The winners of Leicestershire Innovation Awards 2024 were revealed at an event at SportPark in Loughborough.
Dozens of finalists across 10 categories gathered last night for the sixth annual awards.
They were joined by Leicestershire Innovation Festival sponsors, guests, and presenter Martin Ballard.
Three other special awards were presented on the evening, each recognising outstanding achievement.
Innovate UK CEO Indro Mukerjee – who provided the keynote at last year’s awards – sent a video outlining the importance of regional innovation strategy.
Further videos were provided by Sir John Peace, Chair of Midlands Engine, and Sophie Dale-Black PhD, Director for Midlands and North of England at the British Business Bank.
There were welcome speeches from Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL, Chair of the LLEP Innovation Board, Phoebe Dawson, CEO of the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership (LLEP), and Professor Nick Jennings, Vice-Chancellor of Loughborough University.
Deputy-Lieutenant Ian Borley described the benefits of entering the King’s Awards.
Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL congratulated entrants for reaching the final shortlist, adding there were a record number of nominations in 2024.
“This is a focus which is delivering for our businesses, economy and our communities, as these innovative businesses grow, achieve, and prosper,” he said.
“The wide range of ideas that were shared, particularly by so many young entrepreneurs, fills me with confidence that Leicestershire is one of the UK’s most innovative counties.”
This year’s awards were led, for the first time, by the LLEP Business Gateway Growth Hub.
Phoebe Dawson described how the Growth Hub has led Leicestershire Innovation Festival for several years, also taking over management of the Awards shortly before Christmas.
She added that current LLEP functions – including the Growth Hub and the Innovative Leicestershire brand – will transfer to the control of Leicester City Council and Leicestershire County Council from April 1.
“Innovation is a pillar of our regional Economic Growth Strategy and the Growth Hub’s goal has been to demonstrate to all businesses the benefits of increased productivity,” she said.
“That’s why this year’s festival theme was ‘Small Change, Big Impact’.”
Sponsored by De Montfort University, Loughborough University, and University of Leicester, the awards categories celebrate positive change.
They form part of the annual Leicestershire Innovation Festival, which is also led by the Business Gateway Growth Hub.
There were more than 1,000 registrations for the 20+ events staged during February’s festival.
THE WINNERS
Innovation Catalyst
Tobias Gould
Innovation in Creative
Camira Fabrics and De Montfort University
Innovation in Education & Community
De Montfort University and East Midlands Chamber
Innovation in Food & Drink
The Bug Factory
Innovation in Med-Tech & Life Sciences
Bioxhale Ltd
Innovation in Space
Rolls-Royce
Innovation in Sport, Wellbeing & Accessibility
Moti Me
Innovation in STEM Industries
Loughborough University
Innovation in Sustainability
Abacus Flooring Solutions Ltd
University Student Innovation
Snowball Community Ltd
Innovator of the Year
Rolls-Royce
Outstanding Contribution to Festival
Julian Bowery
Outstanding Contribution
Sue Tilley
Photo shows Gosia Khrais, Commercial and Marketing Director, Charnwood Campus Science, Innovation and Technology Park presenting the award for Innovation in Med-Tech and Life Sciences to Dahlia Salman from Bioxhale.