Award Categories
For each of these categories you can either nominate yourself or others for up to two of the categories. All finalists have the opportunity to exhibit at the Cranfield Venture Day on 15 May 2008 including the production of a small banner stand. In addition winners of each categories will receive an award, a PR package, and a host of business support services provided by some of the sponsoring organisations.
- Bright Sparc Young Technology Entrepreneur of the year
- Sponsored by Cranfield University
- Younger person (18 - 30) who is working in a technology led business.
- For this award we will be looking for a younger person who either runs their own business or is setting up their own business. The finalists in this category are:
- Lee Parsons - Forever After Images
- Using his specialist self-taught Apple Mac programming skills, Lee Parsons created software to automate and improve the post processing of photo shoots for Forever After Images, a wedding and portrait photography business based in Oxford. He has also created bespoke back up, bookkeeping and mileage recording software.
- James Hawker - Bluecube Technology Solutions [winner]
- Bluecube Technology Solutions is Milton Keynes' leading provider of fully-managed outsourced IT solutions. The company is a Tiscali managed service provider, as well as a provider of Alcatel VoIP solutions and the world’s leading mail scanning solution.
Award-winning customer service supports a comprehensive offering that includes expertise in business continuity and disaster recovery.
www.bluecube-uk.com
- Kevin Ruston - Price Checker Networks
- CarPriceChecker.co.uk is a price comparison site enabling consumers to find the best prices available on brand new cars supplied from main dealers at large discounts. Price Checker Networks has also developed a B2B product for manufacturers and dealer groups to gain competitive advantage through access to a comprehensive database of internet prices. The company specialises in scalable technology and innovative product development.
Kevin Ruston is also a finalist in the Bright Sparc Technology Entrepreneur of the Year category.
- Bright Sparc Technology Entrepreneur of the year
- Sponsored by NovaLex
- An individual who is running a technology led business, showing true entrepreneurial flair and fully exploiting the commercial opportunities available. The finalists in this category are:
- Fredi Nonyelu - Briteyellow
- Briteyellow is a specialist wireless telecommunications service provider and systems integrator. The company offers next-generation broadband wireless/mobile communications and location-based services to governments, enterprises and service providers. Briteyellow also provides strategic consulting, technology innovation, and delivery support for organisations involved in planning, tendering and deploying high-performance ‘wide-area’ wireless services.
- Bill Martin - Zeroshift Ltd [winner]
- Zeroshift Ltd has developed two global benchmark technologies:
The world's most efficient and lowest-cost automotive automatic transmission is now being refined in paid development programmes with global manufacturers.Â
Intelligent Tool Control is a global military and civil benchmark for the prevention of foreign object damage in aircraft manufacture and maintenance.
Zeroshift Ltd is also a finalist in the Bright Sparc Technology Led Business of the Year category.
- Rick Sanderson - buy-LOCAL.net
- buy-LOCAL.net provides a unique and convenient local shopping experience, where you can buy quality local goods online and buy-LOCAL.net will deliver everything direct to your door at a time that suits you. The company guarantees customers a variety of best-quality, great-tasting, fresh and local produce. It couldn’t be simpler to support local and buy local with buy-LOCAL.net.
buy-LOCAL.net is also a finalist in the Bright Sparc/Biztech Award for the Best Use of Technology by a Business category.
- Simon Anstey - Fonefonics
- Fonefonics is pioneering a low-cost, accessible learning solution in the East of England for all migrant workers in the UK. Fonefonics is also a finalist in the Bright Sparc Best Interaction between a HEI and Business category.
- Kevin Ruston - Price Checker Networks
- Kevin Ruston is also a finalist in the Bright Sparc Young Technology Entrepreneur of the Year category.
- Bright Sparc Technology Led Business of the Year 2008
- Sponsored by Bedford i-lab
- This category is open to businesses with an annual turnover of £5 million or less. Open technology led companies that have created and exploited their competitive advantage based on their technological know-how. The finalists for this award are:
- Verifile Ltd
- Verifile Ltd is the UK's leading provider of CV Verification and Background Screening Services. Its solutions empower organisations to make the most informed and mutually rewarding long-term recruitment decisions. Verifile Ltd offers a range of professional services which are quick, easy to use and affordable for businesses of every size
- Probe Scientific - MicroEye®
- Probe Scientific has developed a new monitoring device which samples blood while it is still within the patient’s body, giving greater accuracy and patient comfort. MicroEye® sits inside a vein and samples the patient’s blood. The availability of continuous blood chemistry data, notably Glucose, is valued by Intensive Care Clinicians. Probe Scientific has regulatory approval for Europe and has made its first sales.
- Caltec
- Caltec designs and supplies equipment for improving production from oil and gas wells. With patented products and solutions, Caltec has a successful, proven record in adding value to major oil companies worldwide - typically, production increases of 25% to 40% are achieved. Major clients include BP, Shell, Conoco, Total and Chevron.
