The finalists for the inaugural Oxygen Awards can today be unveiled, alongside the full judging line-up and timetable.
Over 100 companies have entered the inaugural pageant, which is designed to highlight excellence in the topics we all care about as an industry.
Did you or your company make the shortlist? See below.
But the Oxygen Awards today goes on a triple attack as we also unveil the full 12-strong judging panel, alongside the key dates for the awards.
The victors will be announced in an online ceremony on 1 February 2027, ahead of the Night of Winners (to be held at the Walkie Talkie) on 15 April 2027, we can now reveal.
The full judging line-up features independent experts from the worlds of business, marketing, market analysis, PR, AI and ESG (see below). Meet all the judges here.
Because the volume of entries exceeded our expectations, we have taken the decision to break one of the categories – Best Company to Work For – in two (by company size).
This means there are now 13 categories, rather than the 12 originally planned.
They speak to some of the industry’s hottest topics, including the talent shortage, social impact, ethical AI and mentorship.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank our Headline Sponsor Nebula Global Services, Event Sponsor Telefonica Tech, Gold Sponsors QBS Software, Kocycle, Distology, AvePoint and Climb and Category sponsors Bytes, Supportwave and Titan Data Solutions.
Our panel of industry experts will mark their designated categories this month, before coming together in their various groups to select the winners in December.
But the identity of the 13 victors will remain concealed until 1 February, when our special online ceremony will be aired.
They will all be invited to the complementary Night of Winners at Telefonica Tech’s Walkie Talkie HQ at 6pm on 15 April 2027 (each winner will be allocated three tickets apiece for the company categories and two for the individual ones).
Here are the finalists (please email [email protected] for your finalist’s tile)….
Company-wide categories
Grow Your Own Award
ANS
ARO
CloudGuard
Codestone
Distology
IPEX Technology
Red Helix
Sumiillion
TD Synnex
Westcoast
Social Impact Award
Cisco
Codestone
Computacenter
DTP Group
Exclusive Networks
Giacom
Ikonic Technology
Innovent
Midwich
Natilik
NTT Business Solutions UK&I
Softcat
Sumillion
The MSP Growth Hub
TIEVA
Titan Data Solutions
Westcoast
Organic Growth Award
AvePoint
Bytes
Cato Networks
Chorus
Clarus Networks
Codestone
CyberOne
e92plus
ELOVADE
Emerge Digital
Forge Technologies
Highgate IT Solutions
Intec Micros
Omniplex Learning
Pragmatiq
Principle Networks
Qlic IT
Recarta IT
Robertson Sumner
SHI
Softcat
StorMagic
Techary
Titan Data Solutions
V4One
Best Customer Win
ARO – Institute of Cancer Research
Codestone – Leading media and publishing organisation
Convergent Technology – Drax Power Ltd
DrayTek UK & Ireland (with CSL Group) – Allwyn
Focus Group – Mitchells & Butlers
Forge Technologies – International employability provider
Greensafe IT (with Softcat) – Intact
Hitachi Vantara/Trustmarque Ultima – University of Kent
Node4 – Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust
Pax8 – Nebula IT
Principle Networks – Buzz Bingo
ProVu Communications – Daisy
Recarta IT – Charlie Bigham’s
SYNAXON
Best AI Project
Advania UK – Advania ALT
Air IT Group – Closing the AI Decision Gap
ANS – Manchester City Council
Charterhouse Group Voice & Data – Bath & North East Somerset Council
CNNECT – Connie
Codestone – ALTITUDE
Cybit – Keeping Learners on Course
Emerge Digital – Onyx AI
Focus Group – Mitchells & Butlers
Fsas Technologies – AI Ethics Champions Programme
Greensafe – IT Evidence not Exaggeration
Infinity Group – InfinityIQ
SCC Digital Services – Jac
SEP2 – Wingman AI framework
TD SYNNEX in partnership with Global Unity Logic – InsureAI
TIEVA – Tieva VCSP Backup Monitoring System
Wavenet – Copilot deployment, Edukos Trust
Westcoast – Westcoast Intelligent Solution Advisor
Best Company to Work For (sub-150 employees*)
ACS Group
AHEAD UK
Cloud9 Insight
e92plus
Forge Technologies
Fsas Technologies UK
Highgate IT Solutions
Ikonic Technology
IPEX Technology
JLC Distribution
NVOY Technologies
Omniplex Learning
OryxAlign
Pragmatiq
Principle Networks
Purdicom
ramsac
Recarta IT
Sumillion
Techary
Titan Data Solutions
*For international firms, we went by the headcount of its UK business (this being a UK-based awards)
Best Company to Work For (150 employees-plus*)
Air IT Group
ANS
CDW UK & I
Codestone
Converge Technology Solutions
Everpure UK
Infinity Group
Lenovo UK&I
Midwich
Natilik
Park Place Technologies UK
Softcat
TD Synnex UK
Westcoast
*For international firms, we went by the headcount of its UK business (this being a UK-based awards)
Individual categories
Gifted Graduate/Apprentice
Chloe Matthews-White, Academia
Dylan Parsons, Titan Data Solutions
Emma Mouncey, CybaVerse
Isobel Smith, Ingram Micro
Jard Wahed, Cisco
Lauren Yates, QBS Software
Maxwell Adams, CybaVerse
Millie Haden, Bytes Software Services
Matchless Mentor
Alison King, Ingram Micro
Gemma Hawkins, Codestone
Ian Anderson, Park Place Technologies
Jack Watson, Onyx
Janine Chattenton, WWCS
Leah Russell, Godel
Lian Staunton, SHI UK
Louise Otton , Infinity Group
Sean Mullin, Hammer Distribution
Yas Chowdhary, Cisco
Unsung Hero
Alessandro D’Alessio, Everpure
Amy Brown, Pax8
Anthony Taylor, Bytes Software Services
Carmen Ciobotaru, QBS
Catherine Lewis, JLC Distribution
Chloe Gawthorpe, SHI UK
Chris Gath, Bytes Software Services
Hamza Alquda, WWCS
Hannah Long, Bytes Software Services
Janice Phayre, Telefonica Tech
Joanne Beale, Hitachi Vantara
Keiri Aust, Cybit
Kimia GhasemiNasab, IPEX Technology
Kisty Bennett, Fsas Technologies
Lauren Batt, JLC Distribution
Leena Gohil, Greensafe IT
Lianne Murphy, Codestone
Louise Mahrra, CloudClevr
Martin Camm Kohnhorst, Information EXP
Simon Phillips, CybaVerse
Out-of-Industry Rising Star
Allen Whitby, Hammer
Danielle Davies, Bluebeam Software
George Bedford, JLC Distribution
George Lavender, Ampito
Jago Taylor, Bytes Software Services
Katie Vaughan-Millinton, Druva
Ricky Cheema, Highgate Solutions
Ross Collins, Novatech
Senior Superhero
Brandon Madeley, Hammer Distribution
Christine Redshaw, Bechtle
Dave Philips and Paul Frisk, Kubus
Ian Anderson, Park Place
Jonathan Legg, Bytes Software Services
Jordan Casey, SHI UK
Kim Simmonds, Cloud Contracts 365
Mark Aldington, Greensafe IT
Matt Lovell, CloudGuard
Mike Barron, Synaxon
Nathan Miller, Bytes Software Services
Patricia Haine, Charterhouse
Paul Lloyd, Sellerly
Peter Berks, Converge Technology Solutions
Rob Hankin, Cybit
Sarah Walker, Cisco
Scott Whittaker, Bytes Software Services
Stuart Broadbent, DTP
Sue McEvoy, Bytes Software Services
