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HAMPSHIRE & ISLE OF WIGHT WEB WINNERS RECOGNISED
Some of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight's best websites have been honoured in a special awards ceremony at INTECH, Winchester's interactive science and technology centre.
The Hantsweb Awards, co-ordinated by the County Council, recognise website excellence in Hampshire, and this year for the first time, in the Isle of Wight. The judges were looking for websites which were accessible to all, easy to use and attractively designed, as well providing relevant, useful and up-to-date information.
From a website selling garden plants, to one discussing the latest music, a wide range of websites were acknowledged, all with one thing in common - providing a useful service to people in Hampshire.
The competition attracted over 450 nominations across 11 categories. The entries were whittled down to a short-list of just 11 winners and 14 runners up by a panel of specialist judges. All finalists finished as either winner or runners up.
The event was hosted by BBC South's Freddie Rostand with special guest presenters inventor Trevor Baylis, naturalist and TV presenter Chris Packham and BBC Radio Solent presenter Judy Goodlet. Guests of honour at the ceremony included the Lord-Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mrs Mary Fagan; Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber; Chairman of Hampshire County Council, Councillor John Bryant and Chairman of Isle of Wight Council, Councillor Peggy Jarman.
All finalists received a certificate and prizes ranging from the latest Microsoft software to an IBM Thinkpad laptop, with category winners also receiving a Hantsweb Awards 2004 trophy. Other category prizes included a Dell PC and flat panel display from the County Council's IT Services dept, free use of a meeting room at the Start Centre one a month for a year from Start Fareham, and a school's visit to country park or museum in Hampshire from the County Council's Recreation and Heritage department.
The Leader of the County Council, Councillor Ken Thornber, who co-presented the Public Sector category award with Trevor Baylis, said: "We are pleased to be able to acknowledge and reward the Hampshire and Isle of Wight organisations whose websites are so user-friendly and well designed.
"I would like to congratulate all the winners and runners up on their success and thank them for providing such accessible, user-friendly and worthwhile services. We would also like to express our thanks to the judges and sponsors of this year's Hantsweb Awards, for helping to make the people of Hampshire more aware of the quality and variety of websites and public access points to the internet."
The event also featured an information fair, where some of the competition sponsors were on hand to talk to guests about their products and services. Category sponsors were Microsoft, SAP, South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Synstar and Works Unit. Prize sponsors included Hampshire County Council's Recreation & Heritage department and IBM.
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Notes for Editors
HANTSWEB AWARDS 2004 - WINNERS & RUNNERS UP (by category)
ACCESSIBILITY sponsored by Microsoft Ltd
Websites which have taken steps to remove barriers for users with different access needs eg visual impairment, older technology
Judged by: Julie Howell from the RNIB and Pam Willingham who is blind and uses `Jaws' screen-reader technology for study and research.
WINNER: Westgate Support + Care, Winchester www.westgatesc.org.uk
RUNNER UP: Andover Methodist Circuit; www.andovermethodist.org (was runner up in the same category last year)
BEST ONLINE SERVICE sponsored by SAP
Any website demonstrating a successful service which is interactive and easy to use.
Judged by: Jon Cole, Web Marketing Manager at the University of Southampton.
WINNER: Chandlers Ford Online; www.chandlersfordonline.com
RUNNERS UP:
Hampshire List, New Milton www.hampshire-list.co.uk
Ladies who lunch in Hampshire, Southampton www.ladieswho lunch-in-hampshire.co.uk
BEST PUBLIC ACCESS POINT TO THE INTERNET sponsored by SEEDA (South East England Development Agency)
Locations which offer public internet access (internet cafes, community centres, etc), providing a good service and helpful advice.
Judged by: Malcolm Roberts, IT Development Co-ordinator for Age Concern; Olivia Newnham, a student teacher who relied on internet cafes whilst travelling the world and Richard Strother, who as a volunteer for a Southampton organisation which provides sheltered housing, encourages elderly people to become `silver surfers'.
