News

What does Jason Mohammad and a ‘smoothie bike’ have in common?

14 Jul 2010

The answer is: The 2010 HoV Innovation Awards!

A record 57 Award entrants and over 200 visitors enjoyed the early evening sunshine at the fourth annual Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards and Marketplace, organized by HOVIP, at the Bryn Meadows Golf, Hotel and Spa, on June 24.

Click on www.hovip.org.uk/video-footage.php href="http://www.hovip.org.uk/video-footage.php">http://www.hovip.org.uk/video-footage.php to hear Richie Turner, Deputy Director of the University of Wales Global Academy Innovation Programme, the lead sponsor, describe how the ‘spirit of innovation’ is alive and growing Valleys. Likewise, the Award winners can be found at: www.hovip.org.uk/ href="http://www.hovip.org.uk/">www.hovip.org.uk

There was also a prize for the Most Innovative Exhibitor, sponsored by FS4B, which was won by St. David’s Foundation Hospice Care. Their ‘smoothie bike’ attracted Jason Mohammad, as well as many visitors, with the promise of a self-made smoothie as you pedalled furiously to power the blender on the back of the bike!

As a result, two of the HOVIP team, Mike Warren and Phil Burkhard, have signed-up to the River Wye Canoe Challenge, on August 14, to raise funds for the Hospice. If you would like to support this worthy cause then please sponsor Mike and Phil via the following link: www.justgiving.com/Mike-and-Phil-Canoe-Challenge href="http://www.justgiving.com/Mike-and-Phil-Canoe-Challenge">http://www.justgiving.com/Mike-and-Phil-Canoe-Challenge

All the businesses that entered for the main Innovation Awards can be proud of their achievements and have become members of the Turning Heads Club (HOVIP’s regional business network which now includes over 100 HoV Innovation award winners and entrants only). In the on-going ‘spirit of innovation’ the next THC event is in the John Lewis store, Cardiff, thanks to the Managing Director, Liz Mihell.

We look forward to another year of providing innovative business support – just one of the factors which led to HOVIP and partners recently winning the accolade of the UK Enterprise Support Initiative of the Year, thanks to the Awards organized by the UK Sector Skills Council for Enterprise. In ‘tandem’ with our own Innovation Awards this is helping to showcase and raise the business profile of the region.