ITS Website Wins Award

Industrial Technology Systems Ltd’s (ITS) new website took the honours at The North East Digital Awards’ ceremony, winning the Bestb2b Website category in the Digital Users’ website section.

The judging panel was looking for companies that promote and progress their businesses by demonstrating innovation, professionalism and excellence in the digital world.  ITS had been shortlisted from an overwhelming response to the inaugural awards, of 240 nominations from 139 North East organisations.

The new ITS website, designed by Stockton-based Visualsoft, was launched at the beginning of 2008, packed with extra information, loads of colour and a host of new features designed to provide online visitors with everything they need to know about the company and its services.  It replaced the previous website which was launched in the 1990s.

It has had a profound and immediate impact on the company business, bringing an upturn in enquiries for the company’s seven business areas, Business Improvement Systems, Validation Services, Batch & DCS Systems, Process Control Systems, Machine Vision Systems, Manpower Services & Support, and Regulatory Compliance Training.

The categories were broken down into three main headings: Digital Users, for businesses using digital technology; Digital Suppliers, for businesses providing digital solutions, or designing digital campaigns or websites for clients, and Digital Innovators, for businesses creating and developing new digital technology and new uses for it.  The 30+ different awards ranged from Best Use of Animation, through Best Use of Blogging and Best Youth Enterprise Website, to the category with the most entries, Best eCommerce Website

The judging panel comprised: Peter Scargill, National IT Chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses; Mark Elliott, Director of Middlesbrough’s Digital City; Stephen Carey, One NorthEast Specialist Adviser; Andrew Robson of Codeworks; Andy Walton of Knowledge IT; Charlie Nettle, Head of Marketing at the North East Chamber of Commerce, and Nicki Clark from Business Link North East.  They were joined by Norma Foster, Chris Fleetwood and Pascal Fintoni from The North East Regional Portal, the e-business champion behind the awards.

The results were announced at a glitzy champagne ceremony at Newcastle’s Hyena Café Comedy Club on May 15, attended by 200 guests from across the North East.  ITS Marketing Executive Trina Ives and NE Business Development Manager Sarah Green, attended to accept the award on ITS’ behalf.

Pascal Fintoni, head of business at the North East Regional Portal said: “I would like to congratulate all the winners – their achievements and successes are an example to us all and have highlighted the successes of the digital industry here in the North East of England.

“The ceremony was the perfect way to conclude what has been a very successful awards’ campaign. The event was the first, so many of the region’s digital businesses were together in the same room, and demonstrates that we have a very strong platform on which to continue driving the North East’s digital development.”

Stephen Carey, eBusiness Specialist Advisor for  One NorthEast, which funded the awards’ campaign, said: “The digital sector is a very important part of the region’s emerging knowledge economy, with a growing reputation for innovation and excellence. The response to North East England’s first Digital Awards has been fantastic and we would like to congratulate all the winners.”

The 2008/9 campaign is due to be launched this summer, providing impetus for both the organisers and potential entrants to raise the bar even higher and establish the North East as a vibrant hub for digital development.   The organisers hope the event will inspire other companies in the region who have not yet joined the digital age, to embrace the significant opportunities it offers.