DIY Week is ringing in the changes for its annual awards event, with a new date and a new venue for 2014.
The awards will move from the Hilton Deansgate, Manchester to the De Vere Hotel at the Ricoh Arena in Coventry and will take place on February 17, 2014, rather than November, as has been the case in previous years.

The move means the DIY Week awards will be held during the Totally DIY and Totally Tools exhibition, which is celebrating its 20th anniversary next year. It is hoped that the co-location will make it easier for retailers, who are already visiting the trade show, to attend the awards dinner on the Monday night. Organisers also hope, with both industry-focused events in one place at one time, the move will create a real buzz around the sector.

Show director of the Totally shows, Paul Grinsell, said: "We're delighted that these key industry events will all run together in one location. The DIY Industry Awards have a long and successful pedigree and co-locating them with the leading industry exhibition makes a lot of sense for everyone involved with the DIY sector. We look forward to hearing more about what the team at DIY Week have planned for the awards, I'm sure they will deliver a great event and social evening for the industry."

Big industry names have already lent their support to the event, with further details to be announced in coming weeks. The 2014 awards evening is being organised in support of and in association with industry charity The Rainy Day Trust (RDT), which has typically held a fundraising dinner on the Monday night at Totally. DIY Week, recently bought by Datateam Business Media, is delighted to be working so closely with the charity, which plays a vital role in the industry.

RDT president Philip Duncan commented: "The DIY Week Awards have always been an important fund-raising event for the Rainy Day Trust, and we're delighted that the connection is being maintained as the Awards move to their new date and new venue. February 2014 will see the DIY industry's key stakeholders - charity, exhibition and media brand - working even more closely together. We're looking forward to it!"

Products entered into the awards will be judged across nine categories: Decorating Product of the Year, DIY Product of the Year, Hardware Product of the Year, Hand Tool of the Year, Garden Accessory of the Year, Garden Fertiliser/Chemical of the Year, Garden Tool of the Year, Power Tool of the Year, and Security Product of the Year.

The product awards are designed to recognise innovation and quality in each category, with judges assessing key criteria, including performance, retail potential, design and value. There are also opportunities for retailers to be recognised and rewarded for their hard work, with categories such as Hardware Retailer of the Year, Store Manager of the Year and Garden Retailer of the Year.

Entry will be open very soon so please register your interest by emailing jharrison@datateam.co.uk with 'DIY Week Awards' in the subject line, and don't miss your chance to shine among your industry peers.