You have thought of someone who deserves recognition, you have written your nomination, and you have pressed submit. So what happens after you nominate for the Tees Valley EDI Awards? It is a fair question, and knowing the answer often gives people the confidence to put someone forward in the first place. Here is exactly what happens next, from the moment your nomination lands to the celebration at Digital Life this October.
What happens after you nominate
The short version is that nothing you have written goes to waste. Every nomination is logged, kept together by category, and read in full by the judging panel. There is no clever filtering or quick skim. A real group of people sits down with the entries and gives each one the time it deserves, because behind every nomination is a person or organisation who has made a genuine difference across Tees Valley.
Every nomination is read in full
The panel has never met your nominee, so they know only what you tell them. That is why the words you choose matter so much, and why a specific, heartfelt nomination lands far better than a list of job titles. If you are still writing yours, our guide on how to nominate walks you through it. Once submitted, your entry sits alongside every other nomination in that category, ready for the panel to consider on its own merits.
How finalists are shortlisted
The panel reads each entry against what the category is looking for, then draws up a shortlist of finalists across all fifteen awards. If a nominee fits another category better, the panel can move them, so there is no need to worry about choosing the perfect one when you enter. You simply pick the closest fit and let the judges do the rest. Exploring the award categories beforehand can help, but the story you tell always matters more than the box you tick.
Your nominee finds out they have been recognised
One of the quiet joys of the awards is the moment someone learns they have been nominated. Being shortlisted as a finalist is already a real achievement, recognised in a room full of people who share the same values. For many nominees, simply hearing that someone took the time to put them forward means a great deal, whatever happens on the night.
The countdown to awards night
Finalists are invited to the ceremony itself, held on Friday 16 October 2026 at Digital Life, Teesside University, in the heart of Middlesbrough. Run in partnership with Teesside University, it is a modern, central venue that is easy to reach from across the region. The evening brings together finalists, families, colleagues and supporters for a celebration of the very best of Tees Valley, ending with the awards themselves and the winners revealed.
Whether or not they win
Not every finalist takes home a trophy, but every one of them leaves recognised. The connections made in the room often matter as much as the awards, and the recognition carries on long after the night ends, into workplaces, community groups and families. You can see the kind of people and projects the awards celebrate on our previous winners page.
Ready to nominate?
Now that you know what happens after you nominate, there is nothing to hold you back. Nominations close on Friday 2 October, so there is still time to put someone forward. Start your nomination, explore the categories, or read more about the awards. Someone you know deserves to hear that they were seen.
