Vodafone, Age UK, Childnet and The Open University make the final reckoning

08/05/2010

Nominet, the national registry for .uk domain names, today announces the shortlist for its annual Nominet Internet Awards Ceremony. Vodafone, The Open University, Age UK and The British Library among twenty four organisations shortlisted by a panel of independent judges (full shortlist below).

The awards recognise organisations, groups or individuals who have embraced the challenge of making the Internet a secure, open, accessible or diverse experience for all. The awards comprise the following five categories:

• Getting People Online – in association with Race Online 2012
• Making the Internet safer
• Opening the world of knowledge
• Empowering young people and citizens
• Nurturing powerful local partnerships

The judging panel made up of twelve eminent experts including Rt Hon David Blunkett MP, Dr Leslie Haddon, EU Kids Online project, Graham Walker, Race Online 2012 and the Rt Hon Alun Michael MP, agreed the shortlist at the end of last month.

The winners will be announced on 7 July 2010 at an awards ceremony in London and will be promoted as examples of best practice to industry, Government and academia in the UK and internationally. They will also play a leading role in the next Internet Governance Forum meeting (IGF) in Vilnius, Lithuania on 14th - 17th September. 

Rt Hon Alun Michael MP comments: "The Nominet Internet Awards play a pivotal role in highlighting outstanding work across the public, private and voluntary sectors being done on or through the Internet in the UK, that impacts the whole online world. The 2010 awards will enable us to raise the UK's profile at this year's Internet Governance Forum in Vilnius by promoting these inspirational projects and initiatives on the international stage."

Lesley Cowley, CEO at Nominet adds: "I'm delighted that we received almost double the number of entries this year, and the quality of the projects nominated is higher than ever before."

"The shortlist contains some great entries including projects that enable people in remote areas to access the Internet, tools that enable people to protect themselves online, projects that promote online learning opportunities and initiatives that engage with young people on Internet issues. We really look forward to sharing these examples with the wider Internet industry to spark further innovation and help make the Internet a safe and trusted place for everyone."

Please see below for the entire list of shortlisted companies. For further information on individual entries please contact Racepoint Group on 020 8752 3205 / 3203 or email nominetuk@racepointgroup.com.
 

Category 1: Getting people online – in association with Race Online 2012

• British Computer Association of the Blind (BCAB)
• The Northern Grid for Learning
• South West Internet CIC
• Widgit software - Point

Category 2: Making the Internet Safer

• Beatbullying – Cybermentors
• Business Crime Reduction Centre
• Childnet International – Know IT All
• E-crime Wales
• Scam Detectives
• Vodafone – Parents’ Guide

Category 3: Opening the world of knowledge

• British Library – Timelines: Sources from History
• Digital Explorer
• National Centre for Excellence in the Teaching of Mathematics
• The Open University – Open Learn
• V, the National Young Volunteers Service - Vinspired
• Rewired State Ltd

Category 4: Empowering young people and citizens

• Beatbullying - CyberMentors
• Childnet International – Youth IGF
• Data.gov.uk
• Derek Wyatt and Public Zone – iPhone app
• Hansard Society – Heads Up
• Information Commissioner’s Office – Privacy notices code of practice
• Sign Translate Ltd

Category 5: Nurturing powerful local partnerships

• ACE IT – Moose in the Hoose
• Age UK – Digital Inclusion Network
• Cambridge Libraries and Learning Centres
• E-Crime Wales
• South West Internet CIC

Notes to Editors

About Nominet

Nominet operates at the heart of e-commerce in the UK, running one of the world’s largest Internet registries and managing over eight million domain names. Nominet maintains the register of .uk domain names and runs the DNS infrastructure that keeps .uk working.

It runs the technology that locates a computer in the Internet hosting the web site or email system you’re looking for when you type in a web address or send an email to an address that ends in .uk.

Nominet is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee that has members not shareholders, pays no dividends and its charges only cover its running costs. Anyone with an interest in the Internet may become a member. Nominet has over 2,800 members representing all areas of the Internet industry.

Nominet also runs the Tier 1 registry for UK ENUM, a new UK registry service that combines telephone numbers and the Domain Name System to simplify the way telephone calls over the Internet work.  ENUM lets callers know that you can receive VoIP calls – it allows more VoIP calls to be connected directly over the Internet, for no charge, rather than via the traditional PSTN network.

About the Internet Governance Forum

The Internet Governance Forum (IGF) was established by the United Nations to accommodate comprehensive multi–stakeholder policy dialogue in the field of Internet governance. It aims to bring together all stakeholders in the Internet governance debate each year, whether they represent states, the private sector or civil society, on an equal basis and through an open and inclusive process.

For further information on the UK IGF or the Nominet Internet Awards, please contact:

Gemma Griffiths or Blaise Hammond at Racepoint UK
Tel: 020 8752 3205 / 3203
Email: nominetuk@racepointgroup.co.uk 

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