22 T h u r s d a y, M a rc h 17, 2016 RSM-EO1-S2 T h u r s d a y, M a rc h 17, 2016 23RSM-EO1-S2

Words: Shams Al-ShakarchiPictures: Ian Stratton

THE online achievements of busi-nesses, charities and schoolsacross Surrey have been celeb-rated at the second Surrey DigitalAw a rd s.

Accolades across 16 categories,including ‘We b s i t e ’, ‘Mobile App’and ‘Use of Social Media for Busi-ness’, were presented to deservingorganisations at the HG WellsConference & Events Centre lastT hursday.

Compering the event wasformer BBC broadcaster RobinBailey, who presented Gold, Silverand Bronze prizes to a host ofworthy winners.

Before the awards ceremony,Rob Bloom, the group head ofdigital and social media at McLar-en F1, gave an inspiring keynotespeech about the global firm’sdigital marketing strategy.

Special guests included Coun-cillor Linda Kemeny, from theheadline sponsor Surrey CountyCouncil, chief executive of SurreyChambers of Commerce LouisePunter, editor of the Surrey Mir-ror Deanne Blaylock, and ConradMurray from associate sponsorNero Blanco IT.

The Surrey Digital Awards wasset up in 2015 solely to showcaseonline work.

Reigate-based firm WS Plan-ning & Architecture scooped Goldin the flagship ‘We b s i t e ’ c at -e gory.

Managing director BrianWoods summed up the victory.

He said: “What an amazingevening. To get the ultimateaward is just absolutely fantasticand we’re now going to have aglass of champagne or two.”

Suppor tLouise Punter, of Surrey Cham-

bers of Commerce, the key sup-porter for the evening, said: “Itwas a fantastic evening. We sup-port the awards because we love tocelebrate businesses who aredoing well but particularly to seecompanies who are using digitaltechnology to improve their busi-nesses. We ’ll certainly be herenext year.”

Woking web designer Lab wonthe top prize in the ‘We b s i t e :School, Education or Charity’area for their work on behalf ofinternational training course pro-vider Hemsley Fraser and in the‘Website: B2B’ category for theirproject with Sage Pay.

Other winners included TheGuide 2 Surrey by TG MediaGroup, in Guildford, in ‘Use ofSocial Media for Business’ andGodalming IT company Ramsaccame out on top in the ‘Blo g:Business’ cl a s s i f i c at i o n .

Taking the plaudits in the ‘Blo g:Enter tainment’ category wasExpert Home Tips by Veneficuswhile Corporate Baby, an onlinebaby giftshop from Shalford,walked away as the first-placed‘Online Retailer’.

Anushka Fernando, from

Expert Home Tips, said: “We ’re sothrilled to receive such an accol-ade after all the hard work we’veput into the blog.”

SDA16 was headline sponsoredby Surrey County Council andbacked by the Mirror and DorkingAdvertiser, Nero Blanco IT, Sur-rey Chambers of Commerce,Gatwick Airport and Woking Bor-ough Council.

Also victorious were Button’sC h i l d re n’s Parties, which landedGold in the ‘Use of Video for Busi-ness’ category, and StaySafe,which came out on top in the

‘Mobile App’ section. Gold awardsalso went to Cielo Move by ValiantDesign for ‘Responsive Website’and The Great Holiday Collectionby OH Creative in ‘Website: SmallBusiness’.

‘Website: Lifestyle & Culture’Gold was presented to La Res-idence Interiors, ‘Website: Mar-keting & Creative’ Gold to FlicCreative and ‘Website: Sports &Enter tainment’ Gold to Film MyShow by The Big Yellow Feet Pro-duction Company.

There was also a surprise ‘Spir-it of Surrey’ award which was

handed to Brooklands Museum,in Weybridge, who were commen-ded for ‘going above and beyondthe call of duty for the bettermentand promotion of Surrey’ t h ro u g htheir digital work.

For the first time, there wasalso a presentation of a DigitalInnovation Award in collabora-tion with the University of SurreyBusiness School, which waspresented by Professor RogerMaull to Physical Digital, in Wok-ing, for using digital technologyto improve the experience of cus-t o m e r s.

