital Somerset and Silicon South operate.

Shortlists will be announced in September, with details of the awards ceremony to be announced over the summer.

Details about entering the awards can be found at https://www.techsouthwest.co.uk/awards-2022