Eureka

Innovation was the key to success in three of the Queen's Awards for Enterprise 2003 categories for International Trade, Innovation and Sustainable Development

Among the 62 companies in the export category, ranging from businesses with four employees, to the Royal Bank of Scotland with 88,000, every branch of business was represented. Successes included traditional engineering companies such as Alstom Power Technology Centre, 40% of whose overseas earnings derive from the manufacture and sale of rotating parts for aircraft engines. Aston Martin did well in the automotive sector, by producing a high value product with a strong emphasis on after sales service. Crystalox, which makes polycrystalline silicon for photovoltaics increased overseas earnings by 486% in three years.

Medical and pharmaceuticals manufacturers were well represented. Meridian Medical Technologies increased overseas sales by 213% and doubled its number of employees. No Climb Products, which makes test and maintenance products for fire detectors, attributed its success to its innovative products and extensive R&O. PerkinElmer Optoelectronics grew its overseas earnings by 256% and doubled its number of employees and also won an Innovation Award. Photonic Products, with only 11 employees achieves 40% of its sales through its web site and the lnternet. Rolls Royce, well known for its outstanding R&O, captured over half the world market for wide bodied aircraft with its Trent engine range.

STG Aerospace also won an Innovation Award. Somewhat smaller, with only nine employees, it makes photo-luminescent emergency floor path marking systems for aircraft. TTPCom, which licenses software and hardware designs for all parts of a mobile terminal attributes some of its success to the fact that it employs 37 different nationalities in its various offices with consequential excellent multilingual skills. Zeus Aluminium Products, which makes light weight aluminium precision sand castings for high performance motor sport and automobile engines also attributed its success to linguistic skills, along with a high emphasis on training, technical experience and competence.

There were in addition, 51 Awards for Innovation, to companies including BAE Systems Inertial Systems Division, Delcam, Dyson, Morgan Group and Oxford Instruments Superconductivity. Ten companies won awards for sustainable development. Nowhere was there mention of business success achieved by sacking staff.

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