2025 Shortlist

Rewards management that leverages data-driven insights or creative strategies to optimise a brand’s affiliate programme for growth, profitability or efficiency.

For campaigns that successfully built brand visibility and engagement while delivering measurable performance outcomes. Judges will look for creative use of channels, strong partner collaboration, and evidence of impact on brand metrics and conversions.

Savvy marketers push boundaries and seek innovative solutions to overcome challenges. Regardless of budget size—whether micro, small, or large—judges are eager to recognise those who have embraced a test-and-learn approach through experimental campaigns. These campaigns should leverage new technologies, creative ideas, or data-driven insights that have delivered positive results for the client.

Recognising campaigns that coordinated multiple partners and tactics across the entire customer journey – from awareness to conversion. Entries should show clear objectives, smart measurement across funnel stages, and proof of how the integrated approach drove results.

Rewards activity that meets client objectives by delivering high-quality prospects via smart, cost-efficient and ethical practices, with clear alignment to campaign goals. Entries should highlight innovative targeting, compliance, nurturing strategies, and proof of how leads converted into meaningful outcomes (sales, sign-ups, subscriptions etc).

Recognises competent, holistic management of an enterprise-level brand’s affiliate programme (agency, in-house, network or SaaS), with evidence of year-on-year improvement. Enterprise is defined as more than 250 employees and annual turnover over £40 million.

Honours well-executed, holistic management of an SME brand’s affiliate programme (agency, in-house, network or SaaS). SME is defined as fewer than 250 employees and annual turnover under £40 million.

Honours the effective integration of two or more measurable channels working together to achieve outcomes, with clear planning and in-flight optimisation. Judges want to see how integration and orchestration across channels created efficiency, reach, or incremental value.

Showcases excellence in paid search, including smart use of data, platforms and tools (in-house or managed), aligned to brand values and objectives with a well-planned approach.

Recognises innovative, impactful paid social activity that achieves performance outcomes while clearly meeting client objectives.

Judges will be recognising innovation in the performance marketing space, whether through technology, creative strategy, or campaign execution.

While return on investment (ROI) will be a key consideration, judges will also evaluate the potential for long-term impact and transformative innovation.

Judges are looking for a standout affiliate or partner program launch or migration that showcases excellence in research, planning, and execution.

The winning entry should demonstrate successful partner adoption, optimisation, and growth. Success can be illustrated through various metrics, such as increased revenue, profitability, improved efficiencies, market expansion, enhanced alignment with brand objectives, synergy, and the diversity of partnership types.

This category is open to advertisers managing in-house or via agencies, affiliate networks, or SaaS partnership platforms.

Recognises innovative, strategic use of AI that enhances planning, research, execution or measurement in performance marketing, with clear application and results.

Recognises campaigns or partnerships that drive outcomes via mass media, editorial partners, creators or strategic content, informing and inspiring consumers while delivering results.

Judges will be seeking entries that demonstrate smart and strategic use or analysis of first-, second-, or third-party data.

Entrants should clearly illustrate how their data-driven approach has directly contributed to the success of their campaign or initiative.

Judges will be looking for creative, well-executed, and highly effective use of influencer marketing that has met or exceeded the client’s stated objectives.

Entries should provide evidence of strategic technology adoption and meticulous planning, with a strong focus on measurement, creativity, and most importantly, flawless execution.

Judges are seeking an exceptional use of programmatic advertising, supported by clear evidence of impactful results.

Winning entries should thoroughly detail the campaign’s objectives, target audience, and inventory used, while also demonstrating the tangible value the programmatic strategy brought to the business or client.

Recognising campaigns targeting business audiences with measurable success. Entries should demonstrate how performance strategies tackled B2B challenges like long sales cycles or niche audiences.

Recognises campaigns in finance or insurance that succeed using performance methodologies, showing smart planning, execution and the role of enabling technologies.

Rewards campaigns across leisure, lifestyle and wellness that use performance-based methodologies, showcasing creative planning, strategic execution and value-adding technologies.

Rewards retail/eCommerce campaigns that excel through performance methodologies, with clear planning, strategic execution and value-adding technologies.

Rewards performance campaigns in broadband, mobile or utilities, showing thoughtful planning, strong execution and technology that adds value.

For platforms, tools, or proprietary technologies that enabled measurable client success. Judges will look for innovation, adoption, and proven client impact.

This new category will recognise the sophisticated use of performance marketing technology to drive value and sales for a brand.

Judges will be looking for strategies that not only deliver significant value and efficiencies for the brand but also effectively incentivise partners to generate profitable sales.

For this category, we define performance marketing technology as any tool, SaaS or publisher technology that helps drive profitable sales for brands.

Entrants are shortlisted by judges on client support and enablement; the industry then votes (one vote per company). The judged element and public vote are split 50/50 to determine the winner, with emphasis on product development, service and support for advertisers and publishers.

Recognises agencies that plan and execute joined-up affiliate and partnership activity, utilising multiple partnership types to deliver exceptional results.

Celebrating agencies excelling across multiple performance channels. Judges will look for innovation, ROI, and transformative impact on client businesses.

Honours outstanding teams whose collaboration optimises client activity and potential, and who are respected across multiple demographics.

For an individual, company, campaign, or product that fundamentally shifted the industry. Judges want clear evidence of innovation and impact.

Designed to recognise bright, ambitious talent with under six years’ industry experience. Shortlisted candidates are invited to a judging day to pitch on a relevant topic, assessed on drive, enthusiasm, ambition and depth of industry knowledge.

Celebrates standout collaborations between two or more companies that drive mutual success – from conversions and sales to reach – advancing each party’s goals.

Honours publishers who stand out through innovation, creativity and originality, delivering results that raise the industry bar.

Judges are seeking a compelling example of a real-world challenge that was successfully overcome for a client, resulting in a remarkable outcome.

This award will recognise the effective use of technology and the collaboration of great teams to deliver an innovative and impactful solution.