INNOVATION AWARD

Entry Criteria

Applications are invited from any business or enterprise based in the Scottish Borders regardless of sector or size. This includes recent business start ups and businesses which have been established for some time.

This award will be made to the business enterprise that has introduced a new product, process, invention, idea, or design that has made a significant contribution to the business during the last 12 months.

The judges will be interested in innovation that has improved an existing product, process, or an initiative that has led to the development of new products or services. They will also be interested in how innovation is embraced within the culture of the business.

Business Organisation Details
Please complete these details as they shoul appear on any publicity material
Full Organisation Name: *
Address:

Postcode:
Telephone:
Email:
Website:
 

Applicant Details (Name of person submitting the application)
First Name: *
Last Name: *
Job Title:
Full Organisation Name:
Address:

Postcode:
Telephone: *
Email: *
 
1. In no more than 100 words, please provide a brief description of your business and the sector in which it operates
*
 
2. About your business
Business Start Date:
Company Structure:
Sole Trader / Partnership / Limited Company / etc...
Number of Employees: No. full time:
No. part time / seasonal:
Annual Turnover:
Date of financial year end:
 
3. Please describe in no more than 750 words why your entry should be considered to receive the award
You should provide evidence of success with an innovative individual product or service launched anytime in the last year.

The judges will be looking for evidence of initial understanding of the market; scale and depth of the planning and development prior to the launch; market acceptance (e.g. market research, press reviews, reports, industry awards); proof of bookings/ sales; and demonstration of the long-term potential (i.e. market share, projected sales figures, increase profitability).
*
 
4. Stimulating innovation in the workplace
Please provide details of how the organisation’s culture encourage employees to contribute ideas to support and stimulates innovation and continuous improvement in order to improve business efficiency and increase profitability.
*
 
5. Please provide details how you plan to ensure continued success
You should summarise your short, medium and long-term goals and how you plan to achieve these.

A copy of your business plan can be e-mailed to JAWilliamson@scotborders.gov.uk in support of your application. Please mark it clearly as SUPPORT MATERIAL FOR "INNOVATION" AWARD
*
 

Conditions of Entry

  • Entries must be received no later than 12 noon on Friday 29 January 2010.
  • Entry is free of charge - there is no registration cost for entering the awards.
  • All information will be treated as confidential and will be used solely for the purposes of the Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards.
  • Applicants entering the Awards must be based within the administrative area of the Scottish Borders.
  • Organisations are encouraged to enter more than one category if appropriate, but they may only make one application in each category.
  • Organisations sponsoring an individual award are not eligible to enter that award category.
  • The named applicant must be authorised to enter their organisation into the awards programme.
  • The business/organisation being nominated must agree to take part in any publicity organised by Scottish Borders Council to promote the Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards.
  • Each application will be considered on its own merits and the scale and resources of the applicant organisation will be taken into consideration.
  • Support material will not be returned unless specifically requested.
  • Short listed applicants may be asked to provide verification of any claims made in their application, and the judges reserve the right to audit any information supplied.
  • Once an organisation has been announced as a finalist, it cannot withdraw from the awards competition.
  • Finalists for each of the award categories will be invited to the Scottish Borders Business Excellence Awards presentation lunch at the Scottish Borders Campus on Friday 19 March 2010, when the winner of each category will be announced.
  • The judges’ decision will be final and no correspondence will be entered into.
I hereby certify that the information given in this entry form is correct and confirm that I have read and accept the conditions of entry