Tag: #awards

Tribe Digital takes centre stage at 25th annual Spiders Awards

The cream of the crop of Ireland’s digital industry gathered at The Round Room in Dublin’s Mansion House this evening for the 25th annual Spiders Awards, hosted by Tracey Carney. Dubbed ‘The Oscars’ of Ireland’s digital industry, the Spiders is the longest running digital awards programme in Ireland. The ceremony celebrated the achievements of individuals and businesses that not only adapted, but excelled amidst a global pandemic. In all, 22 awards were presented on the night, with Dublin’s Tribe Digital named Large Agency of the Year, Belfast’s Part Three Digital taking the top prize in the Small Agency category, and Cork’s power couple, Dan and Linda Kiely, named Ireland’s Digital Heroes.

For the first time since 2019, the Spiders returned as an in-person ceremony this year, with the event sponsored by Dmac Media, Centre of Excellence in Universal Design, Skoda, Skillnet Ireland, DMG Media and Acast. The evening, which was hosted by Spiders Managing Director, Tracey Carney, also included a fundraising element, with the organisers partnering with UNICEF to support the work they are doing in Ukraine.

Over the past couple of years, the Spiders – like many other events, globally – had to adapt to a changing society. Tonight’s prestigious awards ceremony acknowledged the new world we are living in and the success made through the pandemic by brilliant remote teams and campaigns. The judging panel evaluated nominations across 20 categories on the theme of ‘Driving Digital, Emerging Stronger’ and they had no easy task on their hands, due to the volume and talent of this year’s nominees.

In addition to the regular line-up, two extra accolades were added this year, in the form of Best Remote Team and the Customer Continuity Award. These awards were introduced to celebrate companies or individuals who achieved great results and emerged stronger during the global pandemic. The National Council for the Blind was named the Best Remote Team, while Flipdish took home the Best Customer Continuity title.

Scooping the top prize at the ceremony, Tribe Digital was named Large Agency of the Year and was applauded for its digital strategy across a number of campaigns carried out within the last 12 months, with a major emphasis on creativity, development, delivery and client experience.

Belfast-based Part Three Digital Ltd won the Small Agency of the Year title. Spearheaded by Hannah Nelson and Jess Orr Downey, the company proved that digital businesses can not only survive, but thrive in challenging times, with the digital marketing agency experiencing exponential growth over the last couple of years.

The Digital Hero Award went to Cork’s husband and wife duo, Dan and Linda Kiely. The pair were recognised as leaders in their field, having created a path for others to follow. They were lauded for their innovation, imagination and determination to succeed – traits that have set them apart from the pack.

The way in which companies and individuals have had to digitally adapt business and work models during the COVID-19 pandemic was a focal point at the awards ceremony. The event recognised and celebrated the creativity and achievements of businesses nationally, particularly applauding those who prevailed triumphantly in spite of Covid-19.

The full list of award winners are as follows:

  • Best Remote Team – National Council for the Blind Drumcondra, Dublin

  • Best Customer Continuity –  Flipdish Sandyford, Dublin

  • Best App – Revolut London

  • Best Use of Disruptive  Technology – An Post Insurance Athlone, Westmeath

  • Best B2B Campaign – Squaredot Dublin

  • Emerging Stronger – Digital for  Good Award / Not-for-Profit – GCN (Gay Community News) Dublin

  • Best in Social Media – Dublin Rape Crisis Centre Pluto Dublin

  • Small Agency of the Year – Part Three Digital Ltd Belfast, Antrim

  • Best Community Engagement by a Brand – Westport Chamber of Commerce Bold Craft Marketing Westport, Mayo

  • Best B2C Campaign – Londis Dublin

  • Best in Storytelling, delivered by remote team – SuperValu TBWA\Dublin Dublin

  • Diversity in Digital – Diageo – Guinness Omnicom Media Group Dublin

  • Best Podcast – The Good Glow Dublin

  • Digital Hero – Dan and Linda Kiely Cork

  • Large Agency of the Year – Tribe Digital Dublin

  • Best Integrated Media Campaign/ Strategy – Woodie’s Wolfgang Digital Dublin

  • Best in Universal Design – Monaghan Institute CDG Brand Monaghan/Dublin

  • Best Website –  Fáilte Ireland – Discover Ireland All human Dublin

  • Best eCommerce website –  Likha Aesthetic Clinic WONDR – A Digital Product Practice Dublin

