North West Shines in Digital Entrepreneur Awards

Jan. 19, 2012 - PRLog -- The winners of the UK's only national awards dedicated to internet entrepreneurialism have been announced this week with four North West firms heralded as the best in the industry.

Manchester-based design and technical consultancy Building Blocks scooped the top honour, receiving the Digital Entrepreneur of the Year Award for their efforts in building the agency from the ground up and, in the space of only four years, acquiring clients such as Warner Leisure Hotels and Butlins.

The firm's co-founder Andy Iddon said: "2011 was a fantastic year for Building Blocks and this award recognises the continued commitment we have to providing solutions and services that deliver on customer expectation."

Al Mackin, CEO of Trafford Park-based SEO agency, TheEword, walked away with the Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

Mackin said: "2011 was a record year for theEword with our turnover doubling and a wealth of new clients coming on board. Being named Young Entrepreneur is a fantastic accolade for myself and my great team."

Other winners in the region included Manchester design agency, magneticNorth, who received the Design and Marketing Entrepreneur of the Year Award. Didsbury-based mobile software firm Myriad picked up the Mobile Web Entrepreneur of the Year Award and Liverpool's online marketing agency Yoma walked away with the Web Development Entrepreneur of the Year Award.

The Digital Entrepreneur of the Year Awards (DEAs), sponsored by Manchester hosting company UKFast, recognise and reward the UK's pioneers of the internet.

The awards have been rewarding excellence in online business since 2006 and over the years have paid tribute to many of the industry's elite including high-profile business giants Square-Enix, Sainsbury's and Wonga.com who took the Entrepreneur of the Year title at last year's ceremony.

Lawrence Jones, CEO of UKFast, the headline sponsor of the awards and one of Europe's fastest-growing technical companies, said: "It's a privilege to be involved in an event that recognises the innovators and entrepreneurs that are changing the face of the internet as we know it. There are some fantastic companies involved in the awards this year and it is truly inspiring to see the North West represented so well."


The full winners list 2011

Digital Entrepreneur of the Year Andy Iddon and Jonathan Whiteside, Building Blocks
Young Entrepreneur of the Year  Al Mackin, The E-Word
Software Entrepreneur of the Year  Kallik
Web Development Entrepreneur of the Year  Yoma
Design and Marketing Entrepreneur of the Year  Magnetic North
Mobile Web Entrepreneur of the Year  Myriad
E-Commerce Entrepreneur of the Year Richard Pepper, Funky Pigeon
Green Innovator of the Year  Ayerst Environmental

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UKFast is the ISPA UK’s Best Business Host 2007, 2006 & 2005 as well as Future Publishing’s Best Business ISP 2004. UKFast has a regular place in UK Top Host’s list of top 5 ISPs & plays a big part in Manchester’s future as a digital city.