Lord Stafford comes to the East Midlands!

As you may be aware, last November, NTU SPEED was involved in the 1^st Festival of Innovation expo at the NEC. This was organised in conjunction with the Lord Stafford Awards (LSA). Unfortunately as the LSA were based in the West Midlands we were unable to enter and possibly win any of the awards. Undeterred, we gave it our best effort and, I believe, put on the best stand and had the best turn out of the show!

As a result of this effort (I wish, not really!), this year the East Midlands will have it’s own Lord Stafford Awards. The LSA are moving from the West Midlands initially into the East, before being expanded across the country. They will give £5k per company winner + considerable PR (to judge from the West Midlands event)

All of our SPEED businesses are potentially able to apply to these awards as, through their connection with The Hive they are “in association with an East Midland’s university.” There is a strong desire from the University for NTU to figure prominently in the applications, so you can expect plenty of help and support!

There are prizes of £5k each award and the deadline to return to us of Friday 25^th April.

I encourage you to look at this link for the LSA and if appropriate, contact me to get an application form, which we will fill in together. Before applying make sure you have read the judges criteria, under which the awards will be made, and try to see where your business fits in.

PLEASE RETURN YOUR APPLICATION TO ME so that I can co-ordinate those from SPEED

GOOD LUCK!

The Final Post

No, not the final post ever...you're not that lucky! It's the last time I shall mention the Festival of Innovation! (...maybe... well probably... erm possibly...)

We had a great day out, there was a definite feel of school trip on the freezing cold coach on the way there. The stand looked great- thanks to everyone for the poster info and to the gals and guys who exhibited. NTU had the best stand, and I'm not just saying that. Better than the rocket car! Oh yes, you missed a rocket car!

Glyn http://www.nedstar-uk.com/ provided the entertainment when things got a bit boring in the afternoon. I am embarrassed at my hockey skills and glad that almost everyone else was rubbish too. I hope the University of Wolverhampton staff have forgiven us for constantly rattling their stand walls! I had fully intended to upload a video of (unsigned) hockey star Dave 'Mudd' Hammond, but like a moron had forgotten I've downloaded the videos at home. So I guess you'll just have to wait for that one.

It was a very quiet expo, but I hope most people got something out of it, even if it was just free champagne (Phil, Paul http://www.wedig.co.uk/ and Matt), a free massage (Paul, again) or networking (everyone else!). Andrea managed to capture most of it on digi film so more photos to follow

Then, it was all back to the Miller's Barn for a meal. Luckily by that time, the coach had warmed up so Jo did not turn into an ice cube and Amy http://www.pipalina.com/ was not completely blue when she got off the coach! After missing the tram back into town and standing in the frosty air for 15 minutes we finally got back to Nottingham.

Suffice to say, thanks to Dave Hammond - MUDD, Paul Ellis - Green Rooms and Paul Scrimshaw - Little Oak Paving for helping me to break down the stand the next day. Cheers guys, it was a real help!