Final call for business innovation award entries

Midlands companies and entrepreneurs have just a few more days to get their entries in for the Rowan Best Business Innovation Award and the chance to win up to £8,000 worth of advice.

The winner will gain up to £8,000 of support and advice to make their idea a reality, with second and third prizes of £4,000 and £3,000.

Entries are being encouraged from start-ups and individuals and from established businesses who are looking to diversify into new innovative areas.

Given in recognition of the best ideas for new products and services, the Best Business Innovation (BBI) award is run by Rowan Group to celebrate the ingenuity and inventiveness of Midlands businesses and individuals.

Entries have been steadily arriving at the Rowan headquarters in Coventry, but the deadline is approaching fast and the organisers are urging the many people who have downloaded entry forms from the website to get their entries posted before the end of the week.

The closing date for receipt of applications is Monday 11 June 2007 and the winners will be announced in early July.

Now in its second year, the Rowan Best Business Innovation Award has been pioneered by sales and marketing specialists the Rowan Group.

It has gained widespread support in the region after an exciting first year.

Judges include Chris Clifford, the CBI's Regional Director for the West Midlands, Norman Price OBE, Deputy Chairman of Advantage West Midlands, Marc Reeves, Editor of the Birmingham Post, and Chris Rattigan, Managing Director of Rowan.

Winners receive up to £8,000 worth of hands-on support to help them take their innovation to market, making the award unique and a practical alternative to the usual certificate or trophy.

"We have had an excellent response and entries are still coming in every day," said Chris Rattigan, Chair of the judging panel.

"But we know there are still quite a few outstanding entries out there - we just don't want anyone who has started to fill in the entry form to miss out because they didn't meet the deadline".

The awards are open to individuals or companies who can demonstrate a well-though-out idea which has the potential to become a commercial high flyer.

Candidates should be able to demonstrate that they have investigated the market opportunity for their product or service, have developed the idea to prototype or trial service stage and have a clear vision of the potential for their innovation in the market.

Prizes will be in the form of consultancy and support provided by Rowan in order to take the chosen innovations significantly closer to achieving commercial success.

"We introduced the Rowan Best Business Innovation Awards in order to recognise and reward the significant contribution that new and innovative thinking makes to the vibrancy of the Midlands economy," said Rattigan.

"We see so many companies with great products and innovative ideas, but without the expertise or resources to make them truly successful; that's why Rowan decided to run this award - to celebrate Midlands innovation and to be able to give at least three companies each year the practical help they need to achieve commercial success.".

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