Press Release
18 May 2009 - Innovative businesses rewarded for being bright sparcs
Three innovative companies based at Cranfield University managed to scoop half the awards at last Wednesday’s Bright Sparc Awards.
This was the second year of the ceremony which recognises and rewards technology-led businesses in and around Milton Keynes for their innovation.
The event held at Cranfield’s Management Research Institute saw 50 businesses enter and was attended by over 100 people from local businesses and the public sector.
The trophy-winning companies were:
- Parellel Global based at Cranfield’s Technology Park.
The company was named the Technology-led business of the year and also won the overall Bright Sparc Award.
Parallel is a network management specialist that provides network management and network operations to some of the largest organisations in the world. The company’s SatManage product provides comprehensive management for satellite and hybrid networks. The software manages all the factors that determine network performance. Clients include Schlumberger, Stratos Global, Ship Equip AS, MTN Inc, Hughes, to name a few.
Parallel’s CEO, James Dell said: “We are experiencing rapid growth across all VSAT (Very Small Aperture Terminal) communication sectors, particularly in Maritime. SatManage gives our customers a market leading differentiator creating more revenue streams for them. We are immensely proud of our achievements and winning the Bright Sparc Award is another significant milestone for us. We intend to keep the innovations coming."
- Acuigen based at Cranfield’s Technology Park.
The company won the Best use of technology by a business crown with its CustomServe system. The advanced knowledge management system collates customer and client feedback.
- Simon Olding based at Cranfield University’s Incubation Centre (Cubic).
Simon Olding was awarded the Pitch Battle prize for his Achievement in Mind teaching project; an online system which helps teachers build up a profile of individual children so teaching can be tailored to them.
The fireman from Cranfield village had to present his idea to the audience and secured over 60% of the votes. Simon, along with two other hopefuls, was scored for his strength of message, his ambition and the way he presented himself.
Simon said: “It means something that people not involved in schools and who don’t follow education thought that what I had could be a success.”
There were three other awards: Young Entrepreneur of the Year (sponsored by CUBIC and St Modwen) went to Immad Akhund from the Harrow-based gaming-company Heyzap, Technology Entrepreneur of the Year went to Luton-based Derrick Cameron from IT-company Eximium and Best use of sustainable technology in a business award went to Timberwindows.com.
Sarah Blenkinsop, Regional Partnership Manager and member of the Sparc network steering group, added: “The success of Cranfield companies illustrates what a fantastic innovation habitat we have here and this goes to show the significant impact these businesses are having in the region.
“The attendees and the entrants had greatly increased from last year so we hope next year’s event will be bigger and better and go from strength to strength.”
Cranfield's Technology Park is situated next to Cranfield University and developed with partner St Modwen Developments Limited. It provides a high quality environment with car parking and landscaping providing an ideal setting for both new and established businesses. To find out more call St Modwen's Robin Vaughan on (01727) 732690.
For more information on the award-winning companies visit www.achievementinmind.com/ilp or www.cranfield.ac.uk/business/commercialtenancies/techpark/companies
ENDS
Further information
Cranfield University is a wholly postgraduate institution with a worldwide reputation for excellence and expertise in aerospace, automotive, defence, engineering, environment and water, health, management and manufacturing. The University is made up of the following Schools: Cranfield Health, School of Management, School of Applied Sciences, School of Engineering, and Cranfield Defence and Security at Shrivenham. For more information visit http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/
For further information please contact: Naomie Stanford-Jones, Press Officer, Cranfield University, tel: +44 (0) 1234 754999
Press Office – Marketing Operations
Building 45
Cranfield University
Cranfield
Bedfordshire MK43 0AL
Tel: +44 (0) 1234 754999
Fax: +44 (0) 1234 758051
Email: pressoffice@cranfield.ac.uk
Website: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/
Press release number: PR-07-09-BDO
