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Winners revealed at Biztechs BrightSparc Awards in Central Milton Keynes

16/11/2018

The winner of a Biztech BrightSparc student award in 2015 took away two categories at the 2018 ceremony on Friday (November 16).

Wayne Cartmel's MyNewTerm is an innovative web application that has connected thousands of job seekers and education employers.

MyNewTerm scooped the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Award for best start-up technology business, and the award for Best technology collaboration.

Wayne said winning a BrightSparc Award in 2015, when his business was a concept, had helped him get his business off the ground. "Without a shadow of a doubt," he said. "It was the catalyst for me to go forward. It proved to me that it had real traction."

He praised the role of the University of Bedfordshire, and the CityLabs project, based at the Open University, for their help in getting MyNewTerm to a whole new level.

The BrightSparc award for Best new B2B technology innovation in MK and SEMLEP region went to Red Giraffe. They build smart websites that use Artificial Intelligence to enhance the user experience and deliver relevant content to users. The adaptive technology allows companies to position themselves as the expert for multiple industries, and use the right kind of language for the right kind of target audience.

The CityLABS Innovation award for Milton Keynes went to Living Well at Home. They have a property assessment service called Home Check, tailored to individual households so they can stay living well, at home, in later life. Technology (data collection, processing, and digitisation has enabled them to reduce the assessment and report preparation time down from about two days, to four hours.

The award for Best student technology project in Milton Keynes and SEMLEP went to Wei Hang Chen.

Biztech chairman Fredi Nonyelu said the Biztech BrightSparc Awards are all about celebrating success, building profile, and collaboration, built around Biztech's passion and vision of creating a hub of technology in the Milton Keynes region. He urged all the other finalists to let their entrepreneurial spirit shine, and to "come back stronger" in the 2019 Biztech BrightSparc Awards.

Compered by Milton Keynes councillor David Hopkins, the Biztech BrightSparc Awards ceremony welcomed a fantastic range of speakers, including Michael Bracey, the Acting Chief Executive of Milton Keynes Council. He said Biztech and the council share a vision for creativity, innovation, and entrepreneurial spirit.

Sharon Rai, from the NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Hub, and Dr Oksana Karyak, from the Bettany Centre for Entrepreneurship, spoke of the importance of the SME community to growth.

Alan Fletcher, of the Knowledge Media Institute at the Open University, said growth and business development is "all about the network".

This year's Biztech BrightSparc Awards received a record number of entrants, and planning for next year's awards is already underway. To get involved as a sponsor, email i nfo@biztech.org.uk or use the contact form HERE

Next event up for Biztech is the ever popular Annual Dinner, on December 6, 2018. For more details, and tickets, click HERE.

To join Biztech technology forum, click HERE.

Fantastic finalists announced in Biztech BrightSparc Awards

26/10/2018

The finalists have been announced for the Biztech BrightSparc Awards 2018.

The finalists have been announced for the Biztech BrightSparc Awards 2018.

This year's awards for innovation in technology across the Milton Keynes and SEMLEP area received a record number of entries - up by some 25 per cent compared to 2017.

Fredi Nonyelu, chairman of Biztech technology forum, said: "We know that MK and SEMLEP is full of exciting technology innovations, in all sectors of our vibrant economy but to get this level of response to this year's awards is fantastic.

"It is not just about the sheer numbers, the quality of entries this year has been extremely strong, making the judging process another tough one.

"We look forward with great anticipation to the awards ceremony, which will be held over lunch at the Natwest Entrepreneur Accelerator Hub in Central Milton Keynes on Friday, November 16."

The finalists in each category are as follows:

The NatWest Entrepreneur Accelerator Award for best start-up technology business in MK and the SEMLEP region:
Fregnan
JAFA
Living Well at Home
My New Term
Samad Power
See Local

CityLABS Innovation award for Milton Keynes:
Arthur Ellis Mental Health Support
Brits Energy
Digitwell Solutions
Living Well at Home
Techbrain Consultancy

Best technology collaboration in MK or SEMLEP area:
Arthur Ellis Mental Health Support
Growler Swap
Inside Silverstone Podcast
My New Term
Silverstone Fleet Management

Best new B2B technology innovation in MK and SEMLEP region:
Arthur Ellis: Mental Health Support
Losing the Wires
Red Giraffe
Samad Power
See Local

Tickets for the awards lunch can be booked here: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/biztech-brightsparc-awards-2018-tickets-48269954734 Numbers are limited, so please book early.

