Sarah Harrison-Barker

This year’s Lincolnshire Digital and Tech Awards categories and judges have been announced, and the deadline for entries is April 19.

The awards will feature as part of Lincolnshire Tech Week between May 15 and 22, and will include 15 judges covering 12 different categories.

The Lincolnshire Digital and Tech Awards will be held at the Lincolnshire Showground on May 18.

The judging panel includes:

• James Pinchbeck, Marketing Partner for Streets Chartered Accountants
• Daniel Westlake, managing Director of Cursor
• Gary Headland CEO of Lincoln College Group
• Helen Bell, Partner at Andrew & Co Solicitors
• Neil Everatt, CEO of Software Europe
• Andrew Stevenson, Director of Research and Enterprise at the University of Lincoln
• Ron Lynch, Regional Director for the IoD East Midlands
• Nicola Radford, Commissioning Officer for Lincolnshire County Council
• Dave Ashby, Senior Relationship Manager and Tech Sector Specialist for NatWest
• Richard Hill, CEO and Founder of SEO Traffic Lab
• Peter Cooper, CEO and Founder of Cooper Press
• Russell Copley, Managing Director of Greenborough Management
• Ian Green, Relationship Manager for HSBC
• Matt Russell, CEO and founder of Jolt
• Karl Blakesley, Marketing Manager at Orderwise

To find out more about this year’s judging panel visit the Lincolnshire Tech Week website.

This year sees the introduction of 12 new categories which will allow more businesses to enter and be recognised for their outstanding achievements in the digital and tech industry.

The closing date for entries is Wednesday, April 19.

Categories include:

• Best Online Retailer of the Year
• Innovation in Tech
• Product of the Year
• Technology in Education
• Rising Star
• Global Ambitions
• Entrepreneur of the Year
• Best use of Multimedia
• Digital Marketing Campaign of the Year
• Startup of the Year (less than three years trading)
• Small Business of the Year (£0 – £2 million)
• Business of the Year (£2 million +)

Work has started on 27 new residential flats in North Hykeham, which are expected to be complete in November this year.

This is the first development of North Kesteven District Council owned housing company Lafford Homes and is situated on Steam Court, off Station Road in North Hykeham.

The company operates through its own board of directors, using existing building firms to fulfil its projects, and will seek to be an example to landlords, in terms of rental standards across the board.

Philip Roberts, director of Lafford Homes, said: “It is fantastic to see work really get going on providing these much-needed homes in the district.

“Our contractor is on site and the construction is progressing well.

“Through Lafford Homes we aim to bring more housing choice to North Kesteven, with homes in places that people want linked to the facilities they need at a fair price.

“It is an innovative venture designed to stimulate the local housing market.

“We look forward to the completion of this development and to welcoming the first tenants at the end of the year.”