e-Tameside Awards 2005
e-Tameside Awards 2005
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The e-tameside Awards are to celebrate the dynamism and innovation of ICT in Tameside.
Text Only Version
Dianne Oxberry - Presenter
Welcome to Ashton Town Hall for the 6th annual e-tameside Awards...
Tonight we have 9 categories, celebrating the dynamism and innovation of people in this field. Tameside excels in this area, so we're in for a spectacular night. Months of preparation and 2 days of set up have provided us with a stunning backdrop for these prestigious awards.
What difference does the website actually make to the theatre?
Phil Steels - Best Voluntary/Community Website
It's good publicity, 24/7, free advertising basically. We get lots of visitors; lots of people use it as a reference point to find out what's going on at the theatre.
So for this ceremony tonight, you've missed the opening night?
Yes.
Good luck I hope it was worthwhile
OK, thank you very much
How do you feel personally that you fulfil that category... life long learner, what's your story?
Ian Oldham - Lifelong Learner of the Year
I came back to school in the year 2000. I left school in 68, with no qualifications, and now I have a job, and I've got quite a few qualifications, adult learner support, mentoring certificate and things like that, so it's been non-stop learning for 5 years
Margaret Oldham - Cabinet Deputy for Co-ordinated Services
Well, when I took over IT, they all said Ooh how boring, all full of nerds, but as you can see tonight that's not true at all. They're a bright young vibrant lot of people that run our IT, it's superb.
And they're also in terms of teaching they're inspiring bright young vibrant people at such an early age nowadays aren't they?
Oh they are yeah, the children right from the beginning, that's where you want it, and then the grandma's to catch up and the mothers to catch up, so it's superb it is, everything.
Nick Carr-Brown - Stone Computers
Nowadays some of the kids around here are really doing some exciting stuff with flash animation and allsorts of wonderful things, you know, so we're looking for something good tonight.
Jane Michael - e-tameside Business Team
Websites themselves have become much more popular, they're used more…we've done a lot of good work in the borough, and not just us, people getting their own websites anyway. And they're seeing other people winning awards; they're seeing we do get publicity for it.
Cllr Frank Robinson - Stalybridge North
Simply the best, an excellent council, we can't get any better than what we are. We have to keep our standards. We don't want to slip off the number one perch, and hence we're an excellent council.
Irene Rutherford - Elonex
From when we first started supplying Tameside schools, we've seen a vast improvement, and we deal with lots of LEA's across the country, and I think we always stand this LEA up as being a pathfinder.
Cllr S.R. Oldham CBE - Executive Leader Tameside Council
We've had people who have been literally emptying refuge bins and we brought them in finding that they've got a hobby in computers, and they're in computers now. They've moved right from one part of the service for the council to something quite different and special. So there's lots of talent hidden away and we are tracking it down like that, so it's always quite good to be here on these occasions.
Andrew Gwynne - Local MP
We've got some fantastic hi-tech industries and I think we're going to see some of that tonight with the awards, and you know we've got a message to say that Tameside's at the cutting edge of the new technologies.
Cutting edge of business, cutting edge in education, it's really diverse what we're representing tonight isn't it?
It is, and I'm proud to be Tameside born and bred, and these events make you realise just what a special place the borough is.
Host
And now I'd like to invite you on behalf of Tameside Council to join me in the classical setting of Ashton Town Hall for tonight's proceedings.
Dianne Oxberry - Presenter
Well we've heard from some of the VIP's, we've heard from some of the sponsors and the nominees. The awards are about to start, come and join us upstairs.
Host
Good evening, welcome to the e-tameside Awards, 2005.
This is the first award tonight, in the innovation section. The judges were looking for evidence of schemes and projects that have been creative, in the way technology has been used to deliver or support its objectives. Innovation isn't easy to define or prescribe, therefore we had a wide range of ideas and projects from different areas and backgrounds some small, some large, some complex, and some simple.
The first award this evening is for the most innovative use of ICT in a local business, this evening this award has been sponsored by Brother from Audenshaw, a huge company in Tameside, we are delighted that there on board with us this evening. They're local company as you know and is the first time they have sponsored these awards and we are now in our sixth year. Would you please welcome from Brother Chris Heinze onto the stage please.
