Category Description
This award is open to all ‘technology for good’ products (software or hardware), including ones employing AI, that have generated a positive impact for the environment or in the community and helped to improve quality of life for people and planet on a local, national or international level. This positive impact could have been created either directly or indirectly (for example by helping a third sector organisation to achieve its objectives).
Depending on the entries received, judges have the option of making two awards: one for technology and one for AI.
The judging panel will be looking for details on how and why the technology was created and developed, its goals and ethos as well as its sustainability, scalability, availability and originality. The judges will also be interested to hear about the challenges faced in developing the technology and how these were overcome. And they will consider what support and training was provided to the end user to maximise the potential.
With tech having the potential to address some of the world’s biggest social and environmental challenges, the judges will specifically be looking for evidence of verifiable social or environmental impact. Entrants are asked to provide details about the scale of the challenge being tackled by the technology, the degree to which the technology has helped thus far, and its potential for the future.
Judges will welcome efforts to bring technology, particularly AI, under public / democratic control, and to avoid any negative impacts associated with its implementation.
Consideration will be given to effective promotion of the technology to encourage its wider use, and whether it is scalable and replicable. Extra credit will be given to those entrants that inspire behavioural change either locally or across the world.
Time Frame: Entries should focus primarily on activity from the past three years. Historical context and earlier work may be included where relevant to demonstrate baselines, legacy impact, or progression.
We request a total word count of 1500 words +/-10% (excl. supporting docs). Any confidential data will be treated as such and only shared with the judging panel.
Criteria
Judges will be looking for evidence of the following points within the supplied application form (weighting percentages in brackets):
- Details of the technology, how and why it was developed, challenges overcome, support and training provided, its goals and ethos as well as its sustainability, availability and originality (35%)
- Evidence of the effectiveness of the technology and the verifiable positive impact to the community, society or environment (40%)
- Awareness raising to promote and support the social or environmental benefits of the technology including market reaction, public and sector engagement, industry awards won, press coverage gained and any inspiration of behavioural change (15%)
- The wider potential for scalability and replicability (10%)
PLEASE NOTE: The criteria listed above are used by judges to evaluate entries. However, you will complete a separate application form with specific questions.
When writing your entry, follow the application form questions while ensuring you address all the criteria listed above. This allows judges to assess all entries consistently.
Accessing the questions: Register or log in to AwardStage (opens 2 February), select your category, and download the PDF of questions. Application questions vary by category and will be available four weeks before entries open. To receive them in advance, please email us.
Are we eligible to enter?
Our awards programme is open to all organisations of any kind… companies large and small, charities, not-for-profits, social enterprises, NGOs, membership and accreditation organisations and government departments including local and county councils. We are all about rewarding sustainability practice – in all its forms. So if your organisation is making a difference, directly or indirectly to people and planet, you’re eligible.
We don’t just recognise businesses that are operating responsibly, or supporting / partnering with worthwhile causes. We also actively encourage entries from organisations that have been specifically set up or adapted to offer a product or service that tackles a social or environmental problem.
Our category descriptions and criteria have been written to guide entrants on what content should be detailed in their entries. However, we do not expect square pegs to fit in round holes… Some of your business activities or dedicated programmes might not fit entirely with any one specific category. In these cases, the descriptions and criteria are open to an element of interpretation and rest assured that our judges will still take into account entries that are strongly aligned with the overall context of the category.
If you have any concerns about the suitability of your entry, or would like to discuss your activities in more detail, we are here to help. Give Karen a call on 07813 718541 or email us.