The regional finalists from the 2004 DTI/InterForum E-Commerce Awards have been announced.

Richard Kneller, on behalf of the East of England Business Links, regional sponsor for the E-Commerce Awards said: "Out of an impressive selection of entries, it's a real achievement for these companies to have won in their categories - the quality of entries just gets better and better each year.

"We are pleased to be able to recognise their hard work and wish all companies the best of luck at the National final in October."

The E-Commerce Awards are an integral part of the Government's drive to encourage the use of both ICT and e-commerce by SME's.

BT are sponsoring one of the categories for Best Use of Broadband.

BT Regional Director Peter McCarthy Ward said: "The calibre of this year's E-Commerce Award winners is testament to how far SME's have embraced the internet revolution."

The regional winners are: Broadband Winner: Visual Planet, Commended: Einstein Network; E Business Winner: Electricshop.com, Highly Commended: Ceetak Engineering; ETrading Winner: Flooringsupplies.co.uk, Highly Commended: Mad About Cards; Start-up Winner: HolidayLets.net, Highly Commended: SkyScanner Ltd; Teleworking Winner: OutSec Ltd, Highly Commended: Visual Planet.

The winners received a cheque for £2,000 each and will go on to compete against champions from eleven other regions across the UK to be national category winner.

Published Friday September 24, 2004