OK, the winner of the award tonight has shown that technology can be applied in a creative yet supportive way to help some of the most disadvantaged groups within the community and that by deploying these products over the internet they can build and administer a world wide operation right here in Tameside delivering products to the rest of the world. The winner of the first award tonight for the online training package is Norman Mackie and associates Ltd
Thank you to Chris and thank you to Norman.
Our second award this evening is for the most innovative use of ICT in schools. This has been sponsored by Stone Computers who have been with the awards since last year and clearly enjoyed themselves and are here again with us this evening, their a big company, they do lots of good work in the world of ICT. I'd like you to welcome on behalf of Stone Computers Nick Carr-Brown please.
In this category the judges were looking for a school based project or scheme that was both imaginative and innovative, and that had both ICT and children's education at its core, there were looking for the best practice examples and tangible evidence that improvement was being achieved by the application of ICT. The winner for the longest entry of any award, the most innovative use of ICT in schools, for their digital animation and video skills scheme is, Russell Scott Primary school.
During dinner we will be entertained by a man who is absolutely splendiferous when it comes to singing, he is to singing what the IT crew of New Image are to visuals, he's absolutely suburb. I'd like to welcome the crooner while you enjoy you dinner.
So you're the first winner of the evening, how does it feel?
Very exciting and very very surprising I'm totally surprised by it.
Why do you say surprised? Because what you've achieved is been recognised and when we read the citation we realise what you have achieved it is quite amazing.
Well I think when you're involved in your every day work you naturally assume that hundreds of other people are doing the same thing or similar things, and for somebody to come along and kind of recognize what you do is a wee bit special or a wee bit extra is surprising and very very nice.
Winner of Most Innovative use of ICT in Schools - Russell Scott Primary
Well we made an animation, a stop motion animation video with the children, it's all the children's work, they put so much effort and so many weeks of patient moving of plasticine to put it all together as a film and produce a wonderful piece of animation.
A project that we've done to win this award was done after the real work was done so after they'd done their SAT'S they did this which was creative and fantastic and it just took the shackles off the children in their learning and they won a national award, a national BECTA award and they've won a Tameside e award, it just goes to show you sometimes education needs to be turned on it's head and give children some space to create.
Creativity is the really important word isn't it? And marrying technology with creativity and you can tap into that
Creativity through technology, quite often computers are used as really expensive pencils, and word processors and what we do when we do these animations is we're giving children the opportunity to be really creative, start with the model making and take it right through the editing and putting all the animations together.
Host
We're now going to celebrate the individuals who have won awards so please pay attention for the second set of e-tameside awards for 2005.
The third award of the evening is the ICT Technician and Support Assistant of the year, this has been sponsored by Espresso, Espresso is on a brace of sponsorship tonight, not that we're counting you understand but they are doing 2. Would you please welcome their representative Jean Rowton.
Ok, the ICT Technician and Support Assistant play a vital role in ICT systems by making sure that they actually work I the first place and keep on working, often there work goes on un-sung and they are the mechanics that keep the ICT bandwagon on the road. This was a particularly difficult award category to judge for our judges and we had a number of excellent nominations, it was near impossible to single out one person and I'm sure that you will have gathered that by now because you're all very observant. The judges decided that they couldn't separate 2 so we have 2 winners in this category the winners of the ICT Technician and Support Assistant of the year are, I've got 2 names so you'll have to hang back for a minute, the first one is Mary Gilmore from Godley and the second one is Lee Willis from Stamford.
Round of applause, thank you very very much and thank you also to Jean.
Our fourth award of the evening is for the Teacher of the year, this one has been sponsored by Microsoft no less. Another new comer to sponsorship this year so new in fact they couldn't find there way here and we understand that Bill Gates is stuck at Dukinfield International Airport, Roy has promised to extend the runway for next year down to Dewsnap so the Lear jet can land from Seattle without stopping. In their place we would like to welcome Councillor Margaret Oldham to the stage who is far more popular than Bill Gates and has probably got more money.
