It’s back - the best free learning event in the comms calendar - the UnAwards Winners Masterclass.
by Darren Caveney
After a three-month build-up the #UnAwards23 is almost here. Here’s your guide to the big day…
by Darren Caveney
Winning an UnAward is a very special thing.
But how can you win one?
Find out exactly how by getting the inside track from past winners and current judges in this special new webinar.
by Darren Caveney
We know that a common complaint from comms pros is a lack of recognition for their work. The #UnAwards23 is your chance to change that. In a big way.
by Darren Caveney
Tickets for the UnAwards 2023 ceremony are LIVE. Don’t leave it too long to grab yours…
by Darren Caveney
The 8th annual awards will be held at’s iconic home - the Everyman Cinema in the Mailbox in Birmingham - on Friday 1 December at 9.30am for a 10am start.
Tickets will cost just £30 + vat and are on sale now.
Please remember it’s always a sell out so please don’t be slow to buy
You can buy your tickets HERE NOW
The 8th annual UnAwards launch TODAY. They're the most accessible industry awards around. Now is not a time to quietly sit back and hope your boss recognises and appreciates your efforts. So try and get yourself shortlisted for an UnAward to really put your work on the organisational map.
by Darren Caveney
Well 2023 has been more of the same for communicators everywhere - stretched, busy, in demand but delivering incredibly important work.
So, as summer turns to autumn, it’s time to launch the UnAwards and get you, your teams and the industry proudly entering and showcasing your best work. Now is not the time to let it pass and wait until next year, As Apollo Creed said to Rocky Balboa “there is no tomorrow”.
The UnAwards are a huge passion of mine. They were established to recognise the hard work, creativity, successes of the communications and PR industry, largely but not exclusively by any means in the public sector.
They are truly accessible and do not run to generate a profit. They exist to celebrate and fly a flag for good people doing good things.
Something I think are now even more important than ever before.
WHAT DO I MEAN BY ACCESSIBLE?
Well, for starters it’s £free to enter
For seconds, it’s the simplest entry form you’ll find anywhere. This year again there is the fancy online entry form, courtesy of headline sponsors, CAN Digital.
And for thirds, if you manage to bag a golden ticket to the most fun awards ceremony around it will cost you just £30.
I hope you’ll agree that definitely classes as accessible.
NEW TO THE UNAWARDS?
Well there's more here but in a nutshell they are the most accessible and innovative awards in our industry - free to enter, fun to attend and a celebration of our community's achievements.
There are 20 categories, so something for everyone
Even better you can enter the same piece of work in multiple categories to increase your chances of being shortlisted.
And if you come along to the big day – shortlisted or not – you’ll enjoy one of the very best networking events of the year
Oh and you get to watch a classic movie, which always remains a closely guarded secret until the day.
THE UNAWARDS IN NUMBERS…
8th annual UnAwards
342 entries last time
20 categories
3 public votes categories to decide winners
2k public votes last time
20+ external judges
205k visits to the comms2point0 website so far in 2023
140 attendees
THE UNAWARDS – THEY KEEP ON GIVING...
Each year the winners are invited to showcase their winning work at the popular UnAwards Winners Masterclass in the new year. Also free to attend. More on that another time.
HOW DO I ENTER AND WHAT IS THE DEADLINE?
The cool new online entry form can be found HERE
And the closing date is 30 October at midnight. Please, please remember that the closing date is NEVER extended.
WHEN IS IT AND HOW CAN I ATTEND?
The 8th annual awards will be held at its iconic home - the Everyman Cinema in the Mailbox, Birmingham - on Friday 1 December at 9.30am for a 10am start.
Tickets cost just £30 + vat and ARE ON SALE HERE NOW. Please remember it’s always a sell out so don’t be slow to buy.
And there’s more…
There will be a pre-UnAwards social at the comms world’s favorite Brum restaurant, The Indian Streatery on 30 November. The food is delicious and I’ve agreed a £25 per head menu that you’ll love. If you’d like to join us you can register HERE.
