A COMPUTER systems business from Sunderland has won a top business award at the UK final of this year's Shell LiveWIRE Young Business Start Up Awards competition.

Philip Tompkinson, 29, from Middlesbrough and Hilary Kinnair, 24, from Sunderland, have won an Internet Works award for best use of the Internet.

Their prize was a cheque for £500 from Malcolm Brinded, Shell UK country chairman, at the Shell LiveWIRE UK Awards presentation in London.

Their business, i2B, has developed a software application called eSRM, which enables big firms to interact more efficiently with their suppliers, using web technology.

It gives suppliers access via the web to their customer's key procurement information, from purchase orders to vendor rating.

Aimed at large blue chip companies, the application ensures that purchasing processes of an entire organisation can be consolidated through one web-based application, enhancing buying power and reducing administration costs.

This enables a company's purchasing department to minimise the time spent handling inquiries and reducing administration costs. One of i2B's major customers in the transport industry predicts savings in excess of £100,000 in its first year.

The savings are generated in supplier-related administration costs, reduced stock inventory, and increased negotiating power since it installed eSRM.

Hilary and Philip spotted a gap in the market for their software while working together for an IT company.

They started their own business at the Business and Innovation Centre at Sunderland Enterprise Park seven months ago. Expansion is likely, with plans to relocate to larger premises, and the prospect of taking on six staff within the next 12 months.

On winning the Internet Works award, Philip said: "We have always believed in the success potential of our business and product, but to actually win a Shell LiveWIRE award at the UK final proves that we're on the right track and that others also believe in our business."

Visit the i2B web-site at www.i2b-online.com