The first-ever North East Digital Awards are set to celebrate the achievements and highlight the talents of firms in the region using digital technology.

The Awards will recognise quality across all areas of e-business and provide free online promotion of businesses across the region, both for those which are creating and developing digital technology and those which are using it in the most creative and innovative ways.

Funded by regional development agency One NorthEast, and managed by e-business champion The North East Regional Portal, the Awards are open for entries until 28 March 2008. Entries are submitted exclusively online at www.northeastdigitalawards.co.uk

Emmanuelle Martinot, e-business technical advisor for One NorthEast, said: “The North East of England is a hotbed for digital talent and these awards are an opportunity to highlight and celebrate those achievements. We’re really looking forward to seeing the nominations.”

The North East Regional Portal’s head of e-business Pascal Fintoni explained: “The rapid expansion and development of digital technologies in the North East of England is undeniable, and successful and innovative businesses deserve to be celebrated.

“These awards celebrate the achievements of businesses, companies and organisations that have recognised, developed and used digital techniques to generate and maintain effective online activities. This means that all Award nominees will be winners.”

The awards are divided into three Groups: Digital Users, Digital Suppliers and Digital Innovators and categories range from ‘Best E-commerce Website’ to ‘Best News and Entertainment Website’.

Taking a unique and imaginative step, the entire nomination and voting process will take place online – with every nomination featuring extensively on the North East Digital Awards website www.northeastdigitalawards.co.uk.

The closing date for entry is 31 March 2008.