Guess what? 2 again. Teachers are a much misunderstood and maligned lot and they were in my day anyway and their lot is not an easy one. ICT presents teachers whether they teach in school, college, learning centre, or community centre with a real opportunity too bring subjects to life, it can be used to engage and enthuse pupils helping them to improve both their skills and making it more enjoyable. During the process of judging this award and the site visits made by the judges to watch the nominees in action it became clear that once again 2 of the candidates were so outstanding they could not be separated. Both demonstrated an abundance of enthusiasm, understanding and the ability to engage people in using ICT, the winners of the Teacher of the year are Brian Harkins Russell Scott and Julie Bee from Union Street learning centre.
Wonderful well done and thank you too Microsoft for sending their cheque and to Margaret for standing in to help us out.
The fifth award this evening is the New Starter of the Year, this has been sponsored by Ashton Sixth Form College who are sponsoring for the third time this evening so welcome to the stage please Geoff Higgins their representative. The award this evening is to recognise the achievements of a individual who is new to ICT and E-Learning during 2005. The winner has shown by hard work and dedication it is possible to achieve results above and beyond what you and others believe is possible as a complete beginner to ICT she gained confidence in her own ability and within 12 short months completed 7 modules of the new Clait qualification and now plans to tackle the European Computer Driving Licence. The winner of the New Starter of the Year is Mrs Nutall. She's not here but Catherine Mosley is well done. She can't be with us this evening, she's really sorry she can't be here but she's sent along this lovely young lady instead.
Thank you very much and thank you to Geoff Higgins.
Our sixth award this evening and our last in this section is for the Life Long Learner of the Year once again we are sponsored by Tameside College, I'd like to welcome to the stage John McCall while we have John with us, the principle John Carroll has been ill and he's now on his way to full health and I'm sure John will take back our best wishes for his full recovery because we hope he is with us next year. So the award this evening is for the person who the judges felt best exemplified what life long learning is all about the judges were impressed with the way the winner has used ICT training courses to transform his life, having left school with no qualifications being employed in mainly manual jobs until becoming un-employed he then took the opportunity to lean new skills over a 4 year period he has worked his way through a range of qualifications and has recently started a new job helping and mentoring others in the use of ICT the winner of the Life Long Learner of the year is Ian Oldham
So thank you to Tameside College.
People in your role are quite often un-sung heroes, how does it feel to have the spotlight on you tonight?
Lee Willis - Joint Winner, ICT Technician of the Year
It's great, a bit of acknowledgement at last.
Is that what's really motivating as well when people do actually recognise how much hard work you do actually put in?
Yeah, it's nice to be acknowledged, you're behind the scenes all the time and when somebody actually takes notice it's great.
Mary Gilmore - Joint Winner, ICT Technician of the Year
I feel really appreciated because up until now I'd gone into the school that hadn't really approached any ICT at all and now they really appreciate it and use it a lot.
So what is it about computers that you connect with? Because you do connect now because you mentor other people.
Ian Oldham - Lifelong Learner of the Year
It's the way I learn I mean if I read a book I can't understand it properly but if I'm visual learning and somebody's showing me and I can see it on a screen it just sinks in a lot easier.
And now you mentoring other people and motivating other people, you're the perfect role model really aren't you?
Thank you very much I just enjoy what I'm doing I never even thought I was achieving anything I was just enjoying life and I have been doing since I came back to school in 2000.
How do you continue to be progressive for the future in what you do?
Julie Bee - Joint Winner, Teacher of the Year
Well I guess it's just your own personal development and being aware of things that are advancing and technology advancements and just keeping up to step with everything, that's what I'm trying to do.
Congratulations.
Thank you very much
2 awards in on evening that's fabulous isn't it?
Brian Harkins - Joint Winner, Teacher of the Year
It's great; I didn't expect anything like this.
Great reaction from your table!
That's a combination of the wine and the enthusiasm
People are generally thrilled for you and your achievements personally and for the school aren't they?
Well it's been a lot of hard work and everybody on the table knows what hard work as gone into it and it's a nice way to reward.
