Based on past feedback from judges and entrants, this year we have distinguished between Momentum and Disruption in Product Development; creating separate categories for Innovation to Existing Products or Services and Innovative New Products and Services respectively.

We have also introduced two new awards to recognise the ‘Innovation Partner of the Year’; an agency or consultancy who have proved to be a standout partner in driving innovation, and a Judges’ Special Award for the Most Innovative Use of Behavioural Insight.

NEW Categories

NEW: Best Innovation to Existing Product or Service

With a new and improved marking scheme, this entrants to this category have taken an existing product or service and improved it. The submission requires you to detail:

- How you went about improving and developing the existing product or service and how was it promoted to existing users or customers

- How the improved product or service retains or enhance the experience of existing customers

- What steps were taken to help customers to migrate to and embrace the new approach, especially if it involves new or different technology

- How (if at all) did you minimise the risk of your innovation being copied (and perhaps improved upon) by competitors

- What steps were taken to ensure that your new approach is resilient (especially if it involves technology that is new to the customer)

- To what extent did you prepare recovery plans in case of IT or other problems?

NEW: Most Innovative New Product or Service

This category allows new products to compete against other new entrants to the market. The submission requires you to detail:

- How you went about developing the product or service and how was it promoted to attract users or customers

- If it is designed to attract new customers, or to retain or enhance the experience of existing customers

- What steps were taken to help existing customers to migrate to and embrace the new approach, especially if it involves new or different technology

- How (if at all) did you minimise the risk of your innovation being copied (and perhaps improved upon) by competitors

- What steps were taken to ensure that your new approach is resilient (especially if it involves technology that is new to the customer)

- To what extent did you prepare recovery plans in case of IT or other problems?

NEW: Innovation Partner of the Year

This category recognises an agency or consultancy who have proven to be a standout partner in helping organisations to drive innovation. A client can nominate their innovation partner, or an agency/consultancy can put themselves forward.

Please make sure you gain prior permission from anyone you will be discussing in your entry. The submission will require you to detail:

PARTNERSHIPS AND CLIENTS: Describe some of your notable recent financial services partnerships. What did they achieve? What made them successful?

INNOVATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT: How have you helped clients develop products or services in recent years that generate long-term sustainable growth?

PEOPLE AND TALENT: How does your agency nurture an internal culture that supports the development of innovation for clients and partners? 

THE FINANCIAL SERVICES INDUSTRY: What impact has your agency had on the financial services industry in the last 18 months?

NEW: Judges' Special Award for Most Innovative Use of Behavioural Insight

Over the past years, we have observed outstanding use of behavioural insights to inform the innovation process. This discretionary Judges' Special Award will commend best-in-class utilisation of behavioural insight, that has resulted in outstanding innovation. 

This special award will be presented at the judges' discretion.