Biztech reveals the judges for the 2018 BrightSparc Awards

18/09/2018

With less than one month to go to enter this year's Biztech BrightSparc Awards, the judges for this year's competition have been announced.

The BrightSparc Awards not only recognise technological innovation across all sectors - from digital to manufacturing - but they also showcase how that leads to growth.

Fredi Nonyelu, the chairman of Biztech technology forum in Milton Keynes and SEMLEP, said: "We are thrilled with the experience and skills of the judging panel this year, and look forward to showcasing how the finalists have used technology to create exciting new business ideas.

"The Biztech BrightSparc Awards recognise and celebrate the fact that technology and innovation are crucial to the success of the Milton Keynes and SEMLEP region."

The judges are:

Milton Keynes councillor, David Hopkins

Richard Kellett-Clarke, Non Executive Director, Idox plc

Elizabeth Sheldon, Chairman, Evidence Talks

Nick Lancaster, Director, Innovation and Enterprise, University Of Bedfordshire

Enrico Daga, Senior Project Officer at the Knowledge Media Institute of The Open University

Silvia Vitiello, Partner, Kingston Smith

Find out more information on the BrightSparc Awards and enter on the website here: https://www.biztech.org.uk/brightsparcawards/

2018 Biztech BrightSparc Awards launched in Milton Keynes

29/07/2018

Biztech's annual BrightSparc Awards were launched in Milton Keynes last week at a micro-brewery, reinforcing the message that technology and innovation is vital to the future of the all sectors of the economy.

Guests at Thursday's event at Bucks Star Brewery were treated to samples of ales, as well as a talk on the brewery from founder and head brewer, Datis Gol.

Fredi Nonyelu, chairman of Biztech Technology Forum, said: "Our BrightSparc Awards are a celebration of innovation and technology across Milton Keynes and the South East Midlands.

"Technology and innovation are not exclusive to the digital economy or engineering, they can be common to any industry or profession, or indeed in colleges and universities."

Datis told guests that the brewery, in Wolverton, focuses on being ecological in outlook. They have developed a Growler Swap scheme, whereby glass is washed and re-used, in a move understood to be unique in Europe.

Datis said: "We believe Growler swapping provides the template for the supermarket of the future. Swapping is much more environmentally friendly that recycling, which requires a lot of energy.

"We are getting there one step at a time."

The BrightSparc Awards are looking for all kinds of stories of innovation, with a focus on the bright spark moment and how it led to successful adoption.

That can be in any industry or profession, whether it be from techies, developers, engineers, or people with a particular passion who saw a gap in the market.

You've had a brilliant idea, now it's time to shine.... enter Biztech�BrightSparc Awards on this site: https://www.biztech.org.uk/brightsparcawards/

2017 UPDATES

Judges announced with days left to enter the Biztech BrightSparc Awards

23/10/2017

Biztech technology forum has announced this year’s high-profile panel of judges for this year’s BrightSparc Awards.

The judges are the Mayor of Milton Keynes, Cllr David Hopkins, the MK Council leader, Cllr Peter Marland, Jan Flawn, of PJ Care, Nick Lancaster, of the University of Bedfordshire, and Silvia Vitiello from Kingston Smith.

Fredi Nonyelu, Biztech’s chairman, said: “It’s a sign of the importance of technology and innovation to the regional economy that the Biztech BrightSparc Awards are able to attract such a high calibre of judges.

“With only days to go until the deadline for entries, we are already seeing some fantastic examples of innovation. A part of Biztech’s role is to showcase the very best of technology across the SEMLEP and MK area, in this way we can play our part in creating a hub of businesses that will generate the growth and wealth for the benefit of everyone.”

This year’s Biztech BrightSparc Awards have five categories:

· Best Student Technology Project

· The Espark Award for best Start up Technology Business

· Best New B2B Technology Innovation

· Best New B2C Technology Innovation

· Best Technology Collaboration

The deadline for entries is Friday October 27, with the lunchtime awards event being held at Espark Hub in Central Milton Keynes, from 12 noon until 2pm on Friday, November 24. For details and the online entry form, visit https://www.biztech.org.uk/brightsparcawards/

© 2018 Biztech Business and Technology Forum