The Prolific North Champions Awards are back for 2026 and this year, the awards open the door wider than ever with a fresh set of free to enter categories, giving even more businesses, organisations and individuals across the region a shot at recognition.
Free To Enter Categories (2026)
- Best In-House Marketing Team – celebrating powerful internal marketing functions within Northern organisations.
- Not-for-Profit Campaign of the Year – for charities and non-profit organisations delivering impactful campaigns that raise awareness, drive fundraising or increase service use.
- Tech for Good Award – recognising tech or digital initiatives using technology to deliver positive social impact.
- Prolific Leader of the Year – for inspirational individuals whose leadership and vision have made a difference across the region’s creative, digital, marketing or tech sectors.
- Prolific Rising Star of the Year (Under 30) – spotlighting young talent under 30 who’ve made exceptional contributions in the last year.
- Young Entrepreneur of the Year (Under 30) – for under-30 entrepreneurs who’ve launched or grown successful ventures within the region’s creative, digital or tech industries.
- Lifetime Achievement Award – honouring individuals whose sustained contribution across several years has left a lasting legacy in the North’s creative, marketing, tech or digital sectors.
What the Judges Are Looking For
Judging for the Champions Awards is rigorous, fair and focused on real impact. All entries, whether in free categories or standard ones, are evaluated against four key criteria: effectiveness (measurable impact and results), innovation, evidence of growth or potential future growth, and, where relevant, social or environmental impact.
That means whether you’re entering as an in-house team, a charitable campaign, a tech startup or an individual, your entry needs to show clear results, creativity, ambition and, if applicable, a positive social footprint.
These free categories give even more talent, teams, and organisations the chance to be recognised and celebrate the full breadth of excellence across the North.
Think you have a winning entry? Submit your work now for the 2026 Champions Awards.
