Annertech named a four-time finalist in 2026 Spider Awards

We are absolutely buzzing to announce that Annertech has been named a finalist in four categories at this year’s Spider Awards!

Being shortlisted for a Spider is a significant milestone for any digital agency in Ireland, but to be recognised across categories spanning Universal Design, UX and SME excellence is testament to the hard work of our team and our incredible partnerships with our clients. 

It’s also personal for us this year – our very own annertech.com is a finalist in two categories: Best in Universal Design and Best Website (SME)!

Our finalist categories:

• Best in Universal Design: National Cancer Registry Ireland
• Best in Universal Design: Annertech
• Best UX & Customer Experience: Dundalk Institute of Technology
• Best Website (SME): Annertech

For Annertech’s Managing Director, Stella Power, these nominations reflect the core values that have defined the agency for nearly two decades.

“To be a four-time finalist at the Spider Awards is an incredible honour. At Annertech, our mission has always been to make the internet more accessible and inclusive for everyone. Seeing our work for NCRI and DkIT, as well as our own new website, recognised in categories like Universal Design and UX proves that you don't have to sacrifice beautiful, sleek design to achieve world-class accessibility.”

And at the heart of accessibility are the people who use the internet.

“These nominations aren't just about technical scores or load speeds; they are about the people using these sites. Whether it’s a researcher looking for life-impacting health data on NCRI or a student finding their future path at DkIT, our goal is to remove barriers. We are so proud of our team for delivering that clarity and authority for our clients,” says Stella.

The projects behind the nominations

1. Annertech.com: Leading by example

Categories: Best in Universal Design and Best Website (SME) 

Our own website was rebuilt to be a “living showcase” of our Drupal expertise. We thought out of the box – in this case the toybox – and moved away from corporate rigidity to a playful “building blocks” theme: a nod to Drupal’s component-based nature.

The “flip” factor: We injected personality into our new website by featuring childhood photos of our team that flip to reveal their adult selves, humanising the digital experience.

Performance: The site achieved a 100% performance rating on GTmetrix, with active users increasing by 140% post-launch.

Explore our new digital home

2. NCRI: Transforming data into insight

Category: Best in Universal Design 

The National Cancer Registry Ireland (NCRI) site is a critical national tool. We took thousands of complex data points and transformed them into interactive, simplified dashboards.

Impact: By prioritising “plain language” and high-contrast accessibility, we saw a 60% reduction in bounce rate, ensuring that vital health statistics are accessible to everyone, from policymakers to the general public.

Read the case study

3. DkIT: A unified digital hub

Category: Best UX & Customer Experience 

Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT) digital landscape was fragmented. We unified multiple legacy systems into a single, sleek Drupal platform.

UX wins: We streamlined the student journey with a prominent "Find a Course" tool, and made things simple with single sign-on (with Active Directory and staff profile integration).

Results: User engagement surged by 43%, proving that a meticulously planned Information Architecture (IA) is key to student satisfaction.

Read the case study

What’s next?

The awards ceremony will take place on 13th March 2026 at 6pm in the Round Room of The Mansion House, Dublin. It is a highlight on the Irish digital calendar, and we can’t wait to celebrate with our peers. 

Regardless of the final results, these nominations reinforce our commitment to building a better, more inclusive web.

We want to extend a massive thank you to our clients at NCRI and DkIT for trusting us with their digital transformation.