2006 has been a great year for Zen on the awards front, and this success seems set to continue. Awards are a great achievement, highlighting that we practice what we preach in terms of the quality, reliability and the levels of service that we provide. It means that you can be confident that you are providing your customers with award-winning services and recommending an ISP with a proven and impressive track record.

The year so far...

Last month was also successful for Zen when we made it into The Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100 list for the fourth consecutive year, achieving 69th place. The Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100 is a national league table of Britain’s 100 private technology companies with the fastest-growing sales over a two year period.

Of the award Iain Johnstone, Sales and Partner Programme Manager, Zen Internet, commented: “We are delighted about our inclusion in The Sunday Times Microsoft Tech Track 100 for the 4th year running. The listing illustrates our continuing work to grow as a company, with significant sales and technical growth. As one of the first ISPs in the UK, we have continually grown and improved by staying true to our core values of quality, reliability and service and this has helped us to expand.”

August saw Zen named as North West Business of the Year in The Chamber Awards 2006. The award is given to the company that demonstrates all-round excellence in business and Zen will now go through to the national stage to be in with a chance to win The Microsoft Award for Outstanding Business Achievement on 23 November.

Zen was also named as the number 1 shared Web hosting provider in August by the independent online hosting resource Web Host Directory. The Web Host Directory awards are given on a monthly basis to the best Web hosts within specific categories and are voted for by Web Host Directory’s visitors and the organisation’s independent review board.

In March Zen received an award for making a valuable contribution to local employment. The company received the employer award at the Greater Manchester Employer Coalition Awards in the SME Employer of the Year category. After a string of industry awards Zen was pleased to have this level of recognition from the perspective of being an employer.

Caroline Taylor, HR Manager, Zen Internet commented: “Zen were delighted to receive the award! To reach the level of success we have in the broadband market can only be achieved with the right attitude as an employer. We like to give staff the opportunities to reach their full potential. We are well on the way to offering the best ISP service in the UK, and we will continue to open our doors to jobseekers in the North West.”

February was a fantastic month for Zen when we received not one, not two, but three ISPA (Internet Services Providers’ Association) awards! Zen scooped the awards in the Best Uncontended Service, Best Heavy Business Broadband and Best Business ISP categories.

Of the Best Business ISP award an ISPA spokesperson said, "The judges considered Zen’s personal approach to its customers, providing dedicated technical support and account management, to be extremely valuable to business users. Zen offers an impressive overall package of hosting and connectivity services, and has worked hard to promote its SDSL services. The judges also recognised Zen’s great Corporate Social Responsibility credentials through its commitment to local schools, communities and charities.”

Still to come...

Zen will be on the edge of their seats tonight as they wait to hear the results from the The North West Call and Contact Centre Awards 2006 where they have been nominated in 3 categories. The categories we have been short listed in are: Team of the Year for the Zen Customer Services Team; Contact Centre of the Year (under 50 Seats) for the Zen Technical Support Team; and Contact Centre of the Year for the Zen Customer Services Team. The aim of the awards is to highlight and reward ‘excellence’ in North West call and contact centres.

November will see another night of nail-biting anticipation when Zen finds out if it has won the coveted MEN Business of the Year Award. We were overjoyed to be named as a finalist at these awards and will find out the results at an awards ceremony on 2nd November.

Zen is also keenly awaiting the PC Pro Awards 2006. We have won the PC Pro Best Broadband ISP award for the last two years running and so will be on the edge of our seats, eagerly looking forward to hearing the results at the glittering awards ceremony on 5th December.

For more information on the awards we have won, check out the Awards page on the Zen Web site, and keep your eyes peeled in future editions of the ZenPartner newsletter for more awards news coming soon.