The credibility of any awards program rests entirely on the people evaluating the entries. Today, we are proud to announce the judging panel for the UC Awards 2026.
We have assembled a panel of senior practitioners, industry analysts, and enterprise buyers who know the difference between great marketing and great technology.
Led by Executive Chair of Judges, Rob Scott, this group is ultimately responsible for the integrity of every shortlist and winner decision across all 25 categories.
“Great work deserves to be seen. After years covering this sector, I know how much genuine innovation goes unrecognized. We built the UC Awards to fix that, and the judging panel is the heart of that commitment.”
Rob Scott, Executive Chair of Judges, UC Awards 2026
A First Look at Our 2026 Judges
We are excited to highlight a few of the industry heavyweights joining us this year.
Enterprise Leaders:
- BP – As one of the world’s largest energy companies, BP produces, ships, and trades a vast portfolio of traditional and lower carbon energy products to meet global demand.
- Walmart – This tech-powered omnichannel retailer serves approximately 280 million customers weekly across more than 10,900 global stores and e-commerce platforms.
- WPP – Employing over 100,000 people, WPP is one of the world’s largest advertising agencies, combining creativity, media intelligence, and strategic counsel through its pioneering marketing platform.
Industry Analysts:
- Insight – This Fortune 500 global solutions integrator leverages its international team of certified professionals to provide hardware, software, and service solutions that accelerate business transformation.
- EY – Operating across 150 countries with 400,000 employees, EY is a “Big Four” professional services firm dedicated to building trust and confidence in global capital markets through high-quality insights and services.
Meet the Chair of Judges
Marcus Law
Chair of Judges, UC Awards 2026 | LinkedIn
Marcus Law is the Editor of UC Today and serves as the Chair of Judges for the UC Awards 2026. In this role, he oversees the independent judging panel and ensures the evidential standard is upheld across all 25 categories.
“I can’t wait to see how the world’s biggest technology companies are improving the world of work, whether it’s collaboration, employee experience, or automation.”
The Role of the Panel and the Standard for Excellence
Our judges are not here to read brochures. They are looking for specific, honest accounts of what changed for the people using your product. When evaluating your submission, the panel conducts independent, blind scoring and must declare any commercial conflicts of interest.
Every entry is scored against four strictly weighted criteria:
- Innovation Depth (30%)
- Demonstrable Impact (30%)
- Market Differentiation (20%)
- Future Relevance (20%)
“What makes an entry stop a judge in their tracks is the same thing that made Zoom, RingCentral, and Cisco win in 2025: a specific, honest account of what changed for the people using the product.”
Rob Scott, Executive Chair of Judges, UC Awards 2026
Key Dates & Next Steps
The application window is currently underway. Do not leave your submission to the last minute. Use this time to build a winning, data backed entry.
| Date | Milestone | What to do now |
|---|---|---|
| August 2026 | Entries Open | The entry portal is live. Choose your categories, find the relevant data, and build your submission. |
| September 30, 2026 | Final Deadline | Last chance. Entries close on September 30. Have your evidence and outcomes lined up well in advance. |
| October 15, 2026 | Finalist Announcement | The judging panel publishes the finalists across every category. Shortlisted entrants gain significant industry visibility ahead of the ceremony. |
| November 5, 2026 | Awards Ceremony | The winners are announced live at the UC Awards 2026 ceremony. This is the night the workplace technology industry comes together to recognize its best. |
Frequently Asked Questions
The panel consists of senior practitioners, industry analysts, and enterprise buyers who evaluate workplace technology daily. You can view the full list of judges on the official UC Awards website.
Judges conduct independent, blind scoring against four weighted criteria: Innovation Depth, Demonstrable Impact, Market Differentiation, and Future Relevance.
Yes. All judges must declare any commercial conflicts of interest prior to scoring, ensuring that every entry is evaluated fairly and purely on its own merits.
Applications close strictly at 23:59 BST on September 30, 2026. Who is on the UC Awards 2026 judging panel?
How do the judges evaluate submissions?
Are the judges completely neutral?
When is the deadline to submit an entry?
