Is someone in your team making a real difference?
The President’s Award was launched in 2023 to recognise the individuals who are working with technology to create meaningful, measurable impact - across people, society, the economy and the planet.
Every organisation has them:
- The innovator who finds solutions others can’t see.
- The changemaker who lifts communities.
- The quiet force making waves behind the scenes.
- The leader who uses tech for good.
The techUK President’s Awards puts those people in the spotlight.
Nominations:
Nominations for 2026 have closed and our judges are deliberating.
techUK members and Tech Industry Gold accredited learning providers have nominated their colleagues.
Nominating:
- Gives a standout colleague the recognition they deserve.
- Celebrates the positive impact their organisation is making.
- Raises their organisations profile across the UK tech sector.
- Showcases their work to industry leaders and government stakeholders.
It’s a simple way to celebrate and amplify the difference a colleague and your team is already making.
What do we look for?
The awards will recognise individuals who go above and beyond - whether they are:
- Protecting people online
- Helping UK SMEs grow
- Improving public sector efficiency
- Advancing healthcare
- Supporting vulnerable communities
- Driving digital inclusion
- Improving education or digital skills
- Championing sustainability
- Leading digital transformation, or
- Improving growth, productivity or efficiency across the economy
No project is too big or too small.
There are four categories:
1. People Award
We are looking for someone who, through technology, has helped support personal health and well-being, driven inclusion or diversity initiatives, supported vulnerable or underrepresented groups, promoted cultural representation, supported personal growth, education or digital skills initiatives, or developed tech to protect people online.
2. Society Award
We are looking for someone who, through technology, has supported digital transformation in the public sector for improved citizen experiences, created technology that enhances personal control over identity, supported travel, mobility, or infrastructure, enabled community connectivity and cohesion, supported the justice or emergency services sector, enhanced Britain’s security across land, sea, air, space, and/or the cyber domain, or developed tech that simplifies life for communities.
3. Economy Award
We are looking for someone who, through technology, has improved growth, productivity or efficiency across the economy, supported procurement within the public sector, created tech or processes to aid the growth of UK SMEs, led initiatives that position the UK as a leader in a specific technology, developed technology to improve financial control or planning, or helped individuals, businesses, councils, or Government anticipate and mitigate risks, including enhancing cyber resilience.
4. Planet Award
We are looking for someone who, through technology, has led initiatives to support the climate agenda, developed tech or led projects that support the circular economy, nature, or biodiversity, created tech solutions to facilitate recycling and reuse, championed their company's efforts towards achieving net zero, led initiatives to help businesses and communities transition to net zero or renewable energy sources, monitored, responded to, or mitigated extreme weather events, or raised awareness of the impact of climate-friendly solutions.
What winners receive:
The four award winners will:
- Be announced on stage at the techUK Annual Dinner (Tuesday 30 June) in front of 650+ senior industry leaders and government representatives.
- Be featured across techUK’s digital channels, including our LinkedIn account with over 70,000 followers.
- Gain opportunities for blogs, videos and speaking engagements at techUK activities.
This is national recognition in front of the UK tech community.
Judging panel:
techUK has convened a stellar panel of industry leaders to judge the 2026 awards:
Sheila Flavell CBE
Sheila Flavell CBE
Sheila Flavell CBE is President of techUK, and both Chief Operating Officer and an Executive Board Director of FDM Group. She has spent 35 years operating within the international tech space. As a “woman returner”, Sheila is passionate about promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in today’s workplace. She founded the FDM Returners Programme in 2015, which has since helped over 550 men and women return to work after a career break.
As a prominent female tech leader, Sheila understands the importance of being a strong role model and mentor for women. She has been key in driving FDM’s global expansion programmes, as well as establishing the company’s listing on the FTSE 250 in 2017. Sheila continues to advise government committees on improving the digital skills shortage in the UK. Her work in championing gender diversity has helped FDM attain a zero gender pay gap consistently since reporting was introduced in 2017. She was awarded Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2020 New Year’s Honours List, for services to gender equality in technology and services to graduate and returners’ employment.
