Why We Exist

So many of us have worked in places where our work was passed off, our ideas weren’t taken seriously, or our titles didn’t match our contributions. The awards started as a small way of shining a light on those individuals. A way of saying, “We see you. You matter.”

Truthfully, though, they didn’t come from a grand master plan. In fact, initially, we almost gave out awards as a joke. In 2022, while prepping for the first anniversary party of the Norfolk Women’s Marketing Network, the advisory board and I were brainstorming.

What more could we do to celebrate the brilliant people in our community?

Amie Marie, one of our advisors, suggested a few fun awards for the night. Just something small. A nod. A cheer. A moment of recognition. We loved it, but we wanted to do it properly. So we parked it.

Over the last few years, something special has happened. These awards have grown arms and legs, and reached further than we could have imagined. People who might not have known each other before are now collaborating, supporting each other, and cheering one another on. It became about more than superficial awards. It became about recognition and belonging.

But alongside all of that growth, a niggling feeling has been eating away at me: Who else isn’t being seen?

More and more people have reached out – sometimes just to say they loved what we’d built, and sometimes to ask (politely!) why they couldn’t be part of it too. Not just men, but marketers from outside Norfolk. People working in-house at companies we’d never heard of. People doing brilliant work in the small villages, the big cities, and everywhere in between.

And that’s when we realised *gulp* it’s time for the next evolution.

Welcome to the East Anglian Marketing Awards

The East Anglian Marketing Awards is our next chapter. It’s bigger, broader, and more inclusive – but it’s still got the same heart.

We’re opening up the stage to marketers from across Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire, and Essex. All genders. All roles. All types of businesses. Whether you’re an agency account exec, a one-person freelance studio, or the marketing lead for a family-run brand, these awards are for you.

This shift doesn’t erase the journey we’ve been on. In fact, each year, we’ll still be honouring the Norfolk Women’s Marketing Awards and the values of Norfolk Women’s Marketing Network as a dedicated part of the evening. It’s our roots. It’s where this all began. And it still matters deeply.

Built by Community. Powered by People.

One of the things that makes these awards different is that they are entirely community-powered.

There’s no big corporate machine behind them. They’re not-for-profit. We’re powered by a Community Interest Company and these awards are run by real people who care deeply about the marketing world in East Anglia. They’re fuelled by kindness, collaboration, and the shared belief that recognition shouldn’t be reserved for the biggest names or the flashiest budgets.

We’re proud to say there are no entry fees to nominate yourself or someone else. That’s a deliberate choice – and it’s not always an easy one.

Award schemes can be expensive. Many charge £100+ just to enter, meaning that recognition becomes a privilege for those with spare budget or employer backing. We wanted to remove that barrier. We wanted to create a marketing awards programme that’s genuinely accessible – whether you’re working for a global brand or bootstrapping your way through freelance life.

It’s also why we rely on partners and sponsors who share our values. If you see a brand supporting these awards, it’s because they believe in visibility, inclusion, and uplifting the local marketing community – not because they want a logo on a website.

Why We Exist

So, why do we exist?

Because we believe marketers deserve better. Better recognition. Better celebration. Better spaces to connect and feel proud of what they do. Because we want people across East Anglia to feel like this is for them. Because good marketing isn’t always loud, but it always leaves a mark – and we think that deserves the spotlight.

Thanks for being part of it. Whether you’re nominating someone incredible, attending the ceremony, or just cheering us on from the sidelines – we’re so glad you’re here.