The European Sponsorship Association (ESA) today issued a final call to agencies, brands and rights holders for entries to its 2015 Excellence Awards.
With the deadline for submissions only a week away (Wednesday 30 September, 2015), ESA has been delighted with the quality, quantity and breadth of entries received to date as well as the overwhelming response to its call for judges – the first time it has openly invited industry experts to take part.
Karen Earl, Chairman of the European Sponsorship Association, commented: “The ESA Excellence Awards have always been one of the highlights of the sponsorship calendar and this year the event has grown with the inclusion of many new categories to better reflect the way in which sponsorship is being used.”
“The Awards will always recognise the best examples of sponsorship and activation across Europe but with the creation of these new categories, we’re now able to open up the opportunity to many more entrants.”
The fantastic response to its crowd sourcing of judges has almost taken ESA by surprise, with senior execs from Sony Mobile, Western Union, British Gas and the Premier League all putting their hands up to get involved. The full list of judges, who will decide the Main Categories and the Best of Europe awards, can be seen here: http://sponsorship.org/awards/judges-2/
“In total, we received offers of judging from across twelve European countries and have been in the unusual position of actually having to turn some down,” explained Earl.
This year’s awards will feature a total of 16 categories to ensure a relevant section for everyone to be able to submit their best work for the judges’ wider consideration; whether they are a rights holder, brand or agency.
The full list of 2015 ESA Excellence Award categories are:
1. B2B Activation Award
2. Best Use of Hospitality Activation
3. CSR/Community Sponsorship Award
4. Mass Participation Sponsorship or Event Award
5. Media Sponsorship Award
6. Employee Engagement Award
7. Live Music Sponsorship or Activation Award
8. Arts & Culture Sponsorship Award
9. Best Use of Social Media
10. Sports Sponsorship Award
11. Best Use of Digital
12. Best Use of PR
13. Rights Holder Achievement Award
14. Multi-National Award
15. Best Use of Insight
16. Best Use of Integrated Marketing
Organised by the European Sponsorship Association (ESA), the Awards celebrate successful sponsorship campaigns in all sectors – sport, culture, entertainment, media, community and corporate responsibility – by assessing their business objectives and campaign results. Now in their ninth year, the ESA Excellence Awards remain the only Awards to recognise outstanding work by sponsorship professionals across Europe.
Anthony Scammell, senior associate director at H&K Strategies and member of the organising committee, commented:
“The Awards have always been respected, but it was important to ESA to ensure they remain relevant to the industry and those who work in it. We are excited to announce these changes and are confident they will prove a catalyst for more agencies, rights holders and individuals to enter their best work.”
“Our decision to invite new judges onto the panel indicates a desire to be seen as even more open and transparent. Speaking to people within the industry, there is always keen questioning around any awards judging process and why certain campaigns win or did not win. So now we’re giving people an opportunity to get involved in the judging process for themselves!”
Full details of the new Award categories can be viewed on the ESA Awards website – http://sponsorship.org/awards/awards-home/
Full entry details are available online via http://sponsorship.org/awards/how-to-enter/
For further information about the Awards, contact the ESA office, Tel +44 (0) 208 390 3311 or email awards@sponsorship.org