So, ‘People of Comms’
How often have you heard the phrase – comms and PR people are bad at their own comms and PR?
That really shouldn’t be the case should it? Would you buy the services of a web agency who had a terrible web site?
So it’s time to kill that one off for good.
It's time to promote our successes – shout about them, if not quite from the rooftops then at least down the corridors of power. Let’s be proud and celebrate our achievements.
Other professions do, and some may deliver a hell of a lot less than you do.
So embrace this rallying call and book out some time in your diaries to pull together your entries and showcase your best work.
No one else will do this for you.
That other non-important work demand which can stifle – meetings, ad-hoc requests, multiple distractions and the “could you just…” passing trade won’t go away. Ever.
But you might have a rather nice UnAward-winning certificate hanging proudly on your office wall. So be a little selfish with your time for once.
Darren Caveney is creator and owner of both comms2point0 and the UnAwards and the owner of creative communicators ltd
It’s back - the best free learning event in the comms calendar - the UnAwards Winners Masterclass.
by Darren Caveney
The UnAwards 2022 generated a staggering 342 entries and the quality of the work submitted was higher than ever. But what did the winners do to claim their prozes?
Attending the Masterclass each year is a unique opportunity to hear, first hand, the experiences, tips and lessons which lie behind the winners’ work.
The event is a 140 capacity SELL OUT.
If you would like to join the waiting list please email me HERE.
The Masterclass will take place on 19 April at The UnAwards’ spiritual home, The Everman Cinema in Birmingham’s Mailbox, just a 7-8 minute walk from New Street train station.
AGENDA
9.30 Registration, tea, coffee and pastries
10 Welcome to the day – Darren Caveney
10.10 Best crisis comms and best collaboration - Louisa Dean, Reading Borough Council
10.30 Best creative comms – Clare Smith and Andrew Walker, Scottish Water
10.50 Coffee break
11.10 Best low cost comms/best video – Hannah Bryan and Katie Macfarlane, Durham Constabulary
11.30 Best team/best use of email, Helena Hornby and Cristian Marcucci, Staffordshire County Council
11.50 Panel Q&A – Louisa Dean, Clare Smith, Andrew Walker, Hannah Bryan, Katie Macfarlane
12.05 Partner Panel Q&A: Your chance to learn more about the latest in comms, digital comms, social media and effective engagement – Orlo, CAN Digital, Local Government Association, Hello Lamp Post, e-shot, Alive with Ideas and DigiKind
12.20 UK Film Premiere: Full Full, Half Half - A short film by Dawn Reeves
12.30 Lunch
1.15 Best social media account, Tracy-Lee Lewis, South Wales Police
1.35 Best young comms pro, Jack Grasby, South Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service
1.55 Best small team, Rob McCleary, Gedling Borough Council
2.15 Coffee break
2.35 Best internal comms, Krystle Downie, Kensington and Chelsea Council
2.55 Best ethical comms behaviour/diversity – Ross McLean, Hertfordshire County Council and Best health and wellbeing – Laurel Smithson, Hertfordshire County Council
3.20 Panel Q&A – Tracy-Lee Lewis, Jack Grasby, Rob McCleary, Krystle Downie, Laurel Smithson, Ross McLean plus Lifetime Achievement winner, Eddie Coates-Madden
3.50 Reflections and wrap up
4 Finish*
*Post event drinks - will take place in the Everyman Cinema Bar and Diner for those who fancy staying on.
It’s going to be a cracker and I’m very excited for it.
A pre event meal to whet your appetite…
There will be a social gathering at 7.30pm at Indian Streatery, Bennetts Hill B2 5QP on Tuesday 18 April 2023, the night before the Masterclass.
Places are limited - you can sign up HERE.
The big day itself…
The Masterclass will take place at The UnAwards’ spiritual home, The Everman Cinema in Birmingham’s Mailbox, just a 7-8 minute walk from New Street train station.
