2026 SHORTLIST

We’re proud to unveil the shortlist for the inaugural AI and Software Development Awards, a landmark moment as we launch a new platform dedicated to recognising outstanding achievement across the AI and software development landscape.

These awards shine a spotlight on the organisations, teams and individuals driving innovation, technical excellence and real-world impact through cutting-edge technology. This year’s shortlist represents the very best of the sector, showcasing creativity, ambition and leadership at the forefront of digital transformation.

Join us as we celebrate our first cohort of finalists and set the standard for excellence at this exciting new industry event.

Book your finalist package now and be part of an unforgettable inaugural celebration.

Company Categories

2
Best Place to Work in Software

Gearset

Hymans Robertson

6
Most Innovative UK Software Company - Enterprise

AVEVA

Dotsquares Ltd

Exclaimer

Harness

Innowise

OneAdvanced

8
Most Innovative UK Software Company - SME

AutogenAI

ConnexAI

Droplet

Geolytix

SurrealDB

Talos360

Tollring

Xiatech

Individual Categories

6
Data Scientist of the Year

Abiodun Ayodeji, Brunel Innovation Centre

Kit Bower-Morris, ConnexAI

Matthew Rothery, ConnexAI

Prof Victor Chang, Aston University

Robert Kostrzewski, Godel Technologies Europe Limited.

Tamanna Haque, Jaguar Land Rover

4
Developer of the Year

Anastasiia Gorodetckaia, Lloyds Banking Group

Jason Yeh, CTO

Liam Henderson, Hymans Robertson

Molly Bland, FOIL AI

7
DevOps Practitioner of the Year

Alistair Dalgleish, Hymans Robertson

Christopher Billett, OpenCorporates

Craig Clark, N-able

Danylo Mikula, Medidata Solutions

Geeta Ashok Gulabani, Capgemini

Justyn Roberts, PagerDuty

Vijayabaskaran P Sivakolundu, TCS

9
Software Leader of the Year

Anish Behanan, Capgemini Financial Services

Anupama Hatti. NHS Blood and Transplant

Charis Thomas, Aqilla

Clive Moorhead, Hymans Robertson

Ifeanyi Madu, The Range

Jyoti Bansal, Harness

Michael Moulsdale, Mitie

Pankaj Kane, Admiral Group

Uma Thirugnanam, Aviva

8
Software Rising Star of the Year

Anastasiia Gorodetckaia, Lloyds Banking Group

Antonina Iermeichuk (Tucci), Deus Robotics

Fred McArthur, SSE

Hannah Hughes, Hymans Robertson

Harris Bashir, Kidoz Inc.

Matthew Goh, Mercator Digital

Tia Collard, fiftyminds

Wezi Mulenga, CGI

Project Categories

7
Best Software Automation Project

AI Enabled Automation and Testing Assurance, Capgemini

Enterprise-Scale Quality Automation Powered by Tricentis

IT Automation – Enterprise enabler

Kainos Studio, Kainos

Nimbus, MSQ DX

Proscribe AI, SSE

QE Estate Automation, Aviva

8
Best Use of AI and Machine Learning in Development

AI-Driven Software Quality at Enterprise Scale, Tricentis

GCG AI, Charsfield Research & Advisory and GoCodeGreen

Multiple Godel Initiatives, Godel Technologies Europe Limited.

RCA GenAI BOT, Aviva

S2S-Transport quantum gravimetry platform /Sovereign AI, OrBro Ltd

Transforming customer service through pioneering use of Generative AI and Machine Learning - Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency

Velocity.AI

Vendi+ AI-Powered Retail Analytics, Innowise

8
Best Use of AI in Security

A Guide to AI for Cybersecurity, Forti5 Tech Ltd

Appdome Platform, Appdome

Best Use of AI in Security: YEO Messaging

Cloud-Native AML Platform, Napier AI

Coro

DeepDefend. Littlefish Group

Foresight, Glasswall

SonarQube, Sonar

3
Best Use of DevOps, DataOps or GitOps

DevOps Excellence in Action, Eaton Corporation

Reinventing Developer Experience: DevHub on TaaS, Vodafone Group PLC

Revolte

3
Edge/IoT Software Project of the Year

Dotsquares Ltd

Intelligent Road Safety and Asset Management - Transport Research Laboratory (TRL), Experion Technologies

PrivEdge - Hybrid Edge-Cloud AI Inference System

11
Innovation of the Year - Enterprise

Emergency Admissions System

ESME Chatbot, MITIE

GenBI, Lloyds Banking Group

HMRC AI Innovation

Kainos Studio, Kainos

Making AI Risk Decisions Visible, University of St Andrews and Tapoly

OneAdvanced

Perfecto AI, Perfecto

Proscribe AI, SSE

QE Framework,Aviva

Vendi+ Unified IoT Intelligence Platform, Innowise

9
Innovation of the Year - SME

Autonomic Water Company, FOIL AI

Doxi, Setient Ltd

GCG AI, Charsfield Research & Advisory and GoCodeGreen

Geospatial Foundational Model, Geolytix

Invisible shield: Thwarting a zero-day attack on the UK’s CNI, Droplet

PORTrockIT accelerates BlackPearl’s replication performance

Revolte

Revvel Health, Plus8Soft

Rosebud

Tools and Product Categories

7
Best AI Agent Platform

Agent Platform, Elixirr Digital

Agentic AI, ConnexAI

Amperity Customer Data Agent

Intelligent Quality Platform, Aviva

Quality.AI, Capgemini

Revolte

Verdantum, Charsfield Research & Advisory

4
Best AI Code Generation/Copilot Tool

Kainos Studio - Kainos

KnowledgeAgent, Catapult CX

Payara Starter, Payara Services

Perfecto AI, Perfecto

4
Best Lo-Code/No-Code Tool

E-Invoicing , Exponentia.ai

Kainos Studio, Kainos

m-Power, mrc

Napier AI Continuum, Napier AI