The event of the year in corporate partnerships, sponsorships and social responsibility is about to begin for the third time. Communicate magazine’s Corporate Engagement Awards is announcing its call for entries and the beginning of its 2013 programme.

The awards recognise and honour the achievements of companies and agencies who have successfully worked with charities, arts organisations, NGOs and not-for-profits in order to promote their corporate brands and improve their reputations. Previous winners of the awards have been examples of mutual partnerships in which both the sponsor and the recipient have enhanced their business strategies.

Andrew Thomas, publishing editor of Communicate, says, “Over the last three years we have seen a tremendous increase in the creativity, strategic thought and implementation of companies’ CSR-related corporate sponsorship and partnership activities. There is no denying that there is a real correlation between this activity and an organisation’s reputation. We are proud to run the only event that benchmarks this and recognises excellence in this field.”

Entries received by 12 June will receive a £100 discount. All entries must be received by 26 June. Entries are judged by a panel of experts in 20 categories spread across five sections. Among this year’s categories is the unique opportunity for Olympics-related sponsorship activities to achieve recognition.

Last year’s Grand Prix winner, Volunteer it Yourself, was a groundbreaking partnership of companies and organisations that sought to provide apprenticeships and training for young people while simultaneously helping maintain two London youth centres. The project has since received Big Lottery funding and has expanded from one programme to include seven live, nine completed and 33 planned projects.

The awards are to be announced at a gala dinner in September 2013 in London.

To enter, please visit corporateengagementawards.com. For more information contact hannah.hodges@communicatemagazine.co.uk or liz.foggitt@communicatemagazine.co.uk or contact +44 (0) 20 7498 7008.

A complete list of categories is as follows:

Sector

Best arts-centred corporate sponsorship

Best charity-centred corporate sponsorship

Best sports-centred corporate sponsorship

Best combined sponsorship

Strategy

Best open-ended corporate sponsorship programme

Best single event corporate sponsorship programme

Best pro bono work for charitable, social or ethical cause

Most effective long-term philanthropic scheme, foundation or programme

Most innovative sponsorship

Objective

Best corporate sponsorship to raise brand awareness

Best alignment with brand values through sponsorship

Best corporate sponsorship for employee engagement

Best external relationship-building sponsorship programme

Activity

Best communication of corporate sponsorship activity

Best execution of corporate sponsorship activity

Best evaluation of corporate sponsorship activity

Best community involvement in a sponsorship activity

Best sponsorship activity relating to the London 2012 Olympics

For sponsored organisations

Best collaborative approach

Best sponsorship communications

Grand Prix for best corporate partnership or sponsorship