Businesses and social enterprises based in Caerphilly County Borough are being urged to put themselves forward for a prestigious award which celebrates innovation.
Now in its fourth year, the Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards acknowledge the very best in business innovation and enterprise.
Organised by the Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme (HOVIP) this year’s ceremony and related business exhibition, will take place at Bryn Meadows Golf, Hotel and Spa on June 24.
Guest speaker will be Arthur Davies, the co-founder of Penderyn Whisky while BBC Wales presenter Jason Mohamed will be the host.
There are four categories that companies can enter.
Most Innovative Sole Trader
Most Innovative Business with less than 20 employees
Most Innovative Business with more than 20 employees
Most Innovative Social Enterprise.
Each winner will receive a cash prize and a trophy. All entrants will automatically become members of the Turning Heads Club, HOVIP’s exclusive business club.
The Awards are open to any business within the Heads of the Valleys region and any business in the boroughs of Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, RCT, Merthyr Tydfil and Torfaen that can demonstrate a significant impact on or a link to the Heads of the Valleys.
Phil Burkhard, programme manager for HOVIP, said: “The awards honour the most innovative businesses in the region who can demonstrate how creativity and innovation has made an impact on their business, workforce, customers, communities or the environment.
“We have seen evidence that businesses are truly embracing innovation and using it to make organisations a success and as a result raising their business profile in the region and globally.”
The 2010 event is sponsored by the University of Wales Global Academy and the Award sponsors are BT, HSBC, Capital Law, South Wales Chamber of Commerce and FS4B.
Richard Turner, of the University of Wales Global Academy, said: “We are again delighted to be the main sponsor for the HOVIP Awards.
“Both HOVIP and our flagship initiative, the Prince of Wales Innovation Scholarships aim to help businesses in the region to increase their innovation capacity.
“I encourage any business in the Heads of the Valleys that has innovated their products, services or processes to enter these increasingly significant awards.”
It is free and easy to enter the awards, just visit www.hovip.org.uk
The closing date for entries is noon on Friday May 14.