Three firms enter the running to win innovation award

THREE Oldham businesses have entered the inaugural Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce Innovation Awards.

The firms are:

Whitehead Timber, in Coal Pit Lane, Bardsley, is one of the few reclaimed timber merchants in the country.

Failsworth Training Services, in Lord Lane, is an HGV instruction provider which has grown significantly in its first couple of years.

Commando Joe — which undertakes military fitness for children, which started up at the height of the recession and has enjoyed success in its first year at its headquarters on the Oldham-Newton Heath boundary.

The brainchild of the Chamber of Commerce and PR agency Weber Shandwick, the awards are supported by Brother UK, TheBusinessDesk.com and Manchester: Knowledge Capital.

The award is not dependent on business size, turnover or track record of previous award wins — entries can be submitted by multinational organisations, small start-ups or family-run businesses.

“You don’t even have to be a member of Greater Manchester Chamber to enter — the award is open to all,” says Dr Moneeb Awan, President of Greater Manchester Chamber and himself an award-winning entrepreneur with a passion for embracing new technologies to help deliver business growth.

The organisers want to hear from businesses with a great story to tell, that have innovative thinking at the root of their success. The innovation can be a service, product or business process — the key is that it really stands out and delivers a demonstrable return on investment.

Award entries can be submitted until May 28 by logging on to the website www.gmchamber.co.uk/innovation — where there is a simply form to complete.

The winner will receive a trophy, plus digital consultancy from Weber Shandwick worth £5,000.

They’ll be able to choose from a raft of diverse services including broadcast filming, production and video seeding training or campaign support to drive online activity.

In addition, they’ll also receive a high speed, wireless, network-ready, colour laser printer, courtesy of leading printer manufacturer Brother.