Companies in Oxfordshire are storming ahead in the race to become the country's e-commerce company of the year.

While Oxford looks set to contribute significantly to UK total entries for the Barclays-sponsored @chievement awards, Reading is lagging behind without a single entrant to champion the hive of e-activity in the Thames Valley.

With the Thames Valley predicted to contribute almost a quarter of total UK entries, Oxfordshire businesses who have not yet entered the competition have to act fast because the competition closes on Saturday. Through the @chievement competition, Barclays hopes to identify e-commerce at its best within the UK - from Internet start-ups to PLCs.

The contest aims to recognise and reward UK companies who can show that they have used e-commerce to significantly benefit their business and who have also put strategies in place to make the most of its immense potential in the future.

Barclays' head of e-commerce, Rachael Atkinson, said: "The beauty of electronic commerce is that companies both big and small are able to access markets world-wide, whether they operate from a farmhouse in Didcot or a skyscraper in the City. Many of the entrants of @chievement have recognised that, while location isn't crucial to success, a good business plan remains king."

There are three categories in the awards:

**Small businesses with an annual turnover of less than 1m

**Corporates with a turnover of between 1m and 100m per year

**Large corporates with an annual turnover of more than 100m.

Anyone interested in entering should ring 0800 952 2888 for an entry form or you can enter by logging-on at the website: www.corporate.barclays.com