Wolverhampton firm Impact Applications has been named overall regional champion at the West Midlands ICT Cluster Awards.

Impact Applications received its accolade from Birmingham entrepreneur Sir Peter Rigby at the second annual West Midlands ICT Cluster Conference held at the National Motorcycle Museum.

The conference, which attracted around 200 delegates from ICT organisations across the region, presented an opportunity for those in the industry to network and learn about the ICT Cluster activities taking place in the region.

The West Midlands ICT Awards, in their inaugural year, seek to recognise excellence among West Midlands ICT companies, helping to share their achievements.

Established in 2000 as an informal spin-out from the University of Wolverhampton, Impact Application's founders have transformed the business from a developer of website content management systems to a pioneering architect of e-Business solutions for the web, back office and mobile workforce.

The company was praised by judges for its links with other ICT businesses and its use of IT to improve the productivity of other companies, especially micro businesses.

Delegates also heard from keynote speaker Sir Peter Rigby, chairman and chief executive of Europe's largest technology group, SCH.

Sir Peter encouraged hopeful technology entrepreneurs to be bold and confident about pitching their ideas to larger oganisations.

When asked what advice he would give to small businesses wanting to sell their ideas to big companies he replied: "Aim high - go to the top where your idea is less likely to get diluted.

"Be clear about your proposition, analyse your marketplace and above all, stick with it - it won't be easy but believe in yourself."

The conference also offered a number of inter-active workshops for all delegates on business themes and customer sectors.

Chris Gollings from Grange Consultants and chair of the ICT Cluster Opportunity Group said: "ICT companies in the West Midlands account for a significant proportion (six per cent) of regional output.

"ICT also supports almost all sectors of the economy. Hence, the creation of a dynamic and successful ICT cluster in the West Midlands is vital and will have a substantial knock-on benefit for the regional economy as a whole."