Wednesday 27th February saw us announce the shortlist for the Mainframe Awards 2019. Here is the list of the amazing people, companies and projects selected by our judges.

Emerging Digital/Creative Star (Under 25)
Recognising an individual under the age of 25 who has made an impact on the digital/creative landscape in Derby & Derbyshire. The region’s success in the digital arena depends on talent staying in our region and the judge will look to reward the best and brightest young people for their efforts. The winner could be an entrepreneur or an excellent employee whose work has made a difference to their business.
Shortlisted:
Contrast Digital Limited - Elliott Davidson
V21 Productions - Joe Clark
RamsTV (Derby County Football Club) - Lee Averne
Best Digital/Creative Start Up
A company or organisation that has launched in the last three years and has already found a strong and loyal following, customer base or audience. The winner will have bold ambitions and clear evidence their growth plans have got off to a solid start. The judge will be looking for bright, adaptable firms not afraid of challenging the established order.
Shortlisted:
CRZyBest - Claire Zwozny-Bestwick
V21 Productions - Claire Cutts/Joe Clark
iScout - Darren Robinson
Digital/Creative Exceptional Growth
Has 2018 been an exceptional year for you and your business and is 2019 looking set to be even better? Then our judge would like to hear all about it. We are looking for the digital & creative high fliers with big ambitions. Remember, exceptional growth is unique to you. It might be going from one employee to two or getting so large you're floating on the stock exchange - we want to hear your story of growth.
Shortlisted:
V21 Productions - Claire Cutts/Joe Clark
Future Proof Films - Drew Taylour-Davis
Anchor & Crew - Andrew Warner
Digital/Creative Unsung Hero
Is there an unsung hero in your office? Do you know someone who usually flies under the radar but is actually a digital or creative workhorse? Now's the chance to help them shine - nominate them for the unsung hero award.
Shortlisted:
Sam Houghton - Future Proof Films
Nathan McCree - McCree Music
Lynne Hollingsworth - Lynne Hollingsworth
New Product To Market
Awarded by the judges to an individual, company or organisation demonstrating creativity and innovation in bringing their new product to market. The product must have launched in within the last twelve months.
Shortlisted:
Louise West Lace Design - Louise West
CRZyBest - Claire Zwozny-Bestwick
Fraction 7 - Community Box
Creativity For Good
The winner will be able to demonstrate how their product, project or organisation has contributed to the betterment of lives through creative means; both locally or further afield.
Shortlisted:
Mair Perkins Ltd Animation and Illustration - Mair Perkins
YSP Media - Christopher Bevan
Common Threads - Jane Hardstaff
Putting Derby/Derbyshire On The Map
An award that's particularly close to our heart's. The winner will be someone making us proud in how they are flying the flag for our region.
Shortlisted:
ThreeGuru - Susan Nash
Future Proof Films - Drew Taylour-Davis
Derby Days Out - Sarah Bulmer
Digital/Creative Impact
This award is all about demonstrating how you have engaged and grown a community through the use of digital or creative media. Have you turned a boring queue into a opportunity to play an app? Have you found a way to make your area of expertise less hum drum and more exciting? Are you turning a tricky topic into something people can openly engage with? Have these things grown your community - then we want to know.
Shortlisted:
Theatre Digs Booker - Phil Barley
Derby QUAD/Children In Need - Abbie Canning
V21 Productions - Claire Cutts/Joe Clark
Best Digital/Creative Innovation
The judge is looking for individuals or companies with something that’s different or even something that hasn’t been done before. Whether you’re using new ideas to solve old problems, or using old ideas to solve new problems, it has to have an element of newness.
Shortlisted:
Louise West Lace Design - Louise West
V21 Productions - Claire Cutts/Joe Clark
CRZyBest - Claire Zwozny-Bestwick
Digital Ambassador of the Year 2019
Voted for by you the Mainframe Community. The Digital Ambassador will be leading the way in digital application and development and helping inspire others in the community. The winner will be focused on making the region a great place for start-ups to work and tirelessly promote it to external organisations. They will play a key role in making the digital economy successful.
Shortlisted:
Rob Twells - Frogspark
Drew Taylour-Davis - Future Proof Films
Tim Elliott - FYI100
A Huge Thank You!
We were amazed by the number and quality of the entries for the Awards. It's been a wonderful way to connect with a whole new wave of digital & creative people in our region and we'd like to give a huge thank you to all of you who took the time to enter.
We'd also like to thank our Judges who deliberated long and hard over the staggering number of entries to reach the shortlist.
Ticket now available for Awards Night
We will have number of tickets available to the Mainframe Community to come and join us for the celebrations on Awards night. Simply request your tickets via the following page: