HP New Zealand has put the call out for final nominations for the inaugural HP Partner Awards, which will see the vendor honouring channel partners across nine award categories.

The November awards are also being used as a celebration of the new organisations, as the vendor splits into two separate entities.

Kim Mckay, HP New Zealand printing and personal systems channel marketing manager, says nominations for the HP Innovative Solutions Partner of the Year 2015 award and the HP Channel Sales Person of the Year 2015 awards are open.

“These two categories require submissions from resellers,” Mckay says.

Submissions for the two categories close October 16, with the finalists selected on consistency, growth and engagement.

“Part of our measure is consistency from partners in hitting their targets quarter on quarter.

“We want to make sure we measure it very fairly and have our [full year] results so we can make a measured decision.

Mckay says the HP Innovative Solution Partner of the Year category will acknowledge and reward the partner who has implemented the most original and innovative solution to a customer's challenge.

She says she's particularly excited about the HP Channel Sales Person of the Year.

“It's a really special award to recognise an exceptional sales professional within the New Zealand channel.

“We're looking for a sales leader who has achieved outstanding results for HP.

Awards across nine categories are up for grabs, with Mckay expecting all nine categories to be fiercely contested.

As well as the Innovative Solution Partner of the Year and HP Channel Sales Person of the Year categories, awards will be presented to the HP Partner of the Year, HP Print Partner of the Year and HP PC Partner of the Year.

HP Partners will also be vying for the titles of HP Growth Partner of the Year and Education Partner of the Year, with awards also presented to the Retailer of the Year and Distributor of the Year.

In announcing the awards earlier this year, HP noted the importance of the Kiwi channel for the company and said the awards were a way of giving back to partners and ensuring they knew their contribution was valued.

The vendor also hopes the awards will provide recognition for partners and value for their partners' businesses.

The winners will be announced at a black tie event at St Matthew-in-the-City on November 26.

Nominations for the HP Innovative Solution Provider of the Year can be made here while nominations for the HP Channel Sales Person of the Year can be made here.