SURREY DIGITAL AWARDS: Special evening recognises how companies have used innovative technology to boost their businesses

Enterprising firmscelebrate a goldennight of success

SUPPORTERS: Karen Hardy from NeroBlanco REIS20160310A-004_C

SCOOP: Expert Home Tips by Veneficus win gold for Blog:Entertainment REIS20160310A-150_C

NETWORKING: Guests enjoyed pre-awards drinks REIS20160310A-043_C

ENTERTAINMENT: Poder de Tres REIS20160310A-029_C

SPEECH: Rob Bloom, grouphead of digital and social mediaat McLaren F1 REIS20160310A-063_C

WELCOME: BBC broadcasterRobin Bailey REIS20160310A-060_C

TEAM EFFORT: WS Planning & Architecture win the prize for best website, in association with SurreyCounty Council REIS20160310A-220_C

WINNERS IN ALL THE CATEGORIES■ Blog: Business inassociation with WokingBorough CouncilGOLD: RamsacSILVER: PlantpassionBRONZE: WATB Creative■ Blog: EntertainmentGOLD: Expert Home Tips byVe n e f i c u sSILVER: All About UBRONZE: UHub■ Digital Innovation Award inassociation with University ofSurrey Business SchoolGOLD: Physical Digital■ Mobile App in associationwith Gatwick AirportGOLD: StaySafeSILVER: B r a n d S t re e tBRONZE: uMAXit Football byBig Orange Software■ Online RetailerGOLD: Corporate BabySILVER: Film My Show by TheBig Yellow Feet ProductionCompanyBRONZE: The GuardianBookshop by Lab■ Responsive WebsiteGOLD: Cielo Move by ValiantDesignSILVER: Chaddesley SanfordBRONZE: Mirage Parties byWAT B■ Spirit of Surrey inassociation with SurreyChambers of CommerceGOLD: Brooklands Museum■ Use of Social Media forBusiness in association withSurrey Mirror

GOLD: The Guide 2 Surrey byTG Media GroupSILVER: Surrey MummyBRONZE: taxhelp.uk.com Ltd■ Use of Video for BusinessGOLD: Buttons Children'sPartiesSILVER: The Big Yellow FeetProduction CompanyBRONZE: Ramsac■ Website in association withSurrey County CouncilGOLD: WS Planning &A rc h i t e c t u reSILVER: Corporate BabyBRONZE: Inalytics by ValiantDesign■ Website: B2B in association

with University of SurreyBusiness SchoolGOLD: Sage Pay by LabSILVER: Flic CreativeBRONZE: Corporate Baby■ Website: Lifestyle & CultureGOLD: La Residence InteriorsSILVER: The GuardianBookshop by LabBRONZE: Maag Kitchens■ Website: Marketing &C re a t i v eGOLD: Flic CreativeSILVER: WATB CreativeBRONZE: Voices UK■ Website: School, Educationor CharityGOLD: Hemsley Fraser by Lab

SILVER: Oakleaf EnterpriseBRONZE: Rydens EnterpriseSchool■ Website: Small Business inassociation with Nero BlancoITGOLD: The Great HolidayCollection by OH CreativeSILVER: Aubeterre BlueBRONZE: 418:Conf by WATB■ Website: Sports &EntertainmentGOLD: Film My Show by TheBig Yellow Feet ProductionCompanySILVER: Voices UKBRONZE: The Guide 2 Surreyby TG Media Group

CATCHING UP: Attendees enjoyed an evening of entertainment atHG Wells Conference & Events Centre REIS20160310A-057_C

WINNERS: Physical Digital picked up the Digital Innovation Award inassociation with University of Surrey Business School REIS20160310A-085_C

HAPPY: Responsive Website winners Cielo Move by Valiant DesignREIS20160310A-178_C

PLEASED: Hemsley Fraser by Lab win gold in the Website: School,Education or Charity category REIS20160310A-120_C Ian Stratton

GOING FOR GOLD: Film My Show by The Big Yellow FeetProduction Company win the award for best Website: Sports andEntertainment REIS20160310A-091_C

FORMULA FOR SUCCESS: Rob Bloom, group head of digital & social media at McLaren F1

TALENTED BUNCH: Winners atthe second Surrey Digital Awards

REIS20160310A-226_C