  • Digital Transformation In Industry and Infrastructure – Sugar Rush Belfast, Antrim

  • Digital Transformation  Enterprise –  KBC Bank Ireland National

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Tracey Carney, Managing Director, Spiders Awards said:

“It is wonderful to be standing here before you all this evening, and returning to live events, after two years. It is even more special to be here in the Mansion House as we celebrate the Spiders’ 25th anniversary. Tonight we recognise excellence and the outstanding creativity of Ireland’s digital ecosystem. We applaud all of you who are the driving force behind it, and who have ensured we are emerging stronger than ever, from what has been the biggest digital transformation any of us have ever seen. The digital industry in Ireland has not only survived but thrived over the last two years. Tonight, we celebrate the best of the best in Ireland’s digital industry.”  

15 Irish Schools First in Europe to Achieve Digital Education Award

A group of 15 schools from across Ireland have been recognised for their use of digital technology at the European Digital Schools Awards, an ambitious new educational initiative which aims to establish cross-border networks and learning.

As some of first to take part in the initiative, the group of Irish schools helped set the benchmark for others to follow. They were officially recognised for their digital education strategy at an event held at University College Dublin today (Monday 28 March), where the Minister of Education, Norma Foley, congratulated schools on their achievements via video.

The European Digital Schools Awards encourages and recognises innovation, collaboration, and skills development in the digital sphere. With support from the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme, leading technology companies such as HP and AMD, and a number of national education agencies, it is the only initiative of its kind in Europe and is aimed at providing pupils with the skills they need to flourish in the modern world.

A total of 100 secondary schools in five European countries took part in the pilot programme, with just 79 receiving the top award.

Following the success of the pilot, the initiative is now being made available to all schools in Ireland, Scotland, Lithuania, Serbia, and Slovenia, with plans also in motion to roll out the programme more widely across Europe.  As the programme expands, it will provide teachers and educational leaders with greater access to support and the opportunity to take learnings from other countries.

To achieve European Digital Schools status, schools must use the European Commission’s SELFIE self-reflection tool to assess their digital learning and teaching practices and identify areas where improvements can be made.  They can then access a range of expert support and resources to help them develop their digital curriculum in line with industry best practices.

Norma Foley, Minister of Education said: “The European Digital Schools Awards is an excellent example of industry bodies and educational organisations working together to support schools as they continue to incorporate digital technology into the curriculum.

“The success of the pilot programme across Ireland has been inspiring, and it is great to see so many of our schools involved. With the initiative now available to all Irish schools, we hope to see many more getting involved.”

Anna Doody from Digital Schools Awards said: “Technology has become embedded into our everyday lives in a way we never thought it would, and at an unimaginable speed. In schools, the transformation is especially acute following the proliferation of remote learning during the pandemic.

“As we guide our young people through their developmental years and into adulthood it is essential that we give them the skills, knowledge and confidence to be able to navigate the digital world effectively and safely.

“The European Digital Schools Award is not about urging teachers to use technology in the classroom. It is about encouraging an inclusive, and whole-school approach to digital learning, where everyone in the school feels supported and confident to adopt best practices.

“Our pilot programme exceeded our expectations, and we are thrilled to be announcing the roll out of the initiative across our five participating countries.

“One of the key benefits of the European Digital Schools Awards is it creates a network of educational professionals that can learn from one another. The more schools we have within the community, the greater the opportunities for knowledge sharing, and over the coming year we hope to grow the initiative, welcoming new member states and more schools into the fold.

Annmarie Whelan from HP, a central supporter of the European Digital Schools Award, said: “Understanding digital practices and having a familiarity with technology is an essential part of young people’s development, and can open so many opportunities for their future.

