The awards are given for materials for schools and colleges considered to make a contribution to geographical education and professional development.

The Mapland Scotland jigsaw is based on more than 600 Ordnance Survey Landranger maps at a 1:50,000 scale.

The maps were digitally stitched together into massive computer files which were then digitally printed using solvent-free inks on 37 1.5m plastic boards. The pieces were cut from the boards using a large digital flatbed cutter with optical recognition.

Once its 180 pieces have been assembled, the map, which was printed on a NUR Tempo press, measures 14x8m.

The Mapland Scotland project is currently touring schools across Scotland, which are hiring in the giant map.

The company is currently working on a similar project for England and Wales, although this won't be in the form of a jigaw.

The 11x14m map is again printed on a scale of 1:50,000 using Ordnance Survey data, but on an Océ 6100 machine using hi-res solvent inks at a resolution of 720x1440dpi.

The map is printed in 2m wide strips which are then welded together.

"It runs incredibly slowly," said sales director Lee Whiteman, "But it's very accurate - for example all the rivers meet up [when the strips are welded]."

Whiteman said the England and Wales map would cost about half the circa £12,000 price for the Mapland Scotland jigsaw. This is because the way the jigsaw pieces were produced essentially involves printing the map areas twice. "It's incredibly labour-intensive," he said.

Nottingham-based John E Wright is part of the GDL-Colourlink Group. It was established in 1900 and has an annual turnover of £7m and employs nearly 100 staff. It has other branches in Leicester, Derby, Coventry, Oxford and Hull.