WINNER: Ford Partnership Centre in association with Skillquest Ltd, Southampton
RUNNER UP:
Eastpoint Centre Cyber Café, Thornhill, Southampton (won the category last year)
SPECIAL AWARD for services to `Silver Surfers': Centre for the Third Age, Southampton.
COMMUNITY & VOLUNTARY ORGANISATION
Charities and community groups whose sites offer practical guidance and information to the public as well as information on how to get involved.
Judged by: Cheryl Rickman, director of WebCritique.co.uk
WINNER: Andover Family Learning www.andoverfamilylearning.co.uk
RUNNER UP: The League of Venturers Search and Rescue, Holbury www.venturers-search-and-rescue.org.uk
LOCAL SMALL BUSINESS
Effective use of the web to generate business whilst providing a service to customers
Judged by: Emma Shears, Executive Manager of Wired Wessex and Kim Longley, Web Editor at Wired Wessex.
WINNER: PB Asher Diesel Injection Engineers Ltd, Southampton www.pbasher.co.uk
RUNNERS UP:
Coronet Turf, Basingstoke www.coronet-turf.co.uk
Park Farm Organics, Heckfield www.pfo-shop.co.uk
PUBLIC SECTOR sponsored by Works Unit
Includes district councils, emergency services and health authorities, whose sites provide clear information to help their customers understand the services and how to get the best from them.
Judged by: Vanessa Donelly, senior software engineer with the IBM Ease of Use Group
WINNER: Isle of Wight Council; www.iwight.com
RUNNER UP: Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council www.basingstoke.gov.uk
RURAL COMMUNITY sponsored SEEDA (South East England Development Agency)
Websites which promote the Hampshire rural community, particularly those associated with producers and farming in Hampshire.
Judged by: Alan Cleaver, editor of the Hampshire Chronicle.
WINNER: Hardy's Cottage Garden Plants, Whitchurch www.hardys-plants.co.uk
RUNNER UP: Hampshire Farmers' Markets Ltd, Winchester; www.hampshirefarmersmarkets.co.uk
SCHOOLS sponsored by Synstar
School websites (primary or secondary), whether state or independents, which involve all parts of the school community including children, parents and staff.
Judged by: Lisbeth Rake, Education Correspondent for the Hampshire Chronicle, Jo Brocklebank, manager of the Education web team at Hampshire County Council and David Pounds, a web developer for the County Council's education department.
WINNER: Stockbridge Primary School, Stockbridge www.stockbridge.hants.sch.uk
RUNNER UP: Kings Copse Primary School, Hedge End www.kingscopse.hants.sch.uk
SPECIAL INTEREST
Websites which offer useful information on specialist subjects, eg clubs, societies or personal websites. Commercial companies are excluded from this category.
Judged by: Howard Gerlis, Chairman and founder member of the British Computer Society Internet Specialist Group.
WINNER: Compassion in World Farming, Petersfield www.ciwf.org.uk
RUNNER UP: Playing Out Loud, Southampton www.playingoutloud.co.uk (was runner up in this category last year).
TOWN OR PARISH COUNCIL
Websites which involve the local community and provide an up-to-date, helpful service
Judged by: Jackie Porter who has been a parish and city councillor.
WINNER: Longparish Parish Council www.longparish.org.uk
RUNNER UP: Fawley Parish Council; www.fawleyparishcouncil.org.uk (was runner up last year in this category).
YOUTH sponsored by Synstar
Websites run by and for young people under the age of 25, showing initiative and involvement in the community.
Judged by: Dr Jon Rimmer, Research Fellow in the School of Cognitive and Computing Sciences at the University of Sussex.
WINNER: Ilikemusic.com Ltd, Southampton www.ilikemusic.com
RUNNER UP: Websites & Networking Corporation, Horndean; www.handleyshop.com
Photos of winners/runners up collecting their awards are available on request by contacting Lee Williams in the Hampshire County Council press office on 01962 847115 or lee.williams@hants.gov.uk.
For further information please contact: Lee Williams on 01962 847115
lee.williams@hants.gov.uk
16/11/2004