A few days on and I still have a lovely warm glow from the 9th annual UnAwards.
by Darren Caveney
I spent my weekend wading through lovely messages and chatter on social and email, reflecting on the love, celebration, connection and atmosphere at the UnAwards 2024.
I’ve said it many, many times but I am so fortunate to be able to run and host the UnAwards. Plus, it’s a great excuse to unleash the velvet once a year.
It is quite literally my favourite work day of the year. And the feedback from many is that they love it too.
Thank you to everyone who made it possible and who came along and supported it.
What a room-full of talent we had in the 141 capacity audience.
Here are some reflections.
Yes, the UnAwards is a work day.
As I always say, the UnAwards IS a work day, but work doesn’t have to be dull.
Over half of the audience were there for the first time. I just love that. If that’s you, please let me know how you found it.
Attendees travelled from Scotland, Wales and England and battled the usual UK train headaches.
Many attendees have been to the UnAwards multiple times. There were a couple of 8-time attendees in the room, plus ever-present, Adrian Stirrup. That’s quite a record.
Smile…
There are almost 400 lovely photographs from the big day – you can access them HERE.
Tunes!
King of digging in the crates, Ben Capper, pulled together a fantastic playlist for the day – You can listen back to it HERE.
What’s the film, Darren?
During the past couple of weeks almost every conversation I seemed to have with a comms person centred on the choice of film for the UnAwards!
I think some people were more excited about learning the identity of the secret movie choice than the actual UnAwards and ceremony itself, which I love and which makes me smile.
This year I went with what I think is one of the Top 10 greatest movies ever made – the brilliant Jaws. 50 years old next year, this film has everything – great actors, a superb storyline, unforgettable quotes, an iconic soundtrack from John Williams, and the maestro director himself, Steven Spielberg.
A new look
So many people fed back on how much they loved the new look branding for the UnAwards this year. I know I did. Huge thanks to the talented Alan Oram and Alive with Ideas.
Talented teams, wonderful work – the highlights
From a record-breaking 593 entries the team of 30 external judges whittled them down to 128 shortlistees, resulting in 27 highly commended entries and 24 winners.
Receiving ‘highly commended’ in categories with over 40, 50, 60 or - in one case - 70 entries is a serious achievement so very well done to everyone who achieved this.
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 2025 (more news on that exclusively here in the new year. First, I have to smile nicely at the sponsors).
But, a few worthy of special mention are Staffordshire County Council who nailed a record breaking five wins. Jude Tipper lifted her 7th win and 6th in the best guest post category - also a record. And we had our first ever tie in a public vote, with both Derbyshire Constabulary and West Mercia Police sharing the crown of best comms team. Well done to everyone on the list.
Local government were the big winners grabbing an impressive 14 UnAwards. For a sector under such extreme pressure it speaks volumes to the teams and individuals plugging away and still delivering quality work.
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 as I haven’t had a chance to look at yet, and with some down time looming in a couple of weeks.
The majority of the 593 entries this year will go into an updated new COMMS:FILES – surely the largest new treasure trove of commsy 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 Friday 5 December 2025 for the 10th annual UnAwards. We have big plans for it already.
Giving
Each year the UnAwards supports a charity and this year it’s one which is important me and a loved one – the Epilepsy Society. A wonderful charity which offers support and help often not available elsewhere. If you would like to support them you can do HERE. Thank you.
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 UnAwards 2024 partners and sponsors: CAN Digital, Alive with Ideas, Orlo, e-shot, the Local Government Association, Perago, Seashell Communications, Gey Fox Communications and Marketing, Whetstone Communications, the Behaviour Change Network and Ruby Bhattal Coaching.
And finally
I have come to realise is that the UnAwards is absolutely not my event. It’s the community’s event. It would be nothing without the people who make it happen and elevate it sky high with a hell of a lot of love and enthusiasm 🖤
Darren Caveney is creator and owner of comms2point0 and creative communicators ltd and organiser of the UnAwards.
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