News Article

Companies from right across the North East were honoured at the prestigious
E-Commerce Awards regional final held on Friday (16th September 2005) evening.

The competition aims to recognise companies benefiting from information and communication technology and the North East heat was supported by regional development agency, One North East.

Awards were presented in six categories of:
· Best Sales & Marketing online
· Best Customer Care online
· Best Integrated Business
· Best use of Broadband
· Best use of Teleworking
· Best use of Mobile & Wireless Technology
The first award recognised those firms using new technology to market their business and win new customers. The winner in this category was Middlesbrough designer clothing firm Triads, a company which impressed judges with the clever marketing tools used on their website and who particularly impressed with their rapidly increasing turnover.

Winner of the Best Customer Care Online went to Gosforth-based dentists
Kelvin Lodge Dental Practice. The company was recognised for its exceptional levels of customer care and online interaction with its clients which is quite unique in this field of work.
The top prize for best End-to-End Integrated Business went to Dive Logs. The Newcastle-based firm allows underwater divers to keep accurate records of their underwater achievements – maintaining details of things like air consumption, things they’ve seen, and where they’ve been.

Judges were impressed by the firm’s success in developing within a niche market that has global possibilities and the quality of their self-running and sufficient website.

The Broadband Communications category was won by Beat Suite a music supply company from Newcastle.The company who’ve built up a superb presence on the web – with expert market reach, especially in the United States, offer clients the opportunity to download royalty-free music over the internet for use, for example, in TV and radio commercials and programmes.The judges felt that this company’s website was an excellent example of innovation allowing talented musicians to earn in a way that conventional music agencies simply cannot do.

Children’s online toy store Pedal Pushers based in Hedley-on-the-Hill in Northumberland was the winner of the Best Use of Teleworking award.
Pedal Pushers were rewarded for their success in running a growing business in a rural area, helping their staff enjoy a good balance between work and home lives.

The winner of the final category - Best Use of Mobile and Wireless Applications – was Cramlington based Advanced Engineering Solutions. The company use the very latest mobile technology and GPS systems to work on oil and gas pipelines throughout the world and can now transmit up-to-date reports and survey information at the press of a button to clients thousands of miles away.

Deputy chairman of One North East, Christine Smith, helped present the awards. She said: “Last year, Britain spent £80 billion on ICT – a large part of it by companies looking to get that vital edge in a fiercely competitive marketplace.

“The firms that were recommended and were winners in the 2005 E-Commerce Awards have all been doing just that - putting e-commerce at the heart of your plans for the future, grasping the amazing advances in technology, and exploring wonderful new opportunities.

“Companies embracing the e-commerce revolution have found themselves competing in a much bigger and potentially lucrative marketplace – often winning orders from customers all over the world. No longer is geographical location a hindrance to a firm’s aspirations for the future, and desire to grow and succeed.

“That fits in with our core aim at One North East – to establish a thriving and exciting economy here in North East England – and we want to see businesses of all sizes flourishing and doing well.”

The regional winners now go on to the national awards are being organised by the Department of Trade and Industry, and Interforum. The national final will be held in London on the 6th October 2005, with the overall winner receiving  £50,000.

Andy Walton, ebusiness manager at One North East, added: “This year’s awards were a huge success with more than 70 firms from right across the region entering and of those, 40 being shortlisted. This was a significant increase on last year and the standard of entries were so high that it was very difficult to make a number of the final decisions.

“I would like to congratulate all those who entered and have high hopes for our finalists in the national heat next month.”
Notes to editors:

Best Customer Care Online

Winner – Kelvin Lodge - http://www.kelvinlodge.co.uk/
The Judges Panel found the Kelvin Lodge website extremely innovative.
The best Customer Care Award is being given to an organisation that can be seen to be leading its field, the Health Sector.
Kevin Lodge have clearly demonstrated unique customer care, by interacting efficiently with their customers.

Recommendation – Triads - http://www.triads.co.uk/
The Judges Panel would like to stress the excellence of customer care Triads have provided over a long period of time.  It is very important for them to stay customer focused, their dedication shows in the amount of repeat business they have.

Best end-to-end Integrated Business

Winner – Dive Logs - http://www.dive-logs.com
The Judges Panel felt that the Dive Logs website has highlighted an excellent opportunity in a niche market with global reach. They have demonstrated their business strength by becoming a self-running and sufficient website.

Recommendation – Beat Suite - http://www.beatsuite.com
The Beat Suite website was recommended due to their excellent web processes. It is expected that they will be a significant player in this category in the future.

Best Sales and marketing online

Winner – Triads - http://www.triads.co.uk/
The Judges Panel felt that the Triads website illustrated a clever use of marketing tools and they were particularly impressed with their rapidly increasing turnover.

Recommendation – Beat Suite - http://www.beatsuite.com
The Beat Suite website demonstrates a superb web presence with an expert market reach, especially in the United States.

Broadband Communications
Winner – Beat Suite - http://www.beatsuite.com
The Judges Panel felt that the Beat Suite website is an excellent example of innovation as they are addressing an important value-chain issue in the music supply business. It will allow talented musicians to earn in a way that conventional music agencies simply cannot do.

Recommendation – Euro-Teck Electronics Ltd - http://www.euro-teck.com
The Judges Panel felt that Euro Teck demonstrated an excellent transition to eCommerce. The website had compelling features such as diagnostics of CCTV equipment across the net. The Judges would also particularly like to point out that the contest was very close between the winner and the runner up.

Best Use of mobile and wireless applications
Winner – Advanced Engineering Solutions Ltd - http://www.aesengs.co.uk
Advanced Engineering Solutions website has indicated the potential of mobile technology and GPS systems. It has integrated these technologies in addition to introducing a geographical element. Therefore, people can access information in the most remote areas.

Recommendation – Trackaphone Limited - http://www.trackaphone.com
The Trackaphone website illustrates an innovative use of technology for both domestic and work purposes,

Best use of Teleworking

Winner – Pedal Pushers - http://www.pedalpusherslimited.co.uk
The Judges Panel agreed that the Pedal Pushers website was an excellent example of enabling people based in rural communities to conduct a successful business. This allows the employees of Pedal Pushers to balance work and life needs.

Recommendation – E-merce Services Ltd - http://www.e-merce.co.uk
E-merce Services Ltd are last years winners but the Judges Panel felt they were still worthy of recognition as an excellent example of innovation in teleworking.

ends
For more information please contact: Abi Kelly, press office, ONE NorthEast on Tel: (0191) 2296308, mobile no: 0791 9696374.
e-mail: Abigail.Kelly@onenortheast.co.uk