We got the call today from the sponsors of the category to give us the good news and now we’re all excited and looking forward to the Awards Dinner on 25th March at Teesside University.

The winning companies from each of the sub-regional heats (not applicable to Best Creative Business and Not-for-profit Organisation of the Year Awards) will go through to the Regional Final of the nebusiness awards which will be held at Hardwick Hall Hotel on Thursday, 29 April 2010.

More details of the Awards category and criteria is detailed below:

Purpose of Competition:

To recognise companies and other organisations that have used web technology, including ICT, e-commerce and e-business, to enhance their business.

Judging Criteria:

The judges will be seeking examples of best practice and will look for:

- Excellence of website design, in terms of visual appearance, navigability and interactivity.

- A demonstrable impact of the use of web technology on the business, internally and externally.

- The innovative use of Internet technology to improve business performance or boost competitiveness within an existing business, or to start a new enterprise.

The regional business award format is now in it’s 10th year. It is a tried and trusted formula that offers a consistent benchmark for judging performance.

Since 2000, over 2,500 different companies in the North East have entered one of the Award categories. That is a fantastic endorsement of the event and shows that the event really means something to the business community. Companies of all shapes and sizes, and in all sectors, get involved.

A key ingredient of the nebusiness awards is the tremendous support we get from the Award sponsors. Organisations such as Public Health North East, Pearsons, One NorthEast, UK Trade & Investment, KPMG and Deloitte give the event credibility and gravitas.

For any further information please visit www.nebusinessawards.co.uk.

Mark Easby, Declan Metcalfe and Peter Jones established Better Brand Agency after the trio’s bid to buy out their former employer, Middlesbrough agency Calm Asylum, foundered.

The new company, which launched in September specialising in brand, marketing and digital services, is now looking to employ extra staff with a view to achieving revenues of around £500,000 in two years.

MD Mark Easby said: “We’re Tees Valley people through and through and we don’t want to move from the area. The DigitalCity and Codeworks projects are changing perceptions. People are realising the capabilities we have here.

Since its launch, the agency has delivered brand and marketing campaigns for Teesside and Northumbria Universities and is developing social media strategies for some of the region’s key visitor attractions.

The firm joins a creative sector worth £1.1bn to the regional economy and employing 35,000 people. In the Tees Valley alone, the industry is set to generate more than 9,000 jobs in the next five years, underpinned by DigitalCity’s 25-year game plan to position Tees Valley as a rival to other creative and digital hubs across the globe.

Read this article and more Tees Valley and North East business news at www.nebusiness.co.uk.

Better Brand Agency is a brand agency offering brand, graphic design, marketing, social media and social networking, web and digital services based in Tees Valley, North East and North Yorkshire.