Host
The third and final set of awards tonight are for websites. For the seventh award tonight is the best Voluntary, Community and Local Interest Group website sponsored by Anite, there not here either but they've done it before, three times and we're very pleased with that, and so would you please welcome back on stage councillor Margaret Oldham to present the award on behalf of Anite.
These are the most difficult categories to judge as you can imagine because judges have to work hard to see beyond the obvious font face of the website and get a real feel for the company behind the scenes the judges were looking for a website that had a good understanding of their target audience, that was functional, attractive and easy to understand. The winner of the best Voluntary, Community and Local Interest Group Website is for the second year in a row, Guide Bridge theatre.
Thank you very much to Guide Bridge theatre.
This was the category that created a lot of interest this year, the judges were looking for a website that loaded quickly, performed well, and catered for differing needs of the people who would be expected to use it. It needed to be functional, easy to use, and full of information, what's known as information rich. The winner of the best School or College Website is Tameside College.
The final award this evening is for the Best Business Website, this has been sponsored by Your Communications who have been here for all of our six years and we are delighted to have with us Jim Freeth.
This is without doubt the closest result in the history of the E-Tameside awards, never before have we been faced with such a close result. The judges were looking for a website with a good design and layout, was easy to understand, and the content and graphics were also easy to follow. They wanted a good understanding of the target audience with a strong focus on what they were selling, they were looking for new or innovative products or services complete with online ordering and payment facilities. I'm delighted to tell you that two tameside companies met all of that criteria and so good were they the judges couldn't separate them, we have two winners so let's hear it for Grobox Gardens and Gorgeous Couture.
Thank you very much, and a special thanks to our guest Dianne.
So, congratulations, two years in a row as well. I mean that's a real achievement isn't it?
Guide Bridge Theatre - Winner, Best Voluntary Website
Yeah, we're surprised we didn't think we'd get it twice, it was nice to get it the first time but the second you know it's like wow; it's brilliant.
You haven't rested on you laurels, you've made some significant improvements because things have changed and you've also added a really interesting archive haven't you?
That's right, we've got programmes going right back to 1972 now on the website with the exception of 2 which nobody seems to have which is a shame but I'm sure we'll find them though; somebody will have them somewhere.
Go on, which ones are they because somebody might just have them somewhere.
Oh God, now you're asking me, if you'd asked me at the beginning of the night I might have remembered but not now!
Many people will think a College or a School, it's all about the people within that building but it's not is it?
Tameside College - Winner, Best College Website
No it's very important we have a text only version and we have welcome messages in various languages to make it accessible to a wide range of people.
What's the most visited part of the website, do you know?
It's mainly the courses but we do get a lot of people visiting the job section as well which I noticed recently but it's mainly people looking for courses they'd like to go on.
Grobox - Joint Winner, Best Business Website
We do really well as a new product and a new local tameside business we've done some incredible things recently we were down in London at the Guild Hall and Grobox won innovation of the year which is fantastic and I won female British innovator of the year.
To win something locally is so much more important for a local business isn't it?
Yeah it was absolutely fantastic because I just didn't think we were going to get it at all and it's just been a wonderful night and just the support of local business from the E-Tameside business team is just absolutely fantastic.
To look at your website, it's so visual, so interactive, how important is it to your business?
Well it's very important because the majority of our actual main business now is done online so I mean it's really imperative that we get it looking right and get it looking appealing to all the young girls who want to by our clothes so it's really important that it looks really sexy and sassy and fun so we really work hard on that and we're really proud that it's been recognised tonight.
Dianne Oxberry - Presenter
So tonight we have met some inspirational teachers and mentors, some hard working technicians, and some wonderful website designers. If you've been inspired to find out how ICT can change your business and perhaps your life you never know we might see you here next year.
Good Night
The e-tameside Partnership would like to thank
- CGI and Xerox (overall sponsors)
- Anite
- Elonex
- Expresso
- Impower
- Your Communications
- Ashton Sixth Form College
- Tameside College
- Stone Computers
- Microsoft
- Brother
- Orange