The award
The Business Action Innovation & Technology Award recognises businesses in and near North Devon who are developing radical new ideas, techniques, products or services to improve any aspect of modern life.
Innovation can range from simple to complex, involving any technology and in any sector, from agriculture, food and drink to engineering, manufacturing, automotive and aviation, defence, digital, retail, hospitality, education, entertainment or art.
Innovation can comprise an entirely new take on an established product or process, or the creation of a revolutionary concept that no one has seen before. It could involve the use of physical or digital tools or human communication or behavioural skills in functions such as sales, teaching or counselling.
Your innovation can have any purpose such as to generate energy more efficiently, simplify or speed up processes, improve strength or characteristics of materials or products, lower costs or just amaze people.
While we don’t expect North Devon to be the home of revolutionary devices, such as the iPhone when it launched, only you know if you have developed one.
Entering the award offers you the opportunity to showcase your ideas, concepts and products and the judges are waiting to hear all about them.
Criteria
The judges are looking for evidence of at least one of the criteria below. You don’t have to meet all – just use them as a guide for your entry – what’s most important is for you to tell your story!
- Creation of an original concept, process, product or service that is significantly different to what is currently standard
- Innovative application of design, manufacture or delivery
- Effective novel use of existing tools to produce significantly improved or different results
- Automation of processes to increase productivity, profitability and service
- Ideas that significantly reduce environmental impact of business activity while increasing benefits
- Innovative ideas and products developed in North Devon
Who can enter?
The Innovation & Technology Award is open to any business in or near North Devon that is innovating in any way. This can range from working with complex specialist engineering or digital technologies to developing simple manual processes that produce revolutionary results.
Businesses can enter themselves or nominate other businesses.
(Businesses developing product may also enter the Made in North Devon Award.)
Category rules for entry
Please follow the category rules below, which also include useful suggestions on how to ensure your entry showcases achievements in the best possible light.
- You can enter your own business or another business for this award.
- This award is for any business in or near North Devon that is innovating in any way.
- Ensure you read the awards terms and conditions.
- Read the criteria and the questions on the form below in advance so that you understand what the judges are looking for and tailor your answers to these.
- There is no restriction on how much information you can provide in your answers, although please ensure that anything you say is relevant to this award. The questions are deliberately open to enable you to submit the best possible entry and the examples given are purely illustrative. Add any other information you feel is important to highlight success.
- Provide as much detail and evidence as possible to back up your claims, including relevant links to websites and videos.
- Write and save your answers in a note-making or word-processing app first and copy them into the form below. This ensures you do not lose anything you have taken a long time to write.
- Attach any files, eg customer compliments or images of products, to support your entry.
- The closing date for entries is 5pm on Thursday 20 February 2025.
Enter award now!
- Complete the online form below or
- Download and email Word form
