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Deck the Hall....for Norfolk Network's Innovation Awards 2006Dragon's Hall was a glorious setting for the Norfolk Network Christmas Party last Thursday evening. The Hall was decked with Christmas trees and candles as around a 100 guests gathered to enjoy a sumptuous supper and to celebrate outstanding business innovation in Norfolk. Xenia Horne from MusicMakers UK, launched the night's festivities by welcoming in guests with enchanting harp music. Frank Stone, MD of the Norfolk Network was Master of Ceremonies for the evening and welcomed special guests David Marlow CEO of EEDA, Peter McCarthy Ward, BT Regional Director for the East of England and Chris Starkie, EDP Business Editor.
It was the Norfolk debut of innovative chef Deniz Paradot of the Food Tailor, with his outstanding cuisine for an inspired medieval banquet supper. After dinner Frank handed over to Bev Hurley, CEO of Norfolk Network, who was delighted to announce the winners of the Norfolk Network Innovation Awards 2006 . Sponsored by "Shaping Norfolk's Future", the awards were designed by Darren Leader Design and manufactured by Warren Services.
The award for "Outstanding Innovation" went to Dr Martin Wickham, the creator of the world's most accurate model gut. The gut allows food or drug products to be tested, without using animals or humans in trials. Though Martin only commercialised the gut about two months ago, he is already busy with work from pharmaceutical and food companies. The "Best Service Business" award was presented to Dr Thomas Haizel, MD of Anglia DNA Services. Specialising in paternity testing, this is one of the fatest growing DNA testing companies in the UK and has international accreditation. Les and David Aarons from Select Software received the "Best Product Business" for their street lighting technology that greatly reduces energy use and could save UK local authorities millions of pounds in lighting costs.
Bev said: "There was strong competition for the awards and these winning companies demonstrate that Norfolk is home to increasing numbers of innovative businesses developing world-class products and services with international markets,". She went on to add that: "We are proud to celebrate these outstanding achievements, especially as all the winners intend to grow substantial businesses in Norfolk, continuing to boost the local economy". It was then time for some fun and surprises with the announcement of the lucky recipients of this year's "Real" Awards. The "Mudoch" Award - for someone who has more column inches under his belt than anyone we know - seeking world media domination perhaps - went to Alex Tosh of Creative Sponge. The "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire" Award - for someone who's determination to succeed and exit with a healthy bank balance (there were a lot of contenders) - went to Paul Spinks of Active Technologies Ltd. The "Blood, Sweat & Tears" Award - for two people who just get on with it and we hope to see them smiling again soon - went to Peter Roche & Tony Barnes of Telecomique Ltd The "Constant Gardener Award" - for people who tend & fertilise the soil, sow the seeds and prune the new entrepreneurs - went to Business Studies teacher Izzy Mair and Enterprise Co-ordinator Ruth Bullard, from Blyth Jex school. The "No Such Thing As A Free Lunch" Award - for someone who's always there supporting the network and never leaves without a plate of food - went to Martin Kentish, The Customer Feedback Company. Norfolk Network members True Spirit and Salle Organics kindly donated some super prizes for the lucky dip. Jim Rivett from Institute of Food Research, and Peter McCarthy Ward, each won a bottle of fine malt whiskey. Anne Barker, guest of Mills and Reeve, won a Christmas organic food box.
We had planned some after dinner whiskey appreciation with Dominic Roscoe, but Dominic was called away at the last minute to the British Guild of Beer Writers Gala dinner in London. He received the prestigious award of Best Beer Journalist in Britain 2006.
All this left most of us quite content to relax and chat over coffee and fine Norfolk organic champagne truffles. Our thanks to the Booja-Booja chocolate company for kindly donating the truffles. Some however did venture downstairs to the slightly cooler parts of the contemporary gallery area, to dance to the music of record selectors Darren Leader and Chris Lowthorpe from the Arcadian Collective. A great night was enjoyed by all.
Posted: 12th Dec 2006 |
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