Innovation

Sponsored and Judged by Ashcroft International Business School &
The Employment Bureau at Anglia Ruskin University, Chelmsford

The Category

This award will be presented to the small/medium and large company that have recognised a gap in the market by creating and developing a new product, process, service or design that has improved the commercial prospects and performance of the company. It's not so much the "size" of the solution but more the innovation that has been brought to bear.

What the judges are looking for

Provide a brief summary of what is was about existing products or processes that prompted you to look for a new and innovative solution to improve efficiency, ease of operation, cost reduction, or any other benefit which either helped your own business internally or which could be marketed to other businesses.

Please also describe the innovative product or process, how it is superior to what went before it and then answer the following questions.

Specific questions to answer

1. What were the circumstances that prompted you to start development in the first place?
2. How long did it take from original concept to bringing the product or service to market?
3. Describe any significant obstacles that you had to overcome.
4. Which group of customers or industry benefits from your innovation E.G. retailers, the general public, software users, communications systems developers, environmental consultancies, the insurance industry, etc, etc?
5. What is the benefit of your innovation to these customers or industries?

About the judges

The 21st century is a natural time to be more sharply focused on the future and the opportunities it presents. The Ashcroft International Business School (AIBS) has planned exciting and flexible graduate, postgraduate and professional programmes which address the present and future needs of today's organisations. The Employment Bureau liaises with regional business to match the skills and talent requirements of employer organisations to those of Anglia Ruskin students, graduates and alumni.

Our working relationships with the business community are of great importance to us, with this ethos in mind, Ashcroft International Business School and the Employment Bureau at Anglia Ruskin University are proud to be the sponsors of the Innovation category for the 2009 Essex Business Excellence Awards.

Judging will be carried out jointly by Dr Sonal Minocha, Head of Department, Ashcroft International Business School (Chelmsford) and Sarah White, Business Development Manager, Employment Bureau.

Last year's winners

CCTV in Focus, Harlow

(small/medium business)
- provides professional advice on where CCTV units should be installed to comply with data protection laws and to ensure images are acceptable should they be required in a court of law.

FRAB (Lapsafe products), Wakes Colne

(large business)
- provides secure cabinets to store and charge up to 30 laptops overnight in a temperature controlled environment.

Visit sponsor's website

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