Businesses urged to submit applications for innovation awards

BUSINESSES are being reminded to submit their applications for this year’s Yorkshire Forward Innovator/10 Awards.

This year offers four categories including the new Partners in Innovation Award in association with the Lord Stafford Awards, which reward businesses that have used the region’s research community to deliver improved business performance and commercial success. 

The four awards, each carrying a £3,000 cash prize, recognise companies in Yorkshire that have embraced innovation and developed new ideas, products, technologies or ways of working that has improved their business.

The awards are open to all businesses of any size including third sector organisations, business units of the research community, universities and public and private sector research organisations.

Jim Farmery, assistant director of Business at Yorkshire Forward, commented: “We have many innovative individuals, companies and partnerships in Yorkshire and these awards are an opportunity for entrants to raise their profile with clients and potential new customers and demonstrate their commitment to being a leader in their field.

“We are experiencing difficult economic times and it has never been more important to ensure that businesses remain competitive through consistently improving their processes, products and services. These awards demonstrate the benefits of developing new ideas, technologies and ways of working in the region through real and successful examples.”

Other categories include the Sustainable Innovation Award in recognition of outstanding advances by Yorkshire businesses in environmental sustainability through the development and marketing of innovative products, processes and services.

Lord Stafford said: “Since 1998 the Lord Stafford Awards has been working to showcase and celebrate the best of collaboration between universities and businesses, which is a crucial relationship if we are to compete as a nation with the rest of the world.

“I look forward to seeing how the universities in Yorkshire are playing their part, working with businesses and driving the innovation agenda in the region.”

The closing date for entries is 5pm on Wednesday December 2 . To apply visit www.innovator10.com