New website to support the well recognised awards

• The Licensing Awards event will take place on Thursday 9 September 2010 at the Lancaster London Hotel.
• Entry forms are now available for all awards categories. These can be accessed/downloaded from the new Licensing Awards 2010 website (www.thelicensingawards.co.uk).
• Emap Connect has returned as the headline sponsor for The Licensing Awards 2010.
• New award – Best Licensed Marketing Communication Campaign.

The Licensing Awards 2010 are now officially open for entries, and the newly designed website has launched incorporating the entry forms, nomination forms, ticket booking forms plus a wealth of information about the awards. (www.thelicensingawards.co.uk)

The Licensing Awards, now in their fifth year is owned and organised by The Licensing Source Book Europe, part of Max Publishing. These prestigious Awards celebrate the best achievements over the past year across entertainment, brands, and sport and celebrity properties in the evolving world of licensing. The award categories for 2010 include specific awards for licensed products, retailers, licensing properties and, for the first time this year there is an award for Best Licensed Marketing Communication Campaign.

“It is wonderful how The Licensing Awards have become such an integral part of the licensing industry calendar. Every aspect of the licensing industry is involved in these awards, whether they are licensees, retailers, licensors or industry suppliers. These awards truly reflect the vibrancy of our industry. The countdown now begins for this year’s awards!” commented Ian Hyder, director of The Licensing Source Book Europe.

The finalists will be announced in the July edition of the Brand & Sport Licensing Source Book and the winners of all The Licensing Award categories will be revealed at a glamorous awards ceremony on Thursday 9 September 2010 at the Lancaster London Hotel. (Tickets for this lavish black tie extravaganza are available from www.thelicensingawards.co.uk)*.

This year, Emap Connect (organisers of Spring Fair International and Autumn Fair International) is headline sponsor of the awards. Commenting, Matt Bidwell, head of marketing for Emap Connect Home & Gift says; “Spring Fair International is delighted to once again be headline sponsors of The Licensing Awards. Every year thousands of licensed products are launched at Spring Fair and these prestigious Awards are the ideal opportunity to join together to celebrate the achievements of the industry.”

Emap Connect joins a ‘who’s who’ of leading brands that are the award category sponsors this year. In addition, industry trade association, LIMA UK has reinforced its commitment as an official supporter of the awards and The Light Fund will be the charity beneficiary.

For further details visit www.thelicensingawards.co.uk