PR 2496

COUNTY COUNCIL'S HANTSWEB AWARD WINNER TO BENEFIT FROM £10,000 BOOST FROM MICROSOFT

One small business or young entrepreneur in Hampshire or the Isle of Wight with the `x-factor' will win Microsoft software, services and 12 months' top-notch IT consultancy worth £10,000 in this year's Hantsweb 2005 Awards run by Hampshire County Council.

Microsoft, main sponsor of the Hantsweb Awards, will be giving this one-off prize to the entrant that they believe has the greatest potential to grow and expand through enhancing their technology.

This prize is in addition to Microsoft's support for the Most Accessible Website Award.

Terry Smith, Senior Director of Public Sector, Microsoft, said: "We work with many local and regional governments across the UK to help both them and their constituents make the best use of technology. We are looking for the entrant who impresses the judges with their use of, and passion for, technology, and their commitment to grow their business. We will spend 12 months working closely with that fledgling company, to demonstrate how IT solutions can make a difference to its long term future.

"We will be looking at the Hantsweb Awards nominations for suitable candidates; the winner will be a budding enterprise chosen from any of the relevant categories, for example, small business, rural enterprise, recreation and tourism, youth, or the interactive or accessible website awards."

Hampshire County Council's Councillor Rod Baulk, e-Government Champion said: "As our partner for the Hantsweb Awards, Microsoft is helping the County Council achieve its objective of improving online services throughout Hampshire and the Isle of Wight. This innovative award will give one lucky organisation a real boost, and it will be fascinating to see the results, one year on."

Nominations can be made until the closing date of 16 December 2005 at www.hants.gov.uk/hantswebawards

There are 12 award categories and a further £10,000 of prizes up for grabs.

The Hantsweb Awards are organised by Hampshire County Council with the support of sponsorship from, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, ESRI, Symantec, Synetrix, Claranet, Citrix, SAP, 2nd Chance, Anite, EMC, IBM, Norsk Data, SEEDA, Wyse Technology (UK) Ltd, and Unisys, with prizes sponsored by Dell, Hampshire Fare, Macmillan Education Publishing, MRSK, Progenit, South Hampshire Enterprise Agency, and Start Fareham.

ENDS

Notes for Editors

The 12 award categories are

Best Recreation and Tourism Website - for Hampshire and Isle of Wight-based enterprises which promote recreational and visitor benefits of local hotels, amenities.

Best Small Business Website - open to businesses employing 250 people or less, who use the internet to promote their goods/services online and provide a service to customers.

Best Rural Enterprise Website - websites which contribute towards the economic well-being of a rural area in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

Best Public Internet Access Point - for people of all ages without their own computer, in public locations like libraries, internet cafés and rural village halls

Best Public Service Website - useful, clear information about the service with advice on how to get the best from it via the website. Open to district and borough councils, emergency services, health authorities and other public services.

Best School Website - for children, their parents and teachers; children should be involved in preparing the web content. Open to all schools in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Most Accessible Website - which best meets the needs of users, irrespective of technical or physical limitation. One of the criteria will be ease of use via access software such as screen readers for the blind or text based browsers.

Best Young People's Website - websites run by young people for young people. The age of people running the site and the age of the target audience must be under 25 years.

Best Interactive Website - for a business or information site which provides the best online service, and ease of use whether buying online, referencing/downloading information or interacting with the site

Best Special Interest Website - charities, clubs, societies, or even personal websites, containing useful or interesting information to those with a shared interest and available to the general public

Best Town or Parish Council Website - regularly updated information about the town or parish for the local community, demonstrating involvement of residents. Open to town and parish councils in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

Best Community or Voluntary Organisation Website - comprehensive information for users, practical advice, as well as guidance on how to get involved in voluntary activity.

For further information please contact: Mary Stone on 01962 847367

mary.stone@hants.gov.uk

30/11/2005