Registration will be from 9.30am where you will be greeted with fresh coffee and pastries. We’ll begin the event at 10am. We’ll be finished 4.00pm.
There will also be a social and drinks directly after the Masterclass in the Everyman’s lovely bar and diner.
Further event information will be announced only on the official comms2point0 channels - here on this site, the eMag and on the @comms2point0 Twitter and LinkedIn account. So keep them peeled.
Huge thanks…
to the official UnAwards Winners Masterclass partners and sponsors for making this event possible:
I love you all 🖤
These kind of free learning events are vital for our industry. As is the opportunity for people to meet face-to-face - to share, connect and to just get away from screens and meetings and emails and all of the other things which hamper our development. It’s also fun, and that’s still allowed at work.
Darren Caveney is creator and owner of comms2point0 and creative communicators ltd
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Two days on, I still have a lovely warm glow from the 7th annual UnAwards.
by Darren Caveney
I spent my Saturday morning wading through lovely messages and chatter on social and reflecting on the love, celebration, connection and atmosphere at the #UnAwards22.
There aren’t enough face to face industry events post Covid hitting our lives, and we know that the appetite for them is less than it was. But, there’s nothing quite like spending a day with peers, friends and new connections and, as I always say, the UnAwards IS a work day, but work doesn’t have to be boring.
Talented teams, wonderful work – the highlights
From the 342 entries the team of 27 external judges whittled down to 109 shortlistees, resulting in 28 highly commended entries and 19 winners.
Receiving highly commended in categories with well over 30 entries is a serious achievement so very well done for all 28 shortlisted teams.
There are too many great stories, pieces of work and wins to single out completely here – we’ll do that at the UnAwards Winners Masterclass in spring 2023 (more news on that exclusively here in the new year). But, a few worthy of special mention are Louisa Dean’s three individual and team wins. I’ve watched her journey over the past five years and this was a fitting result.
Celebration of the event goes to the excellent Rob McCleary of Gedling Borough Council for his celebration of his (and Nathan’s) win for best small team. Durham Constabulary were double winners, as were the county councils of Hertfordshire and Staffordshire. And Jude Tipper set a new - Bjorn Borg-esque – record fifth consecutive win for best guest post of the year.
Winners came from local government, police, fire, agency side and the water industry, and from the three nations of Scotland, Wales and England.
You can see the full list of winners and highly commended entries HERE.
What next?
Well I’m looking forward to reading through the entries I haven’t had a chance to look at yet with some down time looming in a couple of weeks.
The majority of the 342 entries this year will go into an updated new COMMS:FILES – surely the largest new treasure trove of comms goodness anywhere and all free to access and browse. I’ll work with UnAwards partner CAN Digital on this in the new year and shout when it’s ready.
And pencil in 1 December 2023 for the #UnAwards23.
Saying thanks…
Thank you to everyone who entered. Finding the time to enter can be tricky I know but it’s always a useful exercise and opportunity for self evaluation and reflection in my experience.
Thank you so much to everyone who came to the big day. I hope you enjoyed it. That’s always the aim.
And Special thanks too to the official UnAwards22 partners, CAN Digital and Hello Lamp Post, and to the official sponsors the Local Government Association, Alive With Ideas, Orlo, Perago, Sorted Communications, DigiKind, Amanda Coleman, Ruth Dale and Vanilla Ruffles. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – there would be no UnAwards without you.
I’m feeling very proud of this beautiful community 🖤
Take a look at all of the official pics courtesy of Edwin Ladd HERE.
Darren Caveney is creator and owner of comms2point0 and creative communicators ltd
*Sign up for the comms2point0 eMag*
The comms2point0 eMag features exclusive new content, free give-aways, special offers, first dibs on new events and much, much more.