- Traka [winner]
- Traka plc manufactures innovative solutions for access management and control of key usage for equipment, vehicles and property. Only authorised staff members can access keys and they become responsible for every key they use. Multiple systems can be networked, managed centrally using Traka32 software, and automatic audits provide a complete history of key transactions. Over 4,000 systems are installed around the world for applications such as security, health and safety, and asset control.
www.traka.com
- Zeroshift Ltd
- Zeroshift Ltd has developed two global benchmark technologies:
The world's most efficient and lowest-cost automotive automatic transmission is now being refined in paid development programmes with global manufacturers.Â
Intelligent Tool Control is a global military and civil benchmark for the prevention of Foreign Object Damage in aircraft manufacture and maintenance.
- Bright Sparc Business Innovation Support Person of the Year 2008
- Sponsored by The Open University
- This award is for a person offering business support to technology led businesses, either public funded or private sector based. It is for someone who has assisted in some way in the development of a technology led business, either as a mentor or coach, or in a professional capacity. In particular, the judges are looking for individuals who have gone ‘beyond just doing their job’ to help a business. The finalists for this award are:
- Gary Jesson - e-Financial Management Ltd
- e-Financial Management Limited (e-FM) is a financial outsourcing and insourcing company that provides expert financial management solutions on a flexible and scalable basis, with particular focus on small and medium-sized businesses. e-FM offers a wide range of services from Book-Keeper, Financial Controller to part-time Finance Director.
- Karen Mason - NovaLex
- NovaLex has developed as a response to business clients who want to deal personally with independent, qualified, well-experienced commercial lawyers - without the intervention and complications of junior staff, personal assistants or secretaries. Because NovaLex uses the latest technology, the usual overheads incurred by solicitors are absent from your bills.
For further details call Karen Mason on 01908 440020 or email karen.mason@novalex.co.uk
www.novalex.co.uk
- William Pope [winner]
- William Pope spends significant time mentoring early-stage businesses under the Milton Keynes Enterprise Hub. Where they have required additional virtual team members, Will has been there to provide stability and process with an instinctive mentoring style. He has extensive experience in understanding new product development process as well as the important issue of corporate governance, and has used this to good effect.
- Bright Sparc Best Interaction between a HEI and Business 2008
- Sponsored by Oxford to Cambridge Arc
- Activity for this category includes spin-outs, licensing, consultancy projects, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships (KTPs), STEP, student placements or any example of how working together has really made a difference and has advanced research and development or the commercial opportunities of a company. The finalists for this award are:
- Paul Corazzo - Skills Train/University of Bedfordshire
- Milton Keynes-based Skills2Learn, a sub-brand of Skills Train, has established itself uniquely in the educational market. It brings together subject matter experts, government establishments, certification and awarding bodies, learners and software developers to develop the most advanced, interactive, game-based virtual reality e-learning programmes available in the market. Skills2Learn has created a broad range of virtual reality-based e-learning programmes in many areas including plumbing, construction and renewable energy.
- Toby Middlemiss - Cranfield University/Oerlikon Balzers Ltd
- The Knowledge Transfer Partnership (KTP) was a win-win for every partner involved. Oerlikon Balzers, a world-leading coatings company, grew its motor sport business with access to specialist high-tech equipment and expertise. Cranfield University increased its knowledge of the coatings business, developed teaching materials and will produce research papers. The KTP associate has a great job!
- Peter Woodland - Alps Electric (UK) Ltd
- Established in 1985, Alps Electric (UK) Limited is part of the Alps Electric Co. Ltd of Japan, one of the world's largest manufacturers of electronic components, modules and sub-assemblies for the automotive, consumer, computer and communications markets, with a sales turnover of US$ 4 billion and 45,000 employees worldwide.
- Simon Anstey - Fonefonics [winner]
- Simon Anstey is also a finalist in the Technology entrepreneur of the year category.
- Bright Sparc/Biztech Award for the Best Use of Technology by a Business 2008
- Sponsored by Biztech
- The winner of this award may be any type of business, not just those within the technologies sector, which has demonstrated the best application of technology. This may be the best application of a software package or process, or a piece of hardware. The finalists for this award are:
- John Wright, Tim Wright and Matthew Wright - Invar Systems
- IWS from Invar is an innovative, integrated warehouse management and control system. It provides support for manual operations, RF terminals, automated cranes, conveyors and sorters, with 3D emulation for testing and training. IWS links to Sage, SAP and other business systems, and is a configurable, scalable, flexible solution that provides scope for business change and growth
- Robert Franks - Timberwindows.com [winner]
- Elegant Timber Windows and Doors markets and manufactures a full range of double glazed timber windows and doors. The company has a UK network of trained registered installers who are on hand to quote and install locally.
TimberWindows.com - The quality is in the detail
- Rick Sanderson - buy-Local.net
- Rick Sanderson is also a finalist in the Technology entrepreneur of the year category.
- Overall Bright Sparc Award
- Sponsored by Invest Milton Keynes
- The overall winner who in the opinion of the judges best exemplifies true technology led innovation.
- The Pitch Battle
- Sponsored by The Milton Keynes Enterprise Hub
- Up to five technology led businesses at the awards event will be asked to make a two minute pitch against the clock and each other, the winner of which will be voted for by the attending guests. The pitch can be for investment, business partnerships, client or business support. The audience will voting on very different businesses so will be asked to assess the effectiveness of communication - how well do they understand your business and what they are after and consider style, content, language used, and structure.
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