PRESS RELEASE
The Bett Awards partners, i2i Events Group and BESA (The British Educational Suppliers Association) announce the launch of the prestigious 16th annual Bett Awards. Considered the most prestigious accolade in the industry, the Bett Awards bring together developers, distributors and educational practitioners each year to recognise, reward and celebrate ICT excellence in the education sector.
The 2014 awards introduce three new product categories, ‘International digital education resource,’ ‘Free digital content/open educational resources’ and ‘Educational Apps’, to market the changing face of today’s education sector. Two further awards have been introduced to celebrate the unprecedented quality of organisations’ marketing teams, with the arrival of the ‘Marketing Campaign of the Year’ award and the ‘Bett stand of the Year’ award.
BESA will again act as chair of judges, overseeing the impartiality and fairness of the robust, two-stage judging process by a diverse panel. Members of the panel are now revised each year to ensure a broad and fair perspective of the qualities needed in today’s learning environments. An entry fee of £195 per award entry is payable. This fee is discounted to £175 + VAT for BESA member organisations. Entries made before 30 August will attract a further £25 + VAT discount.
The awards ceremony will be held at The Brewery, London EC1Y on Wednesday 22 January 2014, which coincides with the first day of the Bett exhibition at London’s Excel.
The Bett Awards 2014 will focus on the impact of ICT products and services in the classroom or school in 19 distinctive categories:
• Early Years Digital Content
• Primary Digital Content
• Secondary Digital Content
• ICT Tools for Learning and Teaching
• Digital Collections and Resources Banks
• ICT Special Educational Needs Solutions
• Digital Devices
• ICT Leadership and Management Solutions
• ICT Company of the Year – less than £1m turnover
• ICT Company of the Year – £1m to £3m turnover
• ICT Company of the Year – over £3m turnover
• ICT Exporter of the Year
• ICT Service and Support
• Outstanding Achievement in ICT Education
• Free Digital Content/Open Educational Resources
• Marketing Campaign of the Year
• International Digital Education Resource
• Educational Apps
• Bett Stand of the Year
Rachel Poletti Gadd, Bett portfolio director at i2i Events Group comments, “Recognition of the quality of learning resources provided by UK organisations continues to spread globally. Each year the Bett Awards offer suppliers the opportunity to celebrate their commitment to driving up standards within education. As the provider of these world class awards, we are proud to see the number and calibre of entrants increase year on year. Each pushes at the very boundaries of what is new, innovative and possible in technology, and we are excited to help celebrate this again in 2014.”
Caroline Wright, director, BESA adds, “Government investment in technology for learning over the years has resulted in a plethora of diverse, effective resources. Identifying the very best has been the role of the awards for the past 15 years. The winners of the Bett Awards join an elite circle, enjoying recognition within the sector in the UK and from around the world, as innovative, quality suppliers.”
Award entries must be completed online at www.bettawards.com before the closing date of 30 September 2013. Each product can only be entered into one category.
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Notes for Editors
About BESA
BESA, the British Educational Suppliers Association, is the trade association representing over 300 educational suppliers in the UK, including manufacturers and distributors of equipment, materials, books, consumables, furniture, technology, ICT hardware and digital-content related services to the education market. With 77 years of experience, BESA offers unparalleled support, research, events and advice on both UK and International markets, and the future of the education supplies industry. BESA is focused on promoting and providing support and advice to their members, the industry and to schools. BESA has a Code of Practice to which all members must adhere, along with a stringent membership process, both of which assure buyers of a high standard of quality in both product and customer service.
For more information, please visit www.besa.org.uk
About Bett 2014:
Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2014, Bett has evolved into the world’s largest technology in education event. With over 30,000 visitors and around 700 educational exhibitors in 2013, Bett continues to inspire learning excellence worldwide. Bett 2014 will run over four days from Wednesday 22 to Saturday 25 January at ExCeL, London. For more information on Bett 2014, please visit:www.bettshow.com.
About i2i Events Group
i2i Events Group delivers world-class exhibitions, large scale events and festivals in key sectors including home and gift, fashion, retail, healthcare, energy, environment, education, technology, media and creative. Its portfolio of world-wide events includes World Retail Congress, Spring Fair, Naidex, BVE, Bett and Pure London. It prides itself on opening up possibilities for its customers and each year brings more than 250,000 decision makers together to network, source, test, buy and sell brilliant products, services, ideas and solutions. i2i Events Group is headed up by Mark Shashoua who joined EMAP as Group MD of EMAP Connect in November 2011 and became CEO of i2i Events Group in March 2012. i2i Events is powered by Top Right Group, formerly known as EMAP International Ltd. www.i2ieventsgroup.com .
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