If you wish to contact a member of the Board, please do so via [email protected].
Dr Nicola Hodson
Dr Nicola Hodson
Dr Nicola Hodson was appointed Chair, IBM UK and Ireland, in January 2025. Prior to taking on this role, Dr Hodson served as Chief Executive IBM UK and Ireland, a position she held for two years.
Dr Hodson is an accomplished technology industry leader with a deep understanding of the challenges facing the tech industry, as well as extensive experience in business and digital transformation. In 2023 and again in 2024, Dr Hodson ranked highly in Computer Weekly’s list of the 50 most influential people in UK technology, and in CRN’s 2024 A-List.
Dr Hodson held senior positions at Microsoft for 15 years, including as a global leader of the transformation of the Microsoft commercial sales, marketing and operations business and UK Chief Operating Officer covering its UK commercial and consumer business.
As Deputy President of techUK, the trade association for the IT industry, Dr Hodson has a wide breadth of experience and understanding of the tech sector, from large companies to start-ups, coupled with significant experience in the energy sector. She has extensive Board experience across multiple sectors, including Beazley plc, Drax Group plc, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT). She has formerly served as a non-executive at Ofgem, the UK Council for Child Internet Safety, the Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) group, as a governor of Bradfield College, and as a director of start-up Bramble Energy.
Dr Hodson previously worked in the IT and business services division of Siemens, at CSC (now DXC), as a management consultant for EY and in the nuclear industry at BNFL.
Dr Hodson holds an MBA and a PhD in Engineering. She is married with three sons and two stepsons, loves outdoor pursuits and is a keen motorbike enthusiast.
If you wish to contact a member of the Board, please do so via [email protected].
Jacqueline de Rojas CBE
Jacqueline de Rojas CBE
techUK Board Member and President Emeritus | Chair Bletchley Park Trust & Chair Institute of Coding | Portfolio Non Exec Director, Business Mentor and Advocate for Inclusion.
"If we are to thrive in a digital future, we must ensure that all our voices heard when it comes to designing technology. If we do not, we will create a world that does not work for everybody.
And as we build this digital world, the need to stay safe is heightened as our dependency to live and work online increases. Competitive advantage will come from teams that look outwards not inwards and therefore businesses that build a culture of inclusion and maximise their security posture"
Voted the Most Influential Woman in IT 2015 and Included in World’s 100 most influential people in digital government 2019: Woman of the Year awarded by Women in IT Excellence 2019, 2020 Asian Tech Pioneer, named in 2021 Connected Britain’s Top 100 Influencers and Stroeous Award Winner: Global Positive Impact Leader of the Year 2021. Listen to her life and music choices on Desert Island Discs podcast March 2019.
Jacqueline was appointed as a CBE in the Queen’s Honours List of 2018 and was conferred an Honorary Doctor of Engineering degree by the University of Bath in 2019.
If you wish to contact a member of the Board, please do so via [email protected].
Simon Wilyman
Simon Wilyman
With 25+ years of experience in the semiconductor and tech industry Simon is a strategic leader operating at the leading edge of technology innovation. His mission is to enable customers and partners success and to continually develop highly skilled and performing organizations.
Tricia Blatherwick
Tricia Blatherwick
Tricia Blatherwick is the Chief Commercial Officer at AutogenAI. She has spent over 30 years working for some of the UK’s largest IT and Outsourcing companies, generating sales in excess of £4bn. She holds a degree in English Literature and an MBA in Strategic Discourse - and is passionate about the power of language - including business language - to motivate, inspire and create change in the world. Having put in the 'hard yards’ of bid writing throughout her career, she also knows that the Proposal industry is way overdue for a technological breakthrough - which is the reason she joined the leadership team at AutogenAI.
With 5 kids, 2 snooty cats, and a dopey Labrador, Tricia thrives on creativity, stimulation, and intravenous caffeine.
If you wish to contact a member of the Board, please do so via [email protected].
Jay Chinnadorai
Jay Chinnadorai
Jay Chinnadorai is a Senior Board Advisor at Informetis Europe and Japan. Informetis is an AI based IoT solutions provider focused on the energy and smart health sectors. Jay is also Founder and Managing Director of Sumtotal, a strategy, product and business development consultancy. Sumtotal was established in 2004 and provides pragmatic and effective customer-centric solutions in the converging sectors of Smart Energy, IoT, Mobile and Digital Media solutions. In addition, Jay is a Crown Representative at the Cabinet Office.
Prior to founding Sumtotal, Jay was Vice President of Sony Europe responsible for different business units including Mobile Phones, Digital TV and Mobile Service Provider Business. Before joining Sony, Jay worked at Thomson Consumer Electronics as Marketing Director of its UK and Ireland Operations.
Jay has an MBA from Manchester Business School (MBA) and a BSc (First Class Hons) in Electronic Engineering from University College London. He is a Freeman of the City of London and a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Marketors. He is also a Business Leader of the Marketing Society.
If you wish to contact a member of the Board, please do so via [email protected].
Award timeline:
| Awards open for nominations | 23 March |
| Nominations close | 5 May |
| 'Meet the Judges' day | 3 June |
| Winners announced at techUK Annual Dinner | 30 June |
Quotes from our previous Award winners:
“Overwhelmed, proud, delighted, seen, I can’t believe it… techUK has unlocked so many avenues for me.”
“We’ve been members of techUK for a couple of years now. It really adds value to our organisation, it really, genuinely genuinely does.”
“I feel so proud to win this award. It’s such a special award and it recognises what we’re doing and how much heart the team have put into what we’re building to impact the economy. So, I’m really, really pleased.”
“I feel great. It’s been a special evening. I’m delighted to win the award. Sustainability and technology aren’t things that have sat naturally together in recent years. It’s an evolving space, and more than anything, techUK has given us a voice.”
“Amazing to win. It’s so exciting to have the work of the team recognised for what we’ve done. Delighted.”
“It feels fantastic. Absolutely amazing. Great for Access Elemental, it’s great for social prescribing, it’s great for the Access Group and for the community voluntary sector and all the people that we support."
“I think I was nominated because I’ve had the opportunity to represent the interest and power of an SME community and I think this is a celebration of the effect and power SMEs can have."
“Absolutely amazing. Super pleased. Love the fact that this award is peer judged in a techUK community where we’re all trying to do good. Amazing.”
"To be recognised as a company really making a difference in tech is wonderful. It’s incredible to have this room of experts at the cutting edge, really thinking about all of the implications of how tech can dramatically improve society.”
“I was nominated for the Society Award because of the software tools that Forensic Analytics provides to law enforcement and the criminal justice system. Done right, technology can absolutely have a fantastically beneficial effect for society. Being recognised by the tech industry for our work feels a little bit surreal!”
“I’m most delighted on behalf of my company, Plexal, because we’re on a real journey and real mission, and to be at the head of that charge is so exciting for me. A moment like this is recognition that we’re heading in the right direction.”
“I feel humble and proud because I feel techUK has recognised all the work that we have been doing with Climate Essentials in the past three years, and I feel super happy. Winning is amazing for me.”
The award ceremony:
For more information about techUK President's Award, please contact:
Alex Smith
Alex joined techUK in September 2021.
The techUK President’s Award is our opportunity to shine a spotlight on the amazing talent we have in the UK tech industry. We are always bowled over by the quality of nominations we receive each year, and we want to thank every techUK member who has put forward a colleague. Through each of the four awards: People, Society, Economy, and Planet, we recognise the positive difference individuals from techUK member companies are making through their work with technology. With over 1,100 members, techUK now represents over 1.1 million tech workers in the UK so our award winners truly are one in a million.
