Nominators will be required to create an account, this will enable you to update the entry in your own time and provide additional information to support your entry.

Remember to click ‘SUBMIT ENTRY’ when your entry has been completed.

You will receive emails reminding you to complete your entry.

We’ve noticed more submissions using AI tools like ChatGPT. That’s fine to help shape your ideas, but make sure your final entry is your own work and genuinely reflects your experience.

APPRENTICESHIP STANDARDS SUB-CATEGORIES

Please complete on or before 11 April to enter an Apprentice of the Year 2026 category.

• Nominations can come from employers, training providers or directly from digital apprentices. 
  
• Previous finalists can re-enter the 2026 Awards if they meet the criteria.
• Nominees who didn’t make the shortlist can be re-entered – we have seen previous nominations make it to the shortlist the following year.
• Apprentices nominating themselves should ask their employer to submit a brief summary supporting their entry.
• Nominees must be currently participating in or have completed a digital apprenticeship within the last year (since January 2025).
• Finalists will be announced in May 2026. Both the nominator and nominee will be contacted if shortlisted, we do not email those who have not made the shortlist.
• There will be one overall winner for each category.
• Highly Commended and Special Recognition awards are at the judge’s discretion.

Entry requirements

• Entries must match the apprenticeship standard the apprentice is on or has completed. 
• Entries are accepted from England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland.
• Nominators must specify the apprenticeship standard/level.
• For completed apprenticeships, entries are only valid if the apprenticeship standard has been completed within the last 12 months (January 2025 onwards).

SPONSORED AWARDS ENTRY REQUIREMENTS

Professional Development / Career Progression

• Nominations can come from employers, training providers or directly from digital apprentices.
• Nominees must be currently participating in or have completed a digital apprenticeship or digital T Level within the last year (since January 2025).
• The criteria for each award is different, please ensure the evidence is aligned under each criteria. The moderators will be looking for evidence to support the submission made.
• Nominees can be entered into both of these categories as well as their original apprenticeship category.

• Digital T Level Student
• Nominations can come from employers, training providers or directly from the Digital T Level students.
• Nominees must be currently participating in or have completed a Digital T Level within the last year (since January 2025).
• We highly recommend the Digital T Level student has acquired work experience with an employer, which will support their submission further.

Digital Apprentice Mentor of the Year

• Nominations can come from employers, training providers, digital apprentices or directly from the apprenticeship mentor. 
• The digital apprenticeship mentor must be currently active and/or has supported digital apprentices who have completed since January 2025.

Include a supporting statement or testimonial to make your nomination stand out.

1. Eligibility: the awards are open to organisations with a strong presence in the UK or those whose products or services are available in the UK. For individual entries, candidates must spend most of their time working in the UK.
2. Confidentiality: all submitted materials will stay confidential and only relevant information such as name, category and field completed under the criteria will be shared with the judges.
3. Publication of submissions: descriptions of winners and finalists will be published in connection with the awards. Entrants can mark parts of their submission as ‘not for publication’.
4. Withdrawal of entries: entries can be withdrawn in writing at any time.
5. Alignment with apprenticeship standards: entry descriptors must match the apprenticeship standard and level the apprentice is currently on or has completed, you cannot mix a higher-level standard achievement with a lower-level category.
6. Category amendments: BCS can change category selections if needed.
7. Supporting documentation: BCS may disqualify entries that don't have the required supporting information.
8. Category reassignment: BCS can move entries to the correct category based on the apprentice's level and apprenticeship standard.
9. Degree level entries: degree related entries assigned to an apprenticeship category for Level 3 or 4 will be moved to one of the degree categories.
10. Shortlist decisions: the moderator’s decision on the shortlist is final and no appeals will be accepted.
11. Discussion with judges: shortlisted finalists must attend a 20-minute online discussion with the judges about their entry, this is just an informal chat. A fixed date and time will be set for each category.
12. Support for finalists: finalists can bring someone with them for support during the discussion. 
13. Judging decisions: the judges’ decisions on the winners are final and no feedback will be given. 
14. Liability: BCS is not responsible for any costs during the evaluation and judging process. 
15. Travel costs: BCS is not responsible for any travel costs for attending the awards event.
16. Submission method: entries must be submitted online to be accepted.
17. Completion of entries: all entries must be completed and submitted to be considered.
18. Late submissions: entries received after the closing date will not be accepted.
19. Announcement of winners: winners and special recognitions will be announced at the awards presentation. Details will not be shared before then.
20. Professional development and career progression: nominators can enter their nominees into the Sponsored Awards for professional development and career progression categories by filling out extra fields on the entry form.
21. Complimentary tickets: each finalist will get a free ticket for themselves only to attend the awards at The Vox, Birmingham. Additional tickets for guests, providers and employers can be purchased when we release tickets for sale.
22. Additional tickets: extra tickets for the awards will be available to buy.
23. Travel: BCS does not incur travel expenses for those attending the Awards event.