Award for Innovation Through Technology

• Total word count should be no more than 2000 words excluding questions.
• All entries must be electronic and supporting information is not permitted.
• A maximum of 5 insertions e.g. tables, graphs or photos may be attached at the end of the entry form.
• This online form contains 9 questions. Please ensure that you answer all questions.
• Any entries not adhering to the rules of entry will be eliminated at the next round. Click here to read the Rules of Entry
• All entries for this category from Chamber of Commerce Herefordshire and Worcestershire members will automatically be submitted into the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) awards ( www.chamberawards.co.uk ) with the potential to win not only this category but the overall award for Outstanding Achievement with a £50,000 cash prize. Please tick the box if you do NOT wish your entry to be put forward for the BCC Awards
  Please tick this box if you do not wish to be forwarded to for the British Chambers of Commerce awards.
• As part of the judging process, all entries will be reviewed by Business Link West Midlands. Reviews may take the format of a telephone call or a visit to your premises. As soon as we receive your application your details will be forwarded to Business Link who will contact you direct.

Company Name

Contact Name

Position

Company Address

Postcode

Email Address

Website Address

Telephone Number

Mobile Number

Fax Number

Business Sector

Nature of Business

Main product/service

No. of full time employees

No. of part time employees

Legal status of company

Year trading began

Turnover for 2008

Turnover for 2009

Projected turnover for 2010

Net profit for 2008

Net profit for 2009

Projected net profit for 2010

Please provide a brief description of your business, the products or services it supplies, its customers and the markets that it operates in. You should cover:

• The nature of your business
• Your products and services
• Your customers
• Markets that you operate in

Please outline the overall trend in your sales turnover and profit development together with a brief description of key events that have led to these changes where appropriate

• How your sales turnover has developed
• How your profit has developed
• The key events that have led to any changes. Please provide an explanation

What are the objectives for your business over the next 3 years? You should cover:

• Main objectives for the next 3 years
• How these will be achieved
• Effects that these will have on the overall business

Please summarise details of the specific technology project (s) or initiative (s) that you have selected for this entry. You should cover:

• Summary of the project (s) or initiative (s) including key technology used
• Please give details of the initial investment
• How they work and who within the business is involved with them

Please outline the rationale for implementing the technology, covering how the issue was identified, what business issue/goal it has assisted with, and how the right technology was selected. You should cover:

• How the issue was identified and by who, e.g. staff, customers, owner manager, external advisor
• • What main issue or goal it addresses and why e.g. increased productivity, reduced cost, ability to enter new markets, response to a competitive threat
• The process for selecting the appropriate technology and reasons behind choosing the technology you used

How has this technology project or initiative impacted your business? Please consider customers, suppliers, teams, sales/profits, operations, or other audiences You should cover:

• A summary of the initial goal
• Methods of measuring the impact on your business
• Results of the impact on the business in terms of customers, suppliers, teams, sales/profit, operations etc.

What are your future plans for the application of technology within your business? You should cover:

• The scope for developing the project or initiative
• What objectives you hope to achieve by this development
• The extent to which your view on the use of technology has changed following the implementation of this project