A Kent tech firm is using the Kent Literacy Awards to celebrate the pre-digital virtues of the printed word.

Tribeca Technology Group marketing manager Robert Blake expressed concern about digital technology affecting children’s ability to concentrate.

He said: “We know that in this digital age children are being distracted, whether it’s YouTube, whether it’s different types of social media.

“It’s quite important to have the tactility sometimes of a book so it’s not just about Kindle or another digital reading device.

“We’re looking for these really innovative ideas, which engage children and make them want to not put a book down.”

Organised by the KM Charity Team, the literacy awards are for primary and secondary schools in Kent, Medway, Bromley and Bexley, and recognise initiatives that develop reading, writing, speaking and listening skills.

Nominations are accepted from teachers, support staff and management, and the deadline for submitting them is May 1.

Awards coordinator Karen Brinkman said: “Robert is so right.

“We all appreciate the amazing benefits of digital technology, and I’m sure there aren’t that many people who would choose to return to a pre-internet age.

“But actual, physical, paper books are so important to children’s educational and literacy performance.

“And want to hear about all those innovative schemes that inspire children with a passion for them.”

In addition to Tribeca, the awards’ judges are Coram Beanstalk, the Crown Foundation, Golding Vision, McCabe Ford Williams, University of Kent, Reed Education, The Education People, KM Facilities Management and Hempstead House, where the winners will be announced at a ceremony in July.

It is the second year Tribeca has supported the awards, and Mr Blake added that his firm’s involvement had partly been inspired by its commitment to investing in young people.

He said education was one of the “core brand pillars” of the business, which specialises IT support for the financial services sector.

Mr Blake added: “We’ve employed 17 apprentices since the company started round about 13 years ago, and we’ve still got 13 of those apprentices with us today, so education’s very important to us.

Submit nominations and find out more at KentLiteracyAwards.co.uk.

And watch a video in which Mr Blake talks more about the awards here: