Ayrshire Electronic Community: Award Recognition

IM Awards

Congratulations to Ayrshire Electronic Community (AEC) in reaching the finals of the prestigious Information Management Awards 2003.

These awards are the premier industry recognition of excellence and innovation in the use of ICT (information and communications technology) and AEC was nominated by BT Scotland as a project that supports the communities and businesses of Ayrshire to enable them to take advantage of the information and knowledge available via computers and the Internet. Some of the finalists in AEC's group include PricewaterhouseCoopers, GlaxoSmithkline and Deutsche Bank AG London.

Councillor Tommy Farrell, East Ayrshire Council's E-Advocate, said: "I am delighted to congratulate the Ayrshire Electronic Community in reaching the finals of the Information Management Awards 2003. The AEC is a wonderful resource for the people of East Ayrshire and helps both community groups and businesses alike. On behalf of East Ayrshire Council I would like to wish the AEC the very best of luck with the competition and every success in future ventures."

David O'Neill, leader, North Ayrshire Council, said: "Congratulations. The more community groups and small businesses take up ICT, then the more our communications network expands. It makes our local businesses more efficient and, of equal importance, it shows inward investors that we have the communication facilities they need to do business in the 21st Century."

The Information Management Awards are the premier European recognition of excellence and innovation in the management of business information. They are the showcase for success stories. 

Many organisations have demonstrated the vision and business skills to implement leading-edge technology projects to reap real business benefits, and to develop ground-breaking innovative products. They deserve the accolades of being publicly acknowledged as industry leaders and the accompanying extensive media coverage of their achievements.

COSLA Excellence Awards

The COSLA Excellence Awards aim to recognise projects that have demonstrated high levels of service within local government and are also used as a way of encouraging Councils to look to methods of service delivery that are well planned, focussed on what their customers are wanting, are delivered efficiently and are creative. AEC received a Silver Award in 2004 in the category “Innovative Use of Technology” which recognised AEC’s achievements in providing opportunities for individuals, businesses and communities to participate in the use of new technologies.

European Award 2002

AEC was the first Scottish project to gain this award from the European Labour Party. This award, signed by Peter Hain, Minister for Europe in the Foreign Office, was in recognition of the AEC project’s innovative use of European Structural Funds to further social and economic development in the disadvantaged communities of Ayrshire.