Digital Awards

In case the Innovator/09 competition below isn't your cup of tea we've just opened the nominations for the 2009 Yorkshire Digital Awards!

This year you can either nominate yourself for a category, or nominate another company that you work with which you feel deserves some recognition. We've heard from previous winners that the competition has a really positive effect on sales due to all the free promotion your company receives so I *really* recommend entering if you can. Especially at this time of year when you don't want to start a whole new project but need something to keep you busy for your last afternoon in the office ;-)

Anyway, categories are:

Best Web Design Company

Best IT Consultancy

Best Business to Business Website

Best Business to Consumer Website

Best Application of Internet Technology

Best Digital Start Up

Best Game

Best Entertainment Site

Best e-Learning Initiative

Best Application of Mobile Technology

Best New Talent

To enter all you have to do is fill in a form which can be found on the website:

http://www.yorkshiredigitalawards.com/

If you're feeling flush with Christmas cheer there are also still a few categories that need sponsoring, in which case just drop me a line.

Finally, even if you're not entering and not sponsoring, don't forget the actual awards ceremony itself. A great craic and with over 300 people attending it's a good way to meet some interesting people (including a few of us lovely Yorkshire Forward folk). Be warned the tables fill up really fast so if you want to go you need to book your place pronto!

Date: Thu 7th May, 2009

Venue: Saviles Hall, The Royal Armouries Museum, Leeds

Innovation- Are you best in the region.

Innovator/09, the second round of Yorkshire & Humber’s awards, the first were March 2008 , and they could help you raise your own or your organization’s profile, regionally and nationally, whilst raising awareness of your innovation.
Whilst working in the region I see so many exciting new developments and innovation companies are making to increase their presence and sales.
This competition could help you to enhance your relationships with partners and could lead to new collaborations and opportunities with businesses and universities. It could even attract new clients. The awards are an excellent, high-profile way to demonstrate your commitment to innovation in your field.
Winners receive a cash prize of £3,000 to spend on developing innovation within their organisation through training, services or products.
Find out more about the awards at the Innovator/09 microsite.
With tougher economic conditions already beginning to bite, many businesses in Yorkshire and Humber are concerned about how they will cope.
Do not forget you can access the FREE business advice and the help which is available in our region. http://www.businesslinkyorkshire.co.uk

Barcamp Sheffield Update

Oops! Took a little longer to get to this post than planned!

Barcamp Sheffield was fabulous, a thoroughly enjoyable experience even though it meant working over a weekend :-) Everyone I have spoken to who attended agreed that it was a very positive event. The competition is still ongoing. The idea behind the competition is that attendees should create 'something' online that is promoting either Sheffield, Yorkshire or Barcamp Sheffield and whoever drives the most traffic *and* is the most creative wins!

I shall most definitely be posting a link to the winner on here.

I'm now hoping there may be space for some more Barcamps around the region, maybe York, Hull etc so will have to start subliminally putting ideas into the right peoples head :-)