A dental practice from North East England is all smiles after beating off competition from across the UK to claim an award at the national finals of the e-commerce awards, last night.
Gosforth-based dentists Kelvin Lodge Dental Practice (www.kelvinlodge.co.uk) won the Best Customer Care Online award at the national awards in London on Thursday 7 October.
One NorthEast led a delegation of companies from the region, all of which had claimed honours at the regional eCommerce awards, to the national finals to showcase the innovative work being done across the region.
The national honour is a great boost for the North East, as more and more companies are realising the potential markets being opened up by expanding communication technology and e-commerce provision.
Kelvin Lodge was recognised for its exceptional levels of customer care and online interaction with its clients, which is quite unique in this field of work.
The Judging Panel commended the Kelvin Lodge website for being extremely innovative demonstrating unique customer care, by interacting efficiently with their customers.
The best Customer Care Award is being given to an organisation that can be seen to be leading its field, the Health Sector.
The competition aims to recognise companies benefiting from information and communication technology and the North East heat, held last month, was supported by regional development agency, One NorthEast.
The regional winners were:
Best Online Sale and Marketing, Middlesbrough designer clothing firm Triads. www.triads.co.uk
The top prize for best End-to-End Integrated Business went to Dive Logs. The Newcastle-based firm allows underwater divers to keep accurate records of their underwater achievements. www.dive-logs.com
The Broadband Communications category was won by Beat Suite a music supply company from Newcastle. www.beatsuite.com
Children’s online toy store Pedal Pushers based in Hedley-on-the-Hill in Northumberland was the winner of the Best Use of Teleworking award. www.pedalpusherslimited.co.uk
Best Use of Mobile and Wireless Applications was Cramlington based Advanced Engineering Solutions. www.aesengs.co.uk
Andy Walton, ebusiness manager at One NorthEast, added: “I would like to congratulate all of the regional winners for not only embracing the technology but by doing the region proud in spite of very tough competition, to get a National winner was great. The National award and recognition is very much deserved by the team at Kelvin Lodge for the hard work and effort they have put into creating their online customer care facility.
“This award shows that with some innovative thinking any business can benefit from the use of ICT, Broadband and in some cases eBusiness”
“I think this is a demonstration of how North East organisations are becoming increasingly aware of the important role good online links can play in boosting customer service.
“The firms that were recommended and were winners in the 2005 E-Commerce Awards are all putting e-commerce at the heart of their plans for the future, grasping the amazing advances in technology, and exploring wonderful new opportunities.
“Companies embracing the e-commerce revolution have found themselves competing in a much bigger and potentially lucrative marketplace – often winning orders from customers all over the world. No longer is geographical location a hindrance to a firm’s aspirations for the future, and desire to grow and succeed.
“That fits in with our core aim at One NorthEast – to establish a thriving and exciting economy here in North East England – and we want to see businesses of all sizes flourishing and doing well.”
For more information please contact: Bryn Littleton, press office, One NorthEast on Tel: (0191) 2296713, mobile no: 07717 468918.
e-mail : bryn.littleton@onenortheast.co.uk
