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We have reluctantly decided that the Taxation Awards 2021, which were due to take place on 13 May, cannot go ahead. Although we hope that by then many of the current lockdown restrictions will have been removed, it seems highly unlikely that large gatherings of people will be permitted. We have looked closely at the possibility of holding a live event later in the year, but with all the current uncertainties we do not have sufficient confidence that we would be able to host this or that firms would be ready to book tables. There will therefore be no live event this year.
Last year when we cancelled the awards because of the lockdown all of the entries had been received and the judging had taken place before the pandemic struck. It was therefore relatively straightforward to move the announcement of the results online.
We cannot do the same this year because it is unreasonable to expect firms to spend time preparing entries when there is so much work for them to do to support their clients.
Equally, we do not feel that we can ask a panel of distinguished tax practitioners to give up their valuable time in judging entries. We will not therefore be running an equivalent online event this year. However, and particularly in this 21st anniversary year, we do want to mark the achievements of outstanding individuals, so we will be giving anybody in the tax profession the opportunity to put names forward for three individual awards:
- Taxation’s rising star.
- Outstanding contribution to tax in 2020-21.
- Lifetime achievement.
A shortlist will be drawn up from those who are nominated and the winners will be announced online on 13 May. The awards website is already open to accept nominations in all three categories.
To nominate somebody simply go to www.taxationawards.co.uk and follow the instructions.
This has not been an easy decision, but we believe that we have achieved the right balance between maintaining the continuity of the awards and keeping everybody safe. We hope you will agree and that you will support us by putting forward the names of individuals who deserve to be recognised by their peers.
