10 intranet awards to have on your radar in 2020

Whether you’re looking to highlight an innovative initiative or get the gold for levelling up engagement, there are a multitude of different awards to consider. Below, we pinpoint the top competitions to have on your radar.

Best for design & UX:

Nielsen Norman Awards 

One of the most prestigious intranet awards, Nielsen Norman Group has studied the evolution of digital workplace platforms for the last two decades, with a specific focus on user experience. 

3 reasons to enter:

#1. Intranets created in collaboration with Unily have earned top honors six times within the last nine years 

#2. Nielsen Norman selects ten top intranets annually and reviews entries from all around the world 

#3. Winners are spotlighted in a design annual produced by Nielsen Norman, an esteemed name in the world of UX research and consulting 

Best for Internal Communications recognition:

Ragan Awards 

Ragan and PR Daily programs celebrate the most successful campaigns, initiatives and teams in communication, PR, and marketing industries. With over 20 different programs annually, there’s bound to be a category that aligns with your specific intranet use case. 

3 reasons to enter: 

#1. Several Unily clients have earned top honors, including Ellie Mae, The Specialist Works, and Micron  

#2. There is a diverse selection of programs, including Top Women in Communications, Content Marketing Awards, Employee Communications Awards, and many more 

#3. Winners receive a plaque to commemorate their victory and are celebrated at a luncheon 

Categories to consider:

• Personalized Experience
• Employee Communication Campaign of the Year
• Mobile Integration 

Gartner Communication Awards 

Gartner’s awards are designed to showcase the great work of communicators who have achieved tangible results for their organization. 

3 reasons to enter:

#1. As a leading research and advisory company, a nod from Gartner offers winners serious credibility 

#2. Past winners include esteemed brands and recognizable names such as Experian, Aetna, Nationwide, and Southwest Airlines 

#3. A live online event gives applicants the opportunity to come together to network and celebrate communications excellence 

Categories to consider

• Excellence in Employee Engagement
• Lean Team of the Year
• Excellence in Change Communication
• Excellence in Building a Corporate Brand 

Deadline for submissions: March 20, 2020

The Institute of Internal Communications Awards 

As the only professional body dedicated to internal communications in the UK, The Institute of Internal Communications has been defining standards for more than 70 years. 

3 reasons to enter:

#1. A panel of esteemed judges review entries and offer feedback to further your organization’s internal comms strategy. 

#2. Applicants have the opportunity to enter 36 different awards across 6 categories 

#3. Winners will be celebrated at an IoIC Awards dinner in London in September 

Categories to consider:

• Internal Communicator of the Year
• Best In-House Team 

Deadline for submissions: April 26, 2020

Best for HR intranet innovations:

HR Excellence

The HR Excellence Awards are one of the most sought-after and prestigious awards in the field of human resources. 

3 reasons to enter:

#1. Winners will be celebrated during a " Human Resources Walk of Fame", which will also commemorate the award's 25th anniversary

#2. Earn distinction as a leading player within the world of human resources

#3. Champions have the opportunity to network with others in the industry. In 2019, more than 600 people attended the awards ceremony

Categories to consider:

• Best HR Technology
• Best Internal Comms Strategy
• Best Reward and Recognition Strategy

Deadline for submissions: March 13, 2020

HR Brilliance

The HR Brilliance Awards celebrate the outstanding contribution that innovatively designed and superbly executed HR strategies make to business performance.

3 reasons to enter:

#1. Winning an award affirms that your company and your team is delivering best practice HR management

#2. The HR Brilliance Awards are an opportunity to share best practices and gain inspiration from esteemed peers

#3. Boost morale throughout your enterprise and spotlight deserving employees

Categories to consider:

• Brilliance in Employee Engagement
• Brilliance in Innovative Use of Technology
• Innovative Team of the Year

Deadline for submissions: October 2, 2020

CIPD People Management Awards

The CIPD People Management Awards are one of the most respected annual celebrations for the people profession, designed to showcase the work that represents the very best of HR.

3 reasons to enter: 

#1. Applicants can choose from nearly 20 different categories

#2. Winners are celebrated at a black tie event at London's Grosvenor House

#3. Ceremony attendees have the opportunity to network with leaders and industry pioneers

Categories to consider:

• Best Employee Experience Initiative
• Best Reward or Recognition Initiative 
• Best Change Management Initiative 

Deadline for submissions: March 26, 2020 (early bird)

Best for exceptional engagement:

Employee Engagement Awards  

The Employee Engagement Awards is the first and only dedicated Employee Engagement awards, with conferences in both North America and Europe. Employee engagement is a workplace buzzword, as it's linked with improved consumer satisfaction levels, boosted retention rates, and better earnings. 

3 reasons to enter:

#1. Unily collaborations have a solid track record; in 2020, Trivallis took home top honors in the Best Use of Technology category 

#2. A win from the Employee Engagement Awards signifies an ongoing commitment to best practices surrounding workplace experience 

#3. Winners are spotlighted at a gala awards dinner  

Categories to consider:

• Employer Brand Award
• Best Use of Technology Award
• Reward and Recognition Award 

Deadline for submissions: April 15, 2020 (North America)

Best for European intranets:

Intra.NET Awards 

A nod from the Intra.NET Awards comes with its own level of prestige, as winners are selected by the community following an initial jury review. 

3 reasons to enter:

#1. Top contenders receive a trophy and certificate as well as industry-wide recognition 

#2. Additionally, Intra.NET selects a charity on behalf of the winners and donates E1,000 to support their individual projects 

#3. Winners are announced during the Intra.NET Reloaded Conference  

Categories to consider:

• Best Collaborative Tool
• Best Launch
• UX Design 

Deadline for submissions: March 13, 2020

Best for retailers:

World Retail Awards 

Since 2007, the World Retail Awards have been recognizing innovative initiatives across the retail industry. 

3 reasons to enter:

#1. Winning awards aligns your business with some of the world’s most visionary retailers, including past winners such as Sephora, Calvin Klein, and The Body Shop 

#2. Categories such as Retail Employer Initiative of the Year and Retail Technology Game Changer are an opportunity to spotlight how innovative digital tools revolutionize your business 

#3. Winners are celebrated at an awards ceremony and industry party 

Categories to consider:

• Retail Employer Initiative of the Year
• Retail Technology Game Changer  

Best for peer recognition:

DWG Digital Workplace of the Year 

The Digital Workplace of the Year awards are produced by Digital Workplace Group and Simpler Media Group, the publisher of CMSWire. 

3 reasons to enter:

#1. Submissions give your organization the opportunity to share your platform with peers and gain industry recognition 

#2. Winners are announced at Digital Workplace Experience, a conference dedicated to employee experience 

#3. Past winners and finalists include Vodafone, American Express, Ferrero Group, and Ikea 

Categories to consider:

• Digital Workplace of the Year
• Digital Workplace Leader of the Year 

Deadline for submissions: March 25, 2020

Get on the fast track to the podium with Unily 

At Unily, we’re always game for a challenge. We’re committed to creating best-in-class digital solutions for our partners and never pass up a chance to showcase our hard work and innovation. 

Consequently, we’ve devised an Awards Program to guide everyone towards the gold. If earning top intranet honors is on your agenda for 2020, we’re here to support you. In addition to covering any entry fees, we collaborate with our partners to create compelling entries that spotlight your platform’s unique functionalities and the benefits you’ve reaped as a result. 

We’re no strangers to the podium: in past years, we’ve collaborated with clients to earn top honors at Nielsen Norman, the Employee Engagement Awards, and the Ragan Awards, to name a few. If you’d like to see your name added to our recent wins list, get in touch with us.