Scotland’s best digital technology firms of all sizes have been celebrated at the 2018 ScotlandIS Digital Technology Awards. The most innovative and best performing tech firms in a range of sectors, from social care to geology and finance to automotive, received awards.
Craneware and FreeAgent continued their runs of success, winning in Large Digital Technology Business and Best B2B Technology Product categories respectively.
Judges were impressed with FreeAgent’s evolution of its business to focus on mobile development, which saw it grow revenue by 28% in the last year. Craneware was lauded for its ability to drive long term growth, which has seen the company listed on the AIM market for over 10 years and now employing over 300 staff.
In the Best Public Sector Product category, the Mind of My Own app was recognised for revolutionising and enabling how children express their feelings in difficult situations to adults involved with their care – and for business growth which has seen it now used in 65 organisations across the UK.
“This year’s awards showcase the outstanding range of emerging digital technology firms, and those businesses that are going on to grow and scale,” said Polly Purvis, ScotlandIS chief executive, “as well as highlighting the innovation digital technologies is enabling within established firms in a range of sectors.”
Other winners included Ideagen, a software company helping leading brands improve operational efficiency, in the Outstanding Marketing Performance category, and smart cities specialist Urban Tide for Transformational Innovation through Data.
Beeks Financial Cloud took home Best Financial Services Product as well as Mid-sized Digital Technology Company, while iProspect and CodeClan were awarded Digital Agency of the Year and Best Education Provider respectively.
Automotive company Arnold Clark was acknowledged at the awards, winning the prize for Best B2C Technology Product/Service, for transforming the customer journey and using innovative technologies to drive online sales with incredible results. Cognitive Geology, a software provider for the oil and gas sector took home Best Emerging Digital Technology business.
Callum Sinclair, partner and head of technology at Burness Paull LLP, the Scottish based law firm which has acted for some of the world’s largest technology firms, was presented with the Leadership Award.
The event took place last night at the Radisson Blu Hotel, Glasgow, in front of an audience from across the industry.
Winners in Full
Best B2B Technology Product / Service
Free Agent
Best B2C Technology Product / Service
Arnold Clark
Best Financial Services Product / Service
Beeks Financial Cloud
Best Public Sector Product / Service
Mind of My Own
Best Education Provider / Training Programme
CodeClan
Transformational innovation through data
Urban Tide
Outstanding Marketing Performance of the Year
Ideagen
Leadership Award
Callum Sinclair, partner and head of technology, Burness Paull
Digital Agency of the Year
iProspect
Digital Technology Business of the Year (Large – 101+ staff)
Craneware
Digital Technology Business of the Year (Small – Medium – less than 100 staff)
Beeks Financial Cloud
Digital Technology Business of the Year (Emerging – less than 10 staff and less than
4 years of age)
Cognitive Geology
The Judges: Martin Mutch, founder of QikServe (Chair); Jude McCorry, head of business development at the DataLab; Maggie Morrison, vice president, public sector, CGI Scotland; Alan Bonner, founder and past CEO, Pinnacle Technology Group; Kenny Fraser, CEO at Triscribe, founder and CEO of Sunstone Communications Ltd; Paul Neeson, principle, Scottish Equity Partners; Richard Marshall, general manager, Scotland, Chelsea Apps Factory; Joe Pacitti, managing director, CeeD Scotland and chair, Chartered Institute of Marketing, Scotland; Mike Crockart, transformation lead, The Scottish Government.