Countdown to awards deadline fast approaching

Time is running out for businesses in the region to enter the North East Business Awards 2014 and to have the chance of being recognised among the cream of business excellence, innovation and outstanding success.

The North East Business & Innovation Centre (BIC) is delighted to be sponsoring the Innovation Award category of the Durham and Wearside awards, a category designed to reward those businesses that havelaunched the most innovative new products and services over the past year.

As highlighted in The Journal today, areas that the judges of this particular awards category will consider regarding the launch of the new product or service include; research and development, launch activity and the actual or likely commercial success of the product or service. Other considerations include the degree of innovation displayed, its market edge, growth potential, job creation and profitability.

Here at the BIC we are committed to supporting businesses from across all sectors with their innovation plans. The Innovation Programme provides access to advice and guidance, industry experts and suppliers and up to 40 percent project funding. The Innovation Team is already working with businesses in the renewable energy, manufacturing, environmental, software and digital sectors on a range of projects including product developments and improvements to business processes, and I’d love to see some of these companies among the awards entrants, setting the benchmark for what can be achieved by doing something different, smarter or better.

Last year’s overall winner of the Innovation Award was Northumberland based QuestUAV Ltd. The company took away the coveted prize due to its developments with Unmanned Aircraft, work with universities and scientists, and project results coming from as far away as Antarctica and the Deserts of Chile.

The company clearly stood out as a leader in its field, beating more established, higher turnover companies to the sought after prize. It’s important for businesses to stand out from the competition to succeed in today’s economic climate, and by embracing innovation companies can really unlock their true potential.

So what are the benefits to businesses being crowned a winner at theNorth East Business Awards? Significantly, since the awards were introduced in the 1990s they have firmly established themselves as the pinnacle awards ceremony for the North East business community. Why, because they are tailored to meet the needs of the business community, and are continually evolving in line with the audience they represent.

This can be seen through the competitions’ use of regional heats introduced 14 years ago, which offers a platform for businesses locally to say thank to their own staff and highlight their success to the people that make it possible.
The integration of the innovation award itself in 2005 also demonstrates how committed the organisers were to profiling forward thinking North East businesses, and I am absolutely delighted that individual category winners now go on to compete at a national level therefore giving them the opportunity to be showcased alongside the very best businesses in the UK.

Events of this stature can help raise the profile of all of the businesses involved, putting them on the radar of key decision makers who may be interested in particular products or services.

In what remains a tough economic climate, it’s important for businesses to ensure they have the competitive edge, and the BIC can help businesses to achieve just that. I hope even more businesses tap into the support available through the Innovation Programme to help them become the best that they possibly can, and the potential award winners of the future.

I’d like to wish all North East Business Awards applicants the very best of luck and would urge those considering entering to get involved and get their entries in over the coming weeks as they’ve got nothing to lose and everything to gain.

To find out more about the Innovation Programme or to arrange a meeting please contact the team on 0191 516 6021 or emailinnovation@ne-bic.co.uk.

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