HOVIP - Heads of the Valley Innovation Programme

Testimonials

"The key things I have learnt are a re-assessment of my customer base and re-direction of my effort. It is well worth attending this Creativity and Innovation workshop."

Phil Corke, MD Design & Manufacture Ltd

What's New

Latest News

1. 26 June 2008: Second annual Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards – winners announced.

   The winners were announced in front of a capacity audience at the Innovation Marketplace event at the Parkway Hotel in Cwmbran. 35 entries were received for this year’s Awards and the submissions were judged by an independent panel of high profile business professionals.

   The winners are:

   Most Innovative Social Enterprise -sponsored by NESTA:
   Cynon Valley Crime Reduction Services Ltd

   Most Innovative Sole Trader - sponsored by HSBC:
   Blaenafon Cheddar Company & Mountain Tours Ltd

   Most Innovative Business with less than 20 employees - sponsored by NGB2B – Newport Chamber of Commerce:
   Rhymney Brewery Ltd.

   Most Innovative Business with more than 20 employees - sponsored by BT:
   Joyner PA (Cymru) Ltd

2. 23 April 2008:2008 Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards launch

   The search is on for the most innovative businesses in the Heads of the Valleys region. Businesses throughout the region are being invited “Aim High” and enter the 2008 Heads of the Valleys Innovation Awards which have been launched today at Cyfartha Castle in Merthyr Tydfil by Alistair Neil, Chief Executive of Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

   Entries for the 2008 Awards are open to all businesses based in the Heads of the Valleys area. Closing date for entries is 6 June 2008.

   For full details and an entry form, please visit www.hovip.org.uk and click on Innovation Awards

   Download Press Release

3. 3 April 2008: Merthyr business owner and HOVIP team member, Wendy Locke, has become the first person in Wales to achieve the coveted standard of Master Virtual Assistant.

   Download press release.

4. 1 April 2008: HOVIP Newsletter 2

   PDF file is available to download

5. 31 March 2008: Royvon Dog Training School became the first 2007 HoV Innovation Award winner, to be accepted as a host on the Wales Quality Centre administered Inside Welsh Industry best practice scheme.