Innovation

Sponsored and judged by Anglia Ruskin University (visit website)

The category

This category is designed to recognise innovative solutions right across the spectrum of commerce and industry. It is not so much the "size" of the solution but the innovation brought to bear.

While an IT solution may well provide a contender, there are so many other areas of business where innovation plays an important role.

When you come to the final stage of completing your on-line entry you will be asked to enter the number of employees including contractors.

What the judges are looking for

Companies that can demonstrate that they are ahead of their customers' needs in product or service development, or companies able to show how they are innovating in, for example providing individual solutions to individual customers, or in finding innovative uses for existing technology.

Please write your overall description in no more than 500 words (fewer are perfectly acceptable) and then separately answer the questions below. If you want to attach supporting materials such as photos, leaflets, testimonials, etc. please do so.

Specific questions to answer

1. What was it that prompted you to develop the innovative product or service?
2. How is your product or service anticipating the future needs of customers?
3. What is the benefit of your innovation to customers?
4. How do you use existing product knowledge and experience to find new ways to use it?

About the judges

Anglia Ruskin University provides an education for over 26,000 students who are currently studying on our two main campuses in Chelmsford or Cambridge or with one of our UK and international collaborative partners. We offer courses from undergraduate and professional qualifications through to postgraduate and research degrees.

Our working relationships with the local business community are of great importance to us, keeping our work firmly rooted in the region. With this ethos in mind, the Employment Bureau and Ashcroft International Business School at Anglia Ruskin are proud to be the sponsors of the Innovation category for the 2008 Essex Business Awards.

Sarah White is the Business Development Manager for the Employment Bureau. Her background includes 12 years senior management experience with an international recruitment organisation. In recent years, Sarah returned to university and is now preparing for her doctorate in Occupational Psychology. Sarah's remit involves developing links with a wide range of businesses in the East of England to secure career opportunities for graduates and students.

Stephen Bloomfield is the Associate Dean in charge of external income generation and research at Ashcroft International Business School. A chartered secretary by profession, before joining AIBS in 2002, he was a director of several venture capital funds and a company rescue specialist. He is the author of several books on finance and venture capital.