2009 National Enterprise Awards winners

Best Website, Combating Worklessness, Customer Focus, Innovation and Unsung Hero were among the awards announced by the NFEA (National Enterprise Network) earlier this week. Winners were chosen by an external judging panel, including Ann Carter Gray, Strategic Partnerships, the Department for Business, Innovation & Skills (BIS) and Alex McWhirter, Assistant Director, Business at Yorkshire Forward.

The Best Website award recognises sites that have demonstrated excellence in design, technology and usability; reaching specific target markets and highlighting the effective and attractive use of the web. The award was won by Enterprise First in the South East for https://www.enterprisefirst.co.uk/ - which gives visitors a clear view of available services, excellent links to a wide range of support and also displays glowing client references.

The Combating Worklessness award was won by Furness Enterprise, based in Barrow in Furness, whose comprehensive, community-based programme was designed to address specific problems arising out of area-based industrial decline.

Enterprise agency Northern Pinetree Trust, located in Chester Le Street, was presented with the National Enterprise Award for Customer Focus, a category that was looking for examples of good practice in designing, delivering and communicating products and services, to address the distinct requirements of particular customer groups.

You'll find more details of the winners in each category on the NFEA website.