Sound good? Join over 3k other comms people who have subscribed. You can sign up to it right here
After a three-month build-up the #UnAwards22 is almost here. Here’s your guide to the big day…
by Darren Caveney
Now in their seventh year, there has never been a more important role for the UnAwards in saluting, recognising and celebrating the work of communicators across our industry. most of you are working under tough conditions. Some of you are adapting to smaller resources and increased demand which has stuck around post-peak Covid. And others are just delivering damned fine work.
The UnAwards is my own way of giving a little bit back to an industry which has been very good to me. I take huge pride and pleasure in being able to take a decent chunk of time out each year, away from the day-to-day consultancy work, to organise the UnAwards and to help fly a flag – in my own small way – for our communications community.
The big day
If you have managed to secure a ticket to the #UnAwards22, well done – you’re in for a treat.
There are a handful of tickets left for the ceremony so if you’re quick you can be there – you can grab tickets HERE.
Win or not you’re in for a great day
The UnAwards is my favourite work day of the year. It’s quite unlike any other industry event I’ve been to.
Not winning…
Of course, if you’re shortlisted but don’t win, you’ll be disappointed.
With nearly 350 entries and over 100 on the shortlist it’s stating the obvious in saying that not everyone can win.
If you’ve been to a traditional awards event, paid handsomely for it, and left empty-handed it can feel like a massive anti-climax. I know, I have experienced that.
The UnAwards is different.
The day is designed so that win or not you can genuinely enjoy a fun event and a unique opportunity to connect with industry colleagues new and old. That in itself is reason to be there.
Twitter will be buzzing
If you can’t be at the UnAwards22 follow it on Twitter using the #UnAwards22 hashtag.
Announcing the winners and snaps of the big day
I’ll be posting the winners names to the UnAwards22 website after the event.
We also have a new photographer snaps and filming the event and I’ll get these online as soon as possible.
Timings, ceremony, film and food
The venue for the UnAwards22 is the very cool Everyman Cinema up on the third floor of Birmingham's Mailbox, B1 1 RF.
If you are driving I recommend you park in the Mailbox car park – not the cheapest but nearest and best. Sat Nav code is B1 1RS.
If you are coming by train the Everyman Cinema in the Mailbox is a 10 minute walk – leave New street Station via the Victoria Square exits and turn left. Cross the road carrying straight on at the lights and you’ll see the Mailbox straight ahead of you.
If you’re coming along aim to be at the venue by 9.30am for registration, a mug of fresh coffee and a croissant. The #UnAwards22 ceremony will begin at 10.00am.
After the ceremony we’re watching a brilliant film, kept a closely-guarded secret until the day.
After the film we’ll have food in the diner – there’s a selection of veggie and non-veggie sharing plates to tuck into and be done by 3pm. I expect plenty of you may the stay behind for a pre-christmas celebratory tipple. And why not.
And the dress code is…
Whatever you fancy. Literally. This is NOT black tie, as you’ll have guessed 😊 But if you want to come in your fancy clobber then go for it. I will, as always, be giving the annual outing to my UnAwards velvet jacket.
Fancy a pre-UnAwards social gathering?
If you’re coming to Birmingham the day before I have reserved spaces at Brum’s best restaurant - The Indian Streatery. Tables are booked for 7.30pm. If you would like to be there please add your name to this Google list. There is a limit on numbers so please be quick as there are only a couple if places left. Their smoked aubergine curry is a thing of beauty. Just saying.
Saying thanks
Thanks so much for your support again this year, it means a lot. Everyone who entered, tweeted and endorsed.
Special thanks too to the official UnAwards22 partners, CAN Digital and Hello Lamp Post, and to our official sponsors the Local Government Association, Alive With Ideas, Orlo, Perago, Sorted Communications, DigiKind, Amanda Coleman, Ruth Dale and Vanilla Ruffles. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – there would be no UnAwards without you.
I really look forward to seeing lots of you on Friday 2 December
Darren Caveney is owner and creator of comms2point0, creative communicators and organiser of the UnAwards