The Small Business of the Year award is sponsored by IP-City that, since its launch two years ago has grown into an impressive network of businesses and organisations, all with a keen interest in the hi-tech sector. These businesses and organisations recognise the value of working in partnership to successfully tackle the challenges that commonly face them all - while raising the profile of the IP postcode in the process. The result is one of Europe's most dynamic hi-tech clusters spanning a large portion of the eastern region, which is able to compete globally. This has been achieved through the forging of closer links with Cambridge and the coming together of Ipswich, Colchester, Bury St Edmunds and other key clusters within the Cambridge/Ipswich Hi-tech Corridor. Although the support of large blue chip companies, such as BT, NTL and Agilent Technologies has been crucial in establishing IP-City, the role of a growing number of small and medium-sized enterprises has been no less significant. This is why IP-City is pleased to sponsor the Small Business of the Year category in the Anglian Business Awards, to recognise the important contributions that these businesses make to the local economy. After all, it is this diverse mix of companies that helps to keep IP-City and the Cambridge/Ipswich Corridor as exciting and dynamic as ever.

A Recipe for Success
A Recipe for Success (ARFS) is an e-business consultancy, which has gained a reputation for delivering award winning websites, intranets and e-mail marketing campaigns. Major clients to already benefit from its expertise include TXU Energi, BT Brightstar, East of England Development Agency (EEDA), Ipswich Borough Council and Land Rover specialists Mansfield Motors. Ipswich-based ARFS believes it differs from its competitors in that it focuses on the benefits that e-business systems can deliver and treats technology as an enabler, rather than being entirely technology led. This approach has over the past three years has won the company no less than 30 awards. ARFS has also developed e-business best-practice guidelines specifically for small and medium-sized enterprises, sharing the results widely within the UK, through the DTI, Business Link, seminars, conferences and publications. Keen to expand the business, the management team has launched an innovative software toolkit called e-KIS (e-commerce Keep It Simple), which will create significant new licensing revenues. This came about as a result of the company's unique approach to knowledge management, originally developed for its own use, to help operate highly effective product teams. Clients asked for similar systems for their own organisation and so, following a feasibility study funded by a £45,000 DTI SMART grant, e-KIS was delivered incorporating knowledge management, content management, e-mail marketing and on-line surveys in a single integrated toolkit. To date e-KIS has been installed at BT, EEDA, the DTI Trade Partners UK, Oak Tree Management & Training and Business Link Suffolk. Negotiations are currently under way with a number of distributors and re-sellers.