The Agency of the Year award celebrates the very best and most recommended agencies from around the globe. Exclusive and free of charge to agencies recommended by The Drum, the award winner will be selected through a rigorous research process taken from direct recommendations from clients, industry peers and other research sources.

To be in with a chance of winning you must be registered with The Drum Recommends and have a minimum of three positive client ratings for the specific service for that award. Find out more and get started on your journey to becoming recommended today.

The Rising Star of the Year Award highlights individual excellence in advertising and marketing and celebrates the pioneers of tomorrow.

This is a research-based award. Nominated by their peers, Rising Stars must have worked in the industry for three years or less (as of January 2022) and be someone to have made significant progress in an important area for your business.

Demonstrate how technology was used in a search campaign to your advantage, creating impressive results. Was it used in an innovative or creative way or was a simple integration that proved to be impactful?

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

To reward a campaign which has been implemented across a variety of platforms such as mobile, desktop, tablet etc, showing great attributable results.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

Judges will be looking at how data and insights were used to inform a smart strategy or campaign. You should demonstrate elements such as segmentation or targeting to improve the end users experience with a brand, product or service.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

To reward the best technical innovation across suites, tools and overall tech.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

To reward both software or tools that have been ground-breaking within the search industry

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

Judges will be looking at how data and insights were used to inform a smart strategy or campaign. You should demonstrate elements such as segmentation or targeting to improve the end users experience with a brand, product or service.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

This category will award a strategy or campaign that has delivered impressive results. It could be a campaign across multiple platforms, across different metrics such as visibility, increase in revenue, etc

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

This will reward an effective social media integration into a search campaign.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

This category will award a strategy or campaign that has delivered impressive results. It could be a campaign across multiple platforms, across different metrics such as visibility, increase in revenue, etc

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

This will reward the outstanding use of content in a search campaign

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

This category will award a strategy or campaign that has delivered impressive results. It could be a campaign across multiple platforms, across different metrics such as visibility, increase in revenue, etc

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

This will reward an effective use of PR in a search campaign

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

This category will award a strategy or campaign that has achieved great results. Can use both online and offline activity or involve both SEO and PPC.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

This category will award a strategy or campaign that has delivered impressive results. It could be a campaign across multiple platforms, across different metrics such as visibility, increase in revenue, etc

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For an innovative strategy or campaign that has engaged the target audience. This could include display advertising, contextual data like time and activity, etc. You could also include examples of click throughs, conversions, direct responses or other metrics that will support your case.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

This category will recognise and reward creative and innovative thinking/swift action, where a business can demonstrate a change in model/product to enhance experiences or in response to an external factor.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results. In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For any business in the travel and tourism industry.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For any FMCG business or organisation

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For any organisation working in the healthcare and pharma.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For work briefed and implemented for a charity or not for profit organisations. Please supply the registered charity number for the client within the accompanying report.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For any sport and leisure business or organisation

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For any public sector organisation, service, government body, or individual project

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For any financial service including insurance, banking, accountancy, engineering etc.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For any organisation in the music and entertainment industry

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For any retail or ecommerce business or organisation

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For any b2b sector organisation, service or individual project

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

For any organisation working in the the automotive and transport.

Judges will review entries based on the following criteria: Innovation/creativity, clear strategic thinking, effectiveness and tangible results.

In your main entry report you should use the following structure: Objectives, Strategy, Results and address any specific key points stated in the category description above.

The winner of this category will be decided by research by The Drum. More details will be available shortly on how you can be included in this research.

Discuss the structure of the team. Describe the team’s marketing activities over the past year. Demonstrate results produced by these activities and how they impacted on the overall company.

Entries should demonstrate:

• Success of campaigns

• Client satisfaction

• Client retention supported by testimonials from clients.

You may also use other evidence or other specific achievements that showcase the differences your team has made over the past year.

Discuss the structure of the team. Describe the team’s marketing activities over the past year. Demonstrate results produced by these activities and how they impacted on the overall company.

Entries should demonstrate:

• Success of campaigns

• Client satisfaction

• Client retention supported by testimonials from clients.

You may also use other evidence or other specific achievements that showcase the differences your team has made over the past year.

Discuss the structure of the team. Describe the team’s marketing activities over the past year. Demonstrate results produced by these activities and how they impacted on the overall company.

Entries should demonstrate:

• Success of campaigns

• Client satisfaction

• Client retention supported by testimonials from clients.

You may also use other evidence or other specific achievements that showcase the differences your team has made over the past year.

This award will recognise an agency who has demonstrated excellence over the past year. Only companies entering other categories in the awards may enter for Agency of the Year.

Please provide examples of

1. Growth of revenues

2. Acquisition of clients

3. Success of campaigns

4. Testimonials from clients.

You may also use other evidence such as new innovations, internal changes or other specific achievements that showcase the differences your agency has made over the past year.