“We have been working alongside Digital Schools Awards for a number of years and have seen first-hand the positive impact it has made on hundreds of schools. We are proud to be on this journey and to be a part of the official launch of the European programme. We would encourage all schools to explore the opportunities created through this initiative and look forward to working with others in our sector and educational leaders to roll this out across the continent.” 

Donal Harford from AMD said: “The possibilities are virtually limitless for what we can achieve through advancements in science and technology over the next few decades. School pupils across Europe are the next generation of innovators and it is through programmes like Digital Schools Awards that we can educate and inspire them to explore careers in digital technology.” 

To find out more about how they can take part, schools should visit www.awards4selfie.eu.

Complete list of schools in Ireland to receive the European Digital Schools Award:

Blackrock College, Dublin

Borrisokane Community College, Tipperary

Castetroy College, Limerick

Colaiste Bhaile Chlair, Galway

Colaiste Bride Enniscorthy, Wexford

Colaiste Cois Life, Dublin

Dominican College, Dublin

Gaelcholáiste Phort Láirge, Waterford

Mercy Secondary School, Dublin

Muckross Park College, Dublin

Old Bawn Community School, Dublin

Our Lady’s Bower, Athlone, Westmeath

St. Aloysius College, Cork

Saint Kevin’s Community College, Dublin

Saint Kevin’s Community College, Wicklow

 

Shure announced as headline partner for the International Women’s Podcast Awards. #Shure #IWPA #Podcasts

The Skylark Collective are pleased to announce Shure, a leading global manufacturer of premium audio equipment, as Headline Partners for this year’s inaugural International Women’s Podcast Awards. The IWPA is a unique event celebrating the very best female-led moments in podcasting of the last year, where recognition will be given to women in podcasting, both behind the mic and behind the scenes, who have created incredible audio moments and intimate listening experiences.

Naomi Mellor, founder of the International Women’s Podcast Awards, said: “I am so excited to announce Shure as our Headline Partners for the awards. Their passion for creating great microphones and audio electronics has been recognised by podcasters the world over, making them a staple of the podcasting community. Their support for women and non-binary podcasters at the International Women’s Podcast Awards helps us provide an opportunity for women from all over the world to showcase their work, and we can’t wait to bring the event to life.”

 

“We are extremely proud to partner with The Skylark Collective for the first ever International Women’s Podcast Awards, championing inspirational voices from around the world. In supporting the podcasting community since the beginning, we’ve witnessed the importance of diversity to leverage creativity in the industry. For this reason, we are sponsoring the Award for Changing the World One Moment at a Time, which we believe will give women and non-binary podcasters the visibility and recognition to continue their impressive work, while inspiring the podcasters of tomorrow” said Paul Crognale, Senior Manager, Global Marketing at Shure.

 

The International Women’s Podcast Awards will be hosted at the Allbright in London on 23rd September 2021 by acclaimed presenter, author and journalist Vick Hope of BBC Radio 1, with additional support from Acast, Blubrry, Captivate FM and Redhead PR. Entries are open to podcasters worldwide until Friday 13th August 2021, and the ceremony will be live-streamed internationally. The International Women’s Podcast Awards aims to help level the playing field for women in this exciting and evolving industry, by rewarding and elevating the unsung podcast hosts, editors,producers and writers out there whose work deserves recognition. To many, the joy of podcasting lies in its intimacy, in the atmosphere created between the host, guest and listener, and in the moments of incredible sensitivity, humour or honesty that keep people engrossed.

The International Women’s Podcast Awards celebrate these intimate moments of podcasting brilliance, and the women that make them happen. It doesn’t matter if they’ve had 100 downloads or 100 million, the awards are open to everyone in podcasting that identifies as a woman ornon-binary.

 

Nominations are now open and will be accepted in eight categories of wonderful ‘Moments’, which are:

  • Moment of Comedy Gold
  • Moment of Raw Emotion
  • Moment of Cliffhanging Drama
  • Moment of Touching Honesty
  • Moment of Behind-the-Scenes Brilliance
  • Moment of Entrepreneurship Inspiration
  • Moment of Badass Business Advice
  • Award for Changing The World One Moment At A Time

 

The awards ceremony will be held at Allbright, Mayfair on Thursday 23rd September.