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NewswireTODAY - /newswire/ -
Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, United Kingdom, 2008/02/27 - A specially selected group North East business experts have been announced as the judging panel for the first ever North East Digital Awards.
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A national champion for IT in small businesses and one of the faces working to make Middlesbrough the UK’s most vibrant digital hub will be among the judges for the very first North East Digital Awards.
Peter Scargill, National IT Chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses, and Mark Elliott, Director of Digital City Business in Middlesbrough, will join the judging panels choosing who should be named the region’s top digital talent.
Mark Elliot said: “The region is a hotbed for digital talent and I am delighted to join the judging panel for the first-ever North East Digital Awards. It's time we recognise the region's capability in a celebration of all things digital. I'm expecting the Awards to be a great success and can't wait to see the entries - and ultimately the overall winners."
The awards, which are open until 28 March, celebrate the achievements of businesses and organisations that have recognised, developed and used digital techniques to generate and maintain an effective online presence.
Joining Peter and Mark will be:
• Norma Foster, Pascal Fintoni and Chris Fleetwood – North East Regional Portal
• Stephen Carey – One NorthEast
• Andrew Robson – Codeworks
• Andy Walton – Knowledge IT
• Charlie Nettle – North East Chamber of Commerce
• Nicki Clark – Business Link North East
Pascal Fintoni, head of e-business at The North East Regional Portal, the e-business champion behind the awards, said: “We are delighted to welcome such high-calibre professionals onto the judging panel for the Digital Awards.
“The Awards entries so far demonstrate that the region has some very innovative businesses with strong digital elements. The nature of the awards programme and interactive website means that there are countless benefits to be gained from entry and we are confident that the awards will come to truly represent the diversity of e-business development in the region.”
With categories ranging from ‘Best Use of Blogging’ to ‘Best Online Security Solution’ and ‘Best Example of Game Development’, the entire entry and voting process is taking place online - with every entry featuring extensively on the North East Digital Awards website.
The awards are divided into three categories:
Digital Users – for businesses using digital technology - for blogging or podcasting, for e-commerce on their websites or to offer online music or video
Digital Suppliers – for those businesses providing digital solutions or designing digital campaigns or websites for clients
Digital Innovators – those businesses creating and developing new digital technology and new uses for it – from security solutions to gaming and innovative use of search engines
After submitting an entry, businesses are responsible for getting votes for their entry online. Those with the most votes will be shortlisted for review by the judges.
The awards are supported by regional development agency One NorthEast. Emmanuelle Martinot, the Agency’s eBusiness Technical Adviser said: “The benefits of digital business development are huge, and businesses in this region can boast some fantastic achievements in the sector. These awards are an opportunity to highlight and celebrate those achievements.”
To find out more or to register your business for the awards, visit the North East Digital Awards website.
About The North East Regional Portal
The Portal’s mission (northeastdigitalawards.co.uk) is to accelerate and intensify participation in e-business in the region, by adding value to existing support structures. Fully-owned by One NorthEast the Portal is a not-for-profit organisation and it’s role is not to provide start-up support.
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james.kingett[.]n-e-life.co.uk 
