2005 eCommerce Awards

Finalists announced for 2005 Regional ecommerce Awards

21 finalists have been announced for the 2005 Regional eCommerce Awards, due to take place at Colwick Hall next month.

Almost 90 entries were received for this year’s Awards from each of the six counties in the East Midlands. The short-list includes many of last year’s category winners and finalists, in addition to a host of new companies who have realised the benefits of ecommerce in running their business.

Run by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) and Interforum, and sponsored by BT and emda, the awards were open to any UK business employing up to 250 employees who have used Internet and Information Communications Technology (ICT) to improve their business.

Now in their seventh consecutive year, the awards offer recognition to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across six different categories considered key in realising the benefits to be gained by businesses adopting ebusiness methods.

The finalists represent a range of business types from across the region with eight from Northamptonshire, five from Nottinghamshire, three from Leicestershire and Lincolnshire and one each from Derbyshire and Rutland.

Last year’s national winner, Nottingham-based Trade Appliances, is also in the final line-up once again and is hoping for a second round of success in three categories – Customer Care, End to End (demonstrating full integration of ecommerce throughout their business operations) and Sales & Marketing.

The awards and are just one of the ways in which emda and its partners are trying to encourage more small firms to realise the benefits of ebusiness.

The winners of the Regional Awards will be announced by BBC East Midlands Today persenter ,Dominic Heale, at a dinner being held on Wednesday 21st September at Colwick Hall in Nottinghamshire. Category winners will receive a £2,000 cash prize, courtesy of emda, and the chance to win £50,000 in the National eCommerce Awards Final in October.

The finalists

• Creative Parties, Oakham, Rutland – Customer care and Broadband
• Bellwether Enterprises, Lon Buckby, Northants – Broadband, Mobile & Wireless and Teleworking
• SillyJokes.co.uk, Towcester, Northants – Customer care, End to end, Sale & marketing and Broadband
• Trade Appliances, Huthwaite, Nottingham – Customer care, End to end and Sales & marketing
• Quick Formations Ltd, Duston, Northampton – Customer care, End to end, Sales & marketing, Broadband, Mobile & wireless and Teleworking
• The Heritage Trail, Sleaford, Lincs – Broadband
• Prezzybox.com, Austery, Northants – Customer care, End to end, Sales & marketing, Broadband
• 50cycles Ltd, Kegworth, Leics – Customer care, Sales & marketing, Mobile & wireless and Teleworking
• Plantiflor Ltd, Pinchbeck, Lincs – Customer care
• SPCB UK ltd, Leicester – Customer care
• Jabberwocky Restaurants Ltd, Northampton – End to end and Teleworking
• Printshop, Nottingham – End to end
• From all around the world, Newark, Notts – End to end, Sales & marketing, Broadband, Mobile & wireless and Teleworking
• Foodcheck Ltd, Northampton – End to end
• Driving Ambition, Brackley, Northants – Sales & marketing
• Hayrack Gallery, Northampton – Sales & marketing
• Phoebus Solutions Ltd, Heanor, Derbys – Broadband and Teleworking
• Nutratech Ltd, Nottingham – Mobile & wireless
• eSales Recruitment Ltd, Linby, Notts – Mobile & wireless
• Wilson Leppard, Lincoln – Mobile & wireless and Teleworking
• FourThinking Consultancy and Training Ltd, Leicester - Teleworking