AN encouraging digital dawn is developing over Bolton after two local agencies were singled out for their forward-thinking approaches.

Tao Digital, based in St George's House, has been shortlisted in the Digital Start-up of the Year category at the Digital Entrepreneur Awards.

And Bring Digital, which calls Atria in Spa Road home, could clinch the coveted Digital Agency of the Year award at the same ceremony.

For Tao Digital, which only started life in 2017, offering SEO, marketing, social media and marketing automation services, the nomination is seen as a vindication of how they have progressed.

Matt Tomkin, one of the founders, said: "We are ecstatic to be shortlisted for the Digital Entrepeneur Awards under the category Digital Startup of the Year!

"Tech is an integral part of everything we do on a daily basis. We are passionate about helping others understand the importance technology has, especially to business.

"By working closely with the local council and education centres, we want to encourage more individuals to get involved with the digital sector."

Last year Bring's David Ingram was named Business Person of the Year at the Bolton News backed Bolton Business Awards.

Judges said then: "David’s vision for an agency that did things differently has empowered Bring Digital to disrupt a market where ‘new kids on the block’ rarely get a look in from major brands."

For this latest competition, which is now in its 15th year, he will be up against industry leaders like Chameleon, Cube3 Digital, Dept, The Blogger Agent and The Social PR.

Judges for the event will include Jacqueline de Rojas, president of techUK and co-chair of the Institute of Coding, Vikas Shah, chief executive of the Swiscot Group, Susie Ma, founder and CEO at Tropic Skincare, Naomi Timperley, co-founder of Tech North Advocates and Lawrence and Gail Jones, founders of UKFast.

The Bolton firms will find out if they have been successful at the finals, which take place at The Principal Hotel in Manchester on November 21.