Innovation celebrated as Bett Award 2022 winners revealed

Twenty-four winners, from robots to music apps, have celebrated success at the 2022 Bett Awards.

Hundreds of submissions were whittled down to a few dozen finalists before 24 winners were unveiled at the 24th annual Bett Awards at a gala dinner last night. 

The awards are designed to celebrate the inspiring creativity and innovation that can be found throughout technology for education.

Covid-19 has sparked unprecedented need for EdTech with hundreds of entrepreneurs and established tech firms springing into action to meet the need.

The winner of the coveted Innovator of the Year award is Practice Pal – which gives children premium music lessons with professional musicians for just £7.99 a week – less than half the cost of a normal half hour lesson.

Marty the Robot, a walking, dancing, football-playing robot that helps introduce children to the world of coding and robotics, won the Hardware, Digital and Robotic award.

The fast-growing LGfl was crowned the winner of the Technical and IT Support service after making its free schools meals eligibility checker free. The tool helps schools track down the up to £100 million in pupil premium funding that they could be missing out on.
 
The company also scooped the Digital Wellbeing award with its tool, built in partnership with the Department for Education, that helps students identify extremism online.

Two of the winners had tools that help prepare children to thrive online whilst keeping them safe: Natterhub won the Transformational Impact award while Southwest Grid for Learning – 360 Early Years – won the Early Years, Digital Product or Service award.

Maths Circle – creators of primary school favourite Times Table Rock Stars and NumbBots – scooped the Company of the Year prize for firms under £3 million while Renaissance Learning, which helped year six pupils in Hertfordshire undergo assessments, to close the learning gaps in challenging circumstances, won the accolade of Company of the Year in the over £3 million category.

A team of 28 judges were tasked with selecting the winners from hundreds of entries. 
 
Julia Garvey, Deputy Director General, British Educational Suppliers Association and Chair of Judges for the Bett Awards said: “The Bett Awards always attract top calibre submissions and this year was no exception. The winners are all amazing and the standard was incredibly high – the hardest job we had was narrowing it down to pick a winner each time. We are delighted to be able to recognise the hard work of so many businesses in the EdTech space all of whom have gone above and beyond to support teachers and learners during these uncertain times. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back to the Bett Show at ExCeL over the coming days where visitors will be able to see many of the shortlisted and winning entries on display. “
 
Eve Harper, Portfolio Director, UK EdTech – Hyve, said: “The Bett Awards are a highlight of the three-day Bett show but this year we have really seen innovation flourish like never before. The pandemic has fuelled a wave of new inventions from small start-ups to big tech firms who pivoted to meet the need for new ways of delivering education. Long after the pandemic has subsided, these new tools will have changed the way we learn forever.”
 
Many of the winners and finalists will be showcased at Bett until the 25 March 2022 at ExCeL, London.