BEST SPONSORSHIP OF THE LAST TWO DECADES

Entry to this Award does not follow the strict criteria that have been laid out for other categories.  In this instance, we are seeking nominations from the industry - and these could be from the brands, the rights holders or from consultancies - for UK campaigns that have stood out as iconic or pioneering at some point during the past two decades.  Once judges are happy that they have a fair representation of the ‘great’ sponsorships from the past 20 years, a specialist panel will create a shortlist. Then it’s over to the industry to vote for which sponsorship it believes is the most worthy of the title.”

To win the category, a sponsorship does not need to still be running. But judges will need to be convinced that it had a true impact at the time, with a certain amount of legacy.  “Key words to be thinking about are effective, impactful, creative and innovative,” said Sarginson. “There’s been so much great work during the last 20 years that a compelling case is crucial.”

Entrants don’t need to deliver too much detail. A few headline pointers as to why the campaign was so memorable and a couple of paragraphs (no more than 200 words) encapsulating the essence of the sponsorship will be enough. “We’re keen to remind people of the brilliant work that the industry delivers year after year,” said Sarginson. “But most of all we want this to generate some good-natured debate along the way.” 

If you want to nominate a sponsorship for this Award contact rosie@sponsorship-awards.co.uk outlining why you’ve chosen it. Based on feedback from the industry, the UK Sponsorship Awards team, made up of sponsorship experts, will draw up a shortlist then open it up to the industry for voting. The campaign that polls the most votes will win the Award.  To be eligible for entry, sponsorships need to be UK-based or have had a meaningful UK component to them. The aim of the Award is to reward a specific campaign not a brand’s entire sponsorship portfolio. But we will consider scenarios where a brand’s relationship with a rights holders has varied over time.