Awards recognises the best British business projects

15 August 2011, Gloucester, UK, Fasthosts Internet Ltd, (www.fasthosts.co.uk), the leading web host company, today announces the winners of its competition with The Great Exhibition 2012, aimed at rewarding the best British business projects, in conjunction with the Isle of Wight Radio.

The Summer 2012 event and website showcases everything that is 'Great' about Britain. The Fasthosts' competition aims to assist firms by boosting unique and brilliant UK business projects via the Internet. As part of the build up to The Great Exhibition 2012, Fasthosts is providing its winners with a top-of-the-range IT infrastructure in order to succeed online. This includes a laptop, software, web hosting and search engine optimisation.

In addition, Fasthosts is also awarding internet-based products to help promote the best British small companies it finds. Fasthosts invites any UK company to nominate their business project for support at http://www.fasthosts.co.uk/the-great-exhibition/entry/.

Until the start of The Great Exhibition 2012 festival in August 2012, Fasthosts will also provide a first prize of a DELL laptop, three years free Business Premium hosting package (including software to build, optimise and promote a business website), a domain name and Microsoft Exchange email each month. Nominations are judged by a panel including Fasthosts & The Great Exhibition 2012 team. Furthermore, Fasthosts will award 20 further projects every month with three years free business web hosting.

The winners from the Isle of Wight Radio competition are announced, including feedback from the judging panel:

Rob Clifton – Clothes Comparison
“What struck us about Clothes Comparison is that it emerged from a real need and extensive research – these guys have done their homework! With 50% of the British Public buying clothes online there are very few successful British companies offering a comparison service. This is a great idea, in its infancy and we wish Rob the very best of luck in his initiative”.

Stuart Shore - Wight Wildlife Photography
“Stuart will create a website to promote the Islands wildlife and scenery through the use of his photographic work called ‘Wight Wildlife Photography’. The Beauty and wildlife on the Isle of Wight can never celebrated enough and for him to extend this to workshops for photographers of all abilities will bring the community together in a common goal. We have chosen Wight Wildlife because it will encourage tourism and on a more local level, inform and educate Islanders. Stuart has taken a passion and hobby and turned it into a business opportunity – a well deserved winner!

Joe Cody - The Enterprise Post
“The Enterprise Post does exactly what it says on the tin. A school newspaper for the new millennium giving a worldwide voice to the pupils, community groups and businesses of Cowes. Its electronic form means that it is a sustainable model, in line with the ethos of the new College. In his own words Joe summarises the benefits ‘The Enterprise Post, whilst giving students a voice on the internet, will also create a channel for businesses and community groups to raise awareness of local issues and initiatives, to build stronger links across the generations and ultimately to strengthen the bonds of our community’.”

Isobel Whittle - JOYRYDE
“Isobel currently runs a number of food outlets on the Ryde seafront but recently started an electric bike hire outlet from Ryde station called ‘JOYRYDE’. Cycling and walking are the best ways to enjoy the Island so offering electrically assisted bicycles makes perfect sense. Winning The Great Exhibition 2012 & Fasthosts business package will allow JOYRYDE to build a promotional platform for visitors to the Isle of Wight and promote cycle routes around the Island.”

Steve Holford, director at, Fasthosts Internet Ltd, said "We have been hugely impressed with the many submissions we have received. We know how hard it is for a new business to get up and running, and secure an internet presence; we really wanted to become involved so that we can take away some of the pain associated with launching a new venture. Many companies have a really good business idea but lack the funding to get started – our competition goes a long way towards removing some of these barriers. We would like to congratulate the first of our winners and look forward to announcing further winners in due course.”

As a leading web hosting company, Fasthosts offers a comprehensive range of web solutions including domain name registrations, email solutions (including mobile email services), shared web hosting, virtual servers, dedicated servers, secure online storage, online payment services, reseller web hosting and feature-rich broadband packages. All data is hosted in Fasthosts' state-of-the-art UK based data centre. Full details can be found at http://www.fasthosts.co.uk

Full details of the Get Online Competition and entry form can be found at http://www.fasthosts.co.uk/the-great-exhibition/entry/.