smallbusiness.co.uk: Helping your business think big

Small businesses making good use of the internet and information technology have less than a month to stake their claim for the cash prize of Ł50,000 that will go to the winner of the E-Commerce Awards.

Now in their seventh year, the awards aim to recognise and reward SMEs for innovative and sophisticated use of information and communications technology (ICT).

To reflect the changes to ICT in recent times new categories include: best use of broadband; best use of teleworking; best use of mobile and wireless technology; best sales & marketing online; best customer care online; and the most integrated business. Things have moved on somewhat since 1999 when “innovative use of a fax” was a category.

Also new are the National ICT Innovator Awards, a set of categories open to individuals or groups of people within any UK organisation who can demonstrate innovative use of ICT in the fields of safe online transactions, environment, health, transport, education & learning and export.

'The E-Commerce Awards are a tremendous opportunity for organisations to share and show innovative approaches for integrating sophisticated use of ICT into their business,' commented Mike O'Brien, Minister of State for Energy and E-Commerce. 'Winners can also show how their use of ICT has improved their overall efficiency, productivity and competitiveness.'

Any UK business with up to 250 employees can enter the awards, which are run on a regional level initially with winners moving onto the national stage. The awards are free to enter and more details and entry forms are available at www.ecommerce-awards.co.uk.

(5/7/05)

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