INNOVATION IN STOCKPORT BUSINESSES

Innovation is abundant in Stockport, and this is obvious in the shortlist for the Innovation & Design category at this year’s Stockport Business Awards. The finalists in this category are Cami Confidential, Dyer Environmental Controls and Frederic Robinsons.

MAN Diesel & Turbo UK sponsors this category and Wayne Jones, Senior Vice President at MAN comments:

“Many local companies in various markets have innovation at the forefront of their thinking. In my view innovation sets businesses apart from others, creating sustainable growth and profitability. As a company we are extremely proud to sponsor such a prestigious award in the hometown of our UK Headquarters here in Stockport.”             

   Cami Confidential                                         

Cami Confidential was initially set up when director Yvonne Gillion, who has worked in couture design forover 25 years, was approached by a client who had recently had a double mastectomy and wanted a top which wouldn’t gape and reveal her scars. From this inspiration Yvonne designed a lightweight stretch lace Cami to fit over a bra, it is different from other Camisoles because it hugs the chest and won’t fall away when you bend forward. It is also softly elasticated for maximum comfort.

Cami Confidential is now operating very successfully in this niche market, constantly developing and designing bespoke items to meet individual needs. More recently it has developed a comfort cushion to alleviate discomfort on sensitive areas following surgery.  Cami prides itself on its excellent quality, and all its products are manufactured in the UK.

Dyer Environmental

 Dyer Environmental Controls, based in Cheadle Heath, designs and manufactures manual and electronic window openings as well as advanced smoke and natural ventilation solutions. Dyer is behind some of the most exciting innovations in ventilation including breakthrough systems that combine advanced performance with exceptional energy efficiency.  It offers a huge range of innovative products including; Solis, solar powered opening for windows and roof lights with zero energy consumption and LSC,a lift smoke control system which changes a permanently open lift vent to one which automatically opens up in the case of a fire, but stays shut at all other times saving huge amounts of energy and heating costs.

Frederic Robinsons

Frederic Robinsons has had a huge focus on innovation over the last 12 months. Last year’s investment into its new brew house has enabled the company to introduce new, innovative and tasty ales. One example of this is the Simon Rimmer range ‘A beer to go with…’ which matches up beers to different types of food. Robinsons has also brewed the massively successful Trooper ale, which was created with Iron Maiden and has become the company’s fastest selling beer.

The company also introduced the ‘Cyclops’ systems, something which the industry has now adopted nationwide. This system tells the customer what a beer looks like, tastes like and smells like and enables customers to choose a beer they might like in the future by recommending ales based on criteria such as hoppiness and sweetness. They have also found an innovative use of their new premises with the visitors centre and brewery tours both going down a storm!

Winners of all 12 categories will be announced at the black tie dinner on 3^rd October.

See www.stockportbusinessawards.co.uk for further details.

Stockport Business Awards is an event set up for businesses by businesses. It‘s organiser and main sponsor is accountancy practice Clarke Nicklin and headline sponsors are high profile businesses from the region; Gorvins Solicitors, Orbit Developments and NatWest.