Entry deadline looms for companies to be in the Innovation 50

Businesses from across the Midlands have less than one month remaining to put themselves forward for the region’s first ever ‘Innovation 50’, an in-depth ranking of the fifty most innovative companies launched by law firm Mills & Reeve and TheBusinessDesk.com. The list, set to launch in September following a rigorous judging period, will celebrate the most innovative businesses across a range of categories, recognising the leaders in a ranked index. Entrants have until 5pm on Friday 16th June to enter online at www.innovationfifty.co.uk.

Entrants to the Innovation 50 will be assessed by a panel of expert judges for the results that their innovations have delivered to their business, customers and the wider community across five sectors including manufacturing, engineering and utilities, creative and digital, science, technology and healthcare, retail, consumer and leisure and financial services.

The best fifty innovators from across the region will be featured in a printed copy of the Innovation 50, distributed across the region and available for download online on 4th September, providing those featured with opportunities to gain recognition and accelerate their growth.

The expert judging panel includes:

• Steve Allen, Head of the Birmingham Office at Mills & Reeve
• Anita Bhalla, Board Director of the Greater Birmingham and Solihull LEP
• Paul Faulkner, CEO of the Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
• David Hardman, CEO of Innovation Birmingham
• Amanda Lowe, Managing Director of Story Comms
• Markus Keller, ‎Head of Corporate Banking Birmingham, HSBC
• Tim Softley, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research and Knowledge Transfer at the University of Birmingham
• Alex Turner, Editor of TheBusinessDesk.com
• Immy Kaur, Co-Founder and Director, Impact Hub Birmingham

The launch of Mills & Reeve’s hunt for the region’s most forward-thinking businesses is a result of its firm-wide belief in innovation. In 2016, the firm launched its inaugural Innovation Week, a jam-packed schedule of events that encouraged staff to think differently and submit ideas for innovative working practices. More than 300 submissions were received and the business has launched a range of procedures and processes as a result including processes that have generated significant efficiencies in how the firm delivers services to clients. These range from automated client input systems to help gather information and assess risks quickly to ways to reduce paper use across the business. The firm was also recognised at the Financial Times Innovative Lawyers Awards 2016 for its work on connected and autonomous vehicles.

Steve Allen, head of Mills and Reeve's Birmingham office

Steve Allen, head of Mills and Reeve’s Birmingham office

Steve Allen, head of the Birmingham office at Mills & Reeve, said: “Since launching the Innovation Fifty we have seen a real range of entries from small firms to larger corporates, proving not only the diversity of businesses in the region, but also the wide range of them that are striving to deliver innovation.

“The Midlands is historically known for being at the forefront of the industrial revolution, yet now more than ever it is leading the way on innovation across a broad range of sectors including life sciences, digital and creative and technology.

“Through this campaign we want to celebrate the wonderful things going on across the Midlands, making sure that we get the attention of the wider region, the UK and the World. With under one month to go until entries close, we encourage businesses across all of the categories to consider putting themselves forward to be featured.

“From galvanising the workforce to improving efficiency to delivering a unique product that solves clients’ issues, innovation can be found in many different forms and is crucial to seeing a business realise its potential.”

For more information on the Innovation 50 or to enter visit www.innovationfifty.co.uk and follow the social media activity via @Innovation_50 using the hashtag #MRInno50.

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