Sage Connect 2010 Awards Categories

There are 10 award categories designed to cater for individuals and practices of all sizes. Please click on the category you are interested in below to see more detail regarding that particular category and to download the form.

The forms have been designed to be as simple and easy to complete as possible, whilst ensuring enough information is captured to enable the judges to come to an objective and fair decision about who should win each category.

Awards for Sage Accredited Accountant Partners

The following award category is open to Sage Accredited Accountant Partners only.

• Accountant Partner of the Year

  Entries should reflect one or all of the following criteria, which should have been demonstrated between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. Note that these criteria are not mutually exclusive and are provided as a guideline only::

  • Demonstrated a new or current service or value-add proposition that has delivered an exceptional customer experience
  • Gone that 'extra mile' to help a client
  • Taken a unique approach to client services
  • Offered clients a new specialist or compliance service proposition
  • Demonstrated thought-leadership or influence within the industry and/or worked with industry bodies to shape accountancy standards, legislation and/or compliance
  • Demonstrated an innovative means of attracting clients and growing the practice
  • Demonstrated a robust initiative or plan, which has improved practice profitability, growth or efficiency
  • Improved relationships within the local and business community
  • Demonstrated innovative and successful communication strategies, which engage and inform clients, peers or associated parties
  • Undertaken initiatives which encourage and nurture education, through sponsorships, involvement with universities and/or HE colleges and training bodies, and/or client education programmes

  To download the Accountant Partner of the Year form please click here

Award for Sage Key Account Practices

This award is open to practices in the top 50 accountancy firms in the UK.

• Key Account of the Year

  Entries should reflect one or all of the following criteria, which should have been demonstrated by the practice between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. Note that these criteria are not mutually exclusive and are provided as a guideline only:

  • Demonstrated a new or current service or value-add proposition that has delivered an exceptional customer experience
  • Gone that ‘extra mile’ to help a client
  • Taken a unique approach to client services
  • Offered clients a new specialist or compliance service proposition
  • Demonstrated an initiative, standard or process, which addresses the work/life balance in the practice and enhances the practice working environment
  • Demonstrated thought-leadership or influence within the industry and/or worked with industry bodies to shape accountancy standards, legislation and/or compliance
  • Demonstrated an innovative means of attracting clients and growing the practice
  • Demonstrated a robust initiative or plan, which has improved practice profitability, growth or efficiency
  • Improved relationships within the local and business community
  • Demonstrated innovative and successful communication strategies, which engage and inform clients, peers or associated parties
  • Undertaken initiatives which encourage and nurture education, through sponsorships, involvement with universities and/or HE colleges and training bodies, client education programmes, and/or the professional development of practice employees

  To download the Key Account of the Year form please click here.

Awards for Individuals

These awards are open to individuals within a practice who are either part or fully qualified as an accountant.

• Accountant of the Year
  

  Sponsored by

  Entries should reflect one or all of the following criteria, which should have been demonstrated between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. Note that these criteria are not mutually exclusive and are provided as a guideline only:

  • Been responsible for the planning and implementation of a new or current service or value-add proposition which has delivered an exceptional customer experience
  • Gone that ‘extra mile’ to help a client
  • Personally applied a unique approach to client services
  • Developed and delivered a specialist service proposition
  • Developed a robust growth strategy and/or nnovative business plan that has delivered improved practice profitability, growth, efficiency and/or compliance
  • Personally contributed to thought-leadership within the industry, and/or worked with industry bodies and experts to shape accountancy standards, legislation and/or compliance
  • Worked to improve relationships within the local and business community
  • Developed and delivered innovative and successful communication strategies, which engaged and informed clients, peers or associated parties
  • Driven initiatives which encourage and nurture education, through sponsorships, involvement with universities and/or HE colleges and training bodies, client education programmes, and/or the professional development of practice employees

  To download the Accountant of the Year form please click here.

• Tax Specialist of the Year

  This award is open to individuals within practices that specialise in taxation services. Entries should reflect one or all of the following criteria, which should have been demonstrated between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. Note that these criteria are not mutually exclusive and are provided as a guideline only:

  • Delivered innovative tax planning services
  • Provided exceptional customer service in the course of delivering taxation services
  • Contributed to practice compliance
  • Personally contributed to thought-leadership within the industry around taxation issues, and/or worked with industry bodies and experts to shape taxation accountancy standards, legislation and/or compliance, including the provision of technical insight and support

  To download the Tax Specialist of the Year form please click here.

Awards for Practices

• Practice of the Year (Sole Practitioner)
  

  Sponsored by

  Entries should reflect one or all of the following criteria, which should have been demonstrated between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. Note that these criteria are not mutually exclusive and are provided as a guideline only:

  • Demonstrated a new or current service or value-add proposition that has delivered an exceptional customer experience
  • Gone that ‘extra mile’ to help a client
  • Taken a unique approach to client services
  • Offered clients a new specialist or compliance service proposition
  • Demonstrated thought-leadership or influence within the industry and/or worked with industry bodies to shape accountancy standards, legislation and/or compliance
  • Demonstrated an innovative means of attracting clients and growing the practice
  • Demonstrated a robust initiative or plan, which has improved practice profitability, growth or efficiency
  • Improved relationships within the local and business community
  • Demonstrated innovative and successful communication strategies, which engage and inform clients, peers or associated parties
  • Undertaken initiatives which encourage and nurture education, through sponsorships, involvement with universities and/or HE colleges and training bodies, and/or client education programmes

  To download the Practice of the Year (Sole Practitioner) form please click here.

• Practice of the Year (2-5 Partners)

  This award is open to practices with 2-5 partners. Entries should reflect one or all of the following criteria, which should have been demonstrated between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. Note that these criteria are not mutually exclusive and are provided as a guideline only:

  • Demonstrated a new or current service or value-add proposition that has delivered an exceptional customer experience
  • Gone that ‘extra mile’ to help a client
  • Taken a unique approach to client services
  • Offered clients a new specialist or compliance service proposition
  • Demonstrated an initiative, standard or process, which addresses the work/life balance in the practice and enhances the practice working environment
  • Demonstrated thought-leadership or influence within the industry and/or worked with industry bodies to shape accountancy standards, legislation and/or compliance
  • Demonstrated an innovative means of attracting clients and growing the practice
  • Demonstrated a robust initiative or plan, which has improved practice profitability, growth or efficiency
  • Improved relationships within the local and business community
  • Demonstrated innovative and successful communication strategies, which engage and inform clients, peers or associated parties
  • Undertaken initiatives which encourage and nurture education, through sponsorships, involvement with universities and/or HE colleges and training bodies, client education programmes, and/or the professional development of practice employees

  To download the Practice of the Year (2-5 Partners) form please click here.

• Practice of the Year (5+ Partners)
  

  Sponsored by

  This award is open to practices with 5 or more partners. Entries should reflect one or all of the following criteria, which should have been demonstrated between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. Note that these criteria are not mutually exclusive and are provided as a guideline only:

  • Demonstrated a new or current service or value-add proposition that has delivered an exceptional customer experience
  • Gone that ‘extra mile’ to help a client
  • Taken a unique approach to client services
  • Offered clients a new specialist or compliance service proposition
  • Demonstrated an initiative, standard or process, which addresses the work/life balance in the practice and enhances the practice working environment
  • Demonstrated thought-leadership or influence within the industry and/or worked with industry bodies to shape accountancy standards, legislation and/or compliance
  • Demonstrated an innovative means of attracting clients and growing the practice
  • Demonstrated a robust initiative or plan, which has improved practice profitability, growth or efficiency
  • Improved relationships within the local and business community
  • Demonstrated innovative and successful communication strategies, which engage and inform clients, peers or associated parties
  • Undertaken initiatives which encourage and nurture education, through sponsorships, involvement with universities and/or HE colleges and training bodies, client education programmes, and/or the professional development of practice employees

  To download the Practice of the Year (5+ Partners) form please click here.

• New Practice/Start Up of the Year
  

  Sponsored by

  This award is open to practices of any size that have been set up in the last 3 years (1 April 2007 to 31 March 2010). Entries should reflect one or all of the following criteria, which should have been demonstrated between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. Note that these criteria are not mutually exclusive and are provided as a guideline only:

  • Developed an innovative means of attracting clients or growing the practice and defining your unique selling proposition
  • Demonstrated a new or current service or value-add proposition that has delivered exceptional customer experience
  • Gone that ‘extra mile’ to help a client
  • Undertaken a unique approach to client services
  • Offered clients a new specialist or compliance service proposition
  • Demonstrated an initiative, standard or process, which addresses the work/life balance in the practice and enhances the practice working environment
  • Demonstrated thought-leadership or influence within the industry and/or worked with industry bodies to shape accountancy standards, legislation and/or compliance
  • Demonstrated a robust initiative or plan, which has improved practice profitability, growth or efficiency
  • Improved relationships within the local and business community
  • Demonstrated innovative and successful communication strategies, which engage and inform clients, peers or associated parties
  • Undertaken initiatives which encourage and nurture education, through sponsorships, involvement with universities and/or HE colleges and training bodies, client education programmes, and/or the professional development of practice employees

  To download the New Practice/Start Up of the Year form please click here.

Special Awards

• Innovator of the Year
  

  Sponsored by

  This award is open to any practice or individual which / who has demonstrated true innovation within a wide scope of areas between 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010. Note that these criteria are not mutually exclusive and are provided as a guideline only:

  • Developed a new service or value-add proposition that has provided an exceptional customer experience
  • Developed an initiative, standard or process, which addresses the work/life balance in the practice and enhances the practice working environment
  • Demonstrated thought-leadership or influence within the industry and/or worked with industry bodies to shape accountancy standards, legislation and/or compliance
  • Demonstrated an innovative means of attracting clients and growing the practice
  • Demonstrated a robust initiative or plan, which has improved practice profitability, growth or efficiency
  • Improved relationships within the local and business community
  • Demonstrated innovative and successful communication strategies, which engage and inform clients, peers or associated parties
  • Undertaken initiatives which encourage and nurture education within the practice or of clients

  To download the Innovator of the Year form please click here.

• BETA Contributor of the Year

  This award is open to any practice or individual which/who has contributed significantly to the current or future Sage software and service roadmap, either via the Sage BETA or SDG groups. All members of the Sage BETA or SDG groups will be considered for this award.

  To download the BETA Contributor of the Year form please click here.