Just one month to go to win 40,000 in National E-commerce awards

With only just over one month to go until application deadline on 30th July, small and medium organisations across the UK are being urged to enter this yearís DTI/InterForum E-Commerce Awards, for the chance to win a cash prize totalling 40,000.

Already, hundreds of companies across the UK have started their entries, but time is running out. With 12 regions across the UK and five regional and national categories, UK businesses have over 60 regional opportunities to win part of the total 214,000 cash prize. In addition, further opportunities to win are presented in the three national level innovation categories.

The Awards are open to any UK organisation with fewer than 250 employees and recognise and reward small and medium sized enterprises for innovation in the application of information and communication technologies to improve their business performance. Entries and nominations can be made freely via the dedicated web site www.ecommerce-awards.co.uk

Set up by the DTI and InterForum, and sponsored nationally for the sixth consecutive year by the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, the E-Commerce Awards are the only Government backed technology awards. They have already made their mark in the small business sector, with a total of more than 6,500 companies having entered since the Awards inception in 1999.

Andrew Cornaby, Managing Director of the 2003 E-Commerce Awards winner, Response Maintenance, comments, It is wonderful when organisations such as the DTI and InterForum recognise the hard work that people put into their businesses. Businesses should not be afraid to enter for the fear of thinking that they have no chance of winning - that is exactly how I felt. We are a small business in the back streets of Wolverhampton who when invited to the awards nearly turned the invitation down for fear of the journey being a waste of time.î

He continues, ìInstead we scooped the Mobile and Wireless innovation category award worth 8000 and the Grand National E-commerce Award worth 30,000. What a magnificent evening and what an outcome; whilst I nearly turned back at the train station I came away with two cheques, two plaques and two wonderful awardsî.

Phil Flaxton, Chief Executive of InterForum adds, ìEver since they were founded, the Awards have been enhanced and adapted to reflect the changing abilities and needs of UK businesses through the introduction of new categories and new services. They are a great example of how Government and Industry can work together to promote better understanding and wider uptake of emerging technologies ñ and to help provide UK SMEs with both a real sense of achievement, as well as tangible rewards for their efforts.î

The Awards are run on a regional and national level and recognise areas in which organisations can demonstrate business transformation: e-business start-ups, e-trading, e-business, best use of broadband communications and, new this year, best use of teleworking.

Andy Ross, Director of E-Commerce for the Royal Bank of Scotland Group, comments, ìBusinesses large and small can benefit from new technology to improve all aspects of their business, such as process efficiency, cost management and marketing. We strongly encourage our small business customers, and indeed all UK SMEs to enter the Awards not only for their chance to win, but also as a means of highlighting best practice and sharing experiences, tips and pitfalls with colleagues and peers across a range of industries.î

Building on the successful launch last year of the new innovation categories - the National Innovation Awards - this yearís Awards continue to reward those businesses which can demonstrate business excellence in: use of mobile & wireless technology, advanced supply chain integration, and, also new this year, best rural e-business.

In the 12 regions across England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, each category winner will receive 2,000 in the regional heats and will then go on to compete in the national final in July for a chance of winning 8,000 in the national category final. Each Innovation Category winner will be presented with an 8,000 cash prize, awarded at a national level.

All national category and innovation category winners will then compete for the title of E-Commerce Awards champion of 2004 and a cheque for 30,000, presented by, E-Commerce Minister Mr Stephen Timms, at the national final and gala dinner to be held in London on 6th October 2004.

Organisations can be nominated by their employees, business partners, customers, suppliers or even friends and family. Further information and entry forms can be found on the web site www.ecommerce-awards.co.uk. The entry deadline is Friday 30th July.