The annual Corporate Engagement Awards (CEA), which recognise the most exemplary examples of partnerships, sponsorship and social responsibility in the corporate community, has announced its call for entries for 2017.

Now in its seventh year, the CEA continue to lead the field in rewarding those companies going above and beyond in their commitment to CSR-related strategy. Entering work with a considerate social purpose and positive aim highlights how beneficial corporate partnerships can be, to all involved with the collaboration.

Active participation in corporate engagement is also linked to enhanced corporate reputation, an increasingly important measurement during such a turbulent global period.

Andrew Thomas, publishing editor for Communicate magazine, says, “Announcing the opening of its seventh year shows just how strongly the Corporate Engagement Awards resonate among its entrants and winners. Benchmarking excellence in the partnership field is an integral part of business, as the importance of reputation grows. We look forward to providing a platform for our entrants to highlight the great work they have been doing over the past year.”

The 2016 CEA Grand Prix winner, announced during a gala dinner and awards ceremony on 21 June at the Brewery, Moorgate, was Primark for its ‘Primark Sustainable Cotton Programme.’ This is an initiative carried out in association with fashion experts, CottonConnect, and the Self-Employed Women’s Association, which delivered training to women in rural settings while fostering a more sustainable cotton crop.

The retail giant also earned two golds, for ‘Best environmental or sustainability programme’ and ‘Best collaborative approach’. This highlights the determination of Primark to set a precedent for ethical conduct.

Another major 2016 winner was the collaboration between broadcaster, Channel 4, disability charity, Scope, and MediaCom and 2LE Media, which created a campaign based on the well-meaning awkwardness able-bodied people sometimes experience when meeting someone with a disability. Their hard work was rewarded with a gold for ‘Best charity, NGO, or NFP programme’, a gold for ‘Best execution’ and the coveted ‘Best teamwork’ accolade.

The 2017 Corporate Engagement Awards will be held in June.

The early entry deadline to the 2017 Corporate Engagement Awards is 20 February 2017. Entries submitted up to and including this date will receive £100 off total entry cost.

The final deadline is 13 March 2017.

For more information, email Brian at brian.donnelly@communicatemagazine.co.uk or visit the CEA website.

Type

• Best arts and culture programme 
• Best charity, NGO or NFP programme 
• Best pro bono work for a charitable, social or ethical cause 
• Best educational programme 
• Best environmental or sustainable programme 
• Best sports and leisure programme 
• Best combined programme 

Time

• Most effective short-term programme 
• Most effective long-term programme 

Sponsorship

• Best sponsorship activity to raise brand awareness 
• Best alignment of brand values through a sponsorship activity 
• Most effective sponsorship of a single event 
• Most innovative sponsorship activity 

Corporate social responsibility

• Best CSR programme to raise brand awareness 
• Best alignment of brand values during a CSR programme 
• Best community involvement during a CSR programme 
• Best collaboration for a single event 
• Most innovative collaboration 

Communication

• Best stakeholder communications 
• Best internal communications 
• Best PR and external communications 
• Best evaluation 

Process

• Best collaborative approach 
• Best execution 
• Best management of a programme 

Special awards (no need to enter these - all entrants are eligible to win)

• Best team effort during a programme
• Grand Prix