The organisation said that while businesses continue to face significant challenges due to the effects of the pandemic and Brexit, “innovation is flourishing and needs to be encouraged and recognised”.

Awards chair Jill Jones said: “Necessity is the mother of invention, and new and exciting developments are already emerging from areas as diverse as online education and disposable paper products.

“We want to celebrate achievements within the content and communications industries, particularly in these challenging times. 2019 saw a wealth of innovations in service and customer experience, and for the first time, entries focused on the Internet of Things.

“We look forward to hearing more about innovations that improve experiences for customers and communities in 2021 and seeing the emergence of new trends.”

Entries for the 2021 Innovation Excellence Awards are encouraged from businesses across the entire communications and content industries, including global, SME and non-profit businesses.

Applications should focus on novel products, services or business processes that have a positive financial and/or social impact on customers and on the environment.

There are seven awards this year and a company can put in entries in more than one category. The categories are: Business Process, Communications and Marketing, Customer Experience, Product Design, Product Performance, Service Design and – new for 2021 – Start-ups.

An overall ‘Innovator of the Year’ will be chosen from the winners of each category.

The awards are free to enter and the closing date for applications is 7pm on 14 April 2021. For more information and an application form, visit: stationers.org/siea-entry

Winners will be announced at a virtual awards ceremony on 22 June 2021.