11 July 2007
Winners announced! First-ever Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards
Celebrating innovation and business success
More than 120 people attended the first ever Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards and Marketplace at the Parkway Hotel, Cwmbran. The Awards celebrate and reward the most innovative businesses in the area. Businesses gained recognition for business activities they have implemented that have had a dramatic and beneficial impact.
Phil Burkhard, Manager of the Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme (HOVIP) commented, “Innovation is important for any business to stay ahead of the game. We were thrilled to have received so many entries for this inaugural Innovation Awards. It is an excellent example of how much innovative activity is happening in the Heads of the Valleys area.”
“The five winners of the inaugural Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards are shining examples of innovation in action and demonstrate the significant contribution businesses like these are making to the economy of the area.”
Huw Lewis, Minister for Regeneration said, “I’m delighted by the success of the awards ceremony. It’s excellent news for the economy of the Heads of the Valleys area to see the support that HOVIP can provide to help them face the challenges they encounter and to thrive.”
The winners are:
Most Innovative Social Enterprise -sponsored by NESTA:
Garnsychan Partnership for their Wood Wise recycling project.
Most Innovative Sole Trader - sponsored by HSBC:
Purple Prose for their ‘Leading Ladies’ calendar.
Most Innovative Business with less than 20 employees - sponsored by KTS Owens Thomas:
Joint winners
Royvon Dog Training Schools, for their Customer Relationship Management system linked to customer reporting and International Technical Diving Agency Ltd for their new world diver training standard.
Most Innovative Business with more than 20 employees - sponsored by BT:
Penn Pharmaceutical Services Ltd for their cross functional Fast Track Team
The joy expressed by all the winners was summed up by Sassy Hicks, Assistant Manager of the Garnsychan Partnership, who said:
“I am still on cloud nine! I can’t even begin to tell you what this award means to us at the partnership. I honestly never expected to win and was in so much shock when we were named as winners! Thank you.”
For further information about the Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme, please visit www.hovip.org.uk.
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NOTES FOR EDITORS
Enquiries to: Phil Burkhard, Programme Manager, HOVIP (Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme).
Tel: 01685 726 000 Email: hovip@merthyr.ac.uk
1. ABOUT HOVIP:
The Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme (HOVIP) aims to increase the capacity for innovation in SMEs in the Heads of the Valleys area. HOVIP is KEF-ESF funded and facilitated by UGCS Ltd, Merthyr Tydfil College, University of Glamorgan.
For more information visit www.hovip.org.uk or call Wendy Locke on 01685 726061 or email: hovip@merthyr.ac.uk
2. ABOUT THE HOV INNOVATION AWARDS AND MARKETPLACE:
The first ever Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards and Marketplace was sponsored by BT, HSBC, KTS Owens Thomas, NESTA and the Wales Quality Centre. The event was held on June 28 2007 at the Parkway Hotel, Cwmbran and is part of HOVIP.
3. MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE WINNERS:
Most Innovative Social Enterprise - sponsored by NESTA:
Winner - Garnsychan Partnership
Wood Wise is a wood recycling project that started two years ago when the Garnsychan Partnership was offered 25 headboards from the Parkway Hotel in Cwmbran!
These were then made into bird boxes, play houses and garden furniture - recycling that is ‘worth it’ rather than worthy!
An innovative marketing campaign, aimed at school children, and on-going creative sessions additionally impressed the judges.
Judges’ comments:
“Clear evidence of creativity and innovation in both its product range and approach to business. A sustainable and exciting initiative that also promotes and assists corporate social responsibility. A hugely impressive enterprise.”
Most Innovative Sole Trader - sponsored by HSBC:
Winner - Purple Prose
Purple Prose, now based in the GTi Incubator in Abercynon, launched in October 2006 with an eye-catching ‘Leading Ladies‘ calendar.
The calendar depicted local businesswomen photographed as movie and film icons - from Marilyn Monroe to Audrey Hepburn.
In addition to promoting each business, proceeds from the calendar were donated to St. David’s Hospice and Gwent Business Women’s Network. A new theme is planned this year.
Judges’ comments:
“The judges were unanimous in their decision. This application was supported with strong evidence. An excellent example of team working and involvement of professionals and community with great testimonials from leading figures!”
Most Innovative Business with less than 20 employees -sponsored by KTS Owens Thomas:
Joint winners - Royvon Dog Training Schools and International Technical Diving Agency Ltd.
Royvon Dog Training Schools, who provide residential dog training services, impressed with their Customer Relationship Management system (CRM) and wealth of customer testimonials.
The CRM system was unusually linked to customer reporting thus enabling owners as far away as the Scottish Highlands to monitor their dog’s progress.
Judges’ comments:
“Royvon is excellently packaged and promoted through its website and the innovative use of CRM software enhances the customer experience. We were also impressed with the extent and nature of the customer testimonials for what is a quality service.”
International Technical Diving Agency (UK) Ltd (ITDA) impressed the judges for entirely different reasons. ITDA have rewritten the rulebook for diving standards.
This has been achieved by enabling their instructors to certify divers to a depth that they are comfortable diving and not issuing blanket certification.
The business is trading in over 30 countries, promoting Brand Wales, at a time when we often hear about the adverse impact of globalisation on Welsh business.
Judges’ comments:
“ITDA has impressed us with a unique and innovative approach in a specialist industry. Who would have thought that an international diving school, responsible for setting standards across the globe, could be found in New Tredegar.”
Most Innovative Business with more than 20 employees - sponsored by BT: Winners - Penn Pharmaceutical Services Ltd.
Penn Pharmaceutical Services provides outsourcing services for the international healthcare industry in a marketplace dominated by pressure to deliver successful clinical trials.
The business responded to this challenge by creating a cross functional FAST TRACK team to see projects through from specification to dispatch.
Reduced lead times, increased customer satisfaction and revenues and up-skilling have resulted. The team is also being used as a unique selling point.
Judges’ comments:
“A very strong entry, well presented and clearly setting out the achievements against the criteria. Excellent example of team work. This is a sustainable approach to ensure customer loyalty by giving employees autonomy and accountability for what they do.”
4. ABOUT THE HEADS OF THE VALLEYS PROGRAMME:
The Heads of the Valleys initiative is a 15 year regeneration project, led by the Welsh Assembly Government, working to benefit communities in Merthyr Tydfil, Blaenau Gwent, Torfaen, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf. Aimed at stimulating regeneration, economic growth, and environmental improvement, the £140 million programme is making the Heads of the Valleys an increasingly successful and attractive area for people to live and work.
The Heads of the Valleys initiative was launched by the Welsh Assembly Government in September 2004. The 15 year regeneration strategy has been developed in full partnership with five local authorities, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Merthyr Tydfil, Caerphilly, Blaenau Gwent and Torfaen, and other local stakeholders. The initiative is tackling the root causes of economic inactivity and other key issues in the area, within the context of the Wales Spatial Plan.
The £140million programme aims to create:
· An attractive and well-used natural, historic and built environment
· A vibrant economic landscape offering new opportunities
· A well educated, skilled and healthier population
· An appealing and coherent tourism and leisure experience
· Public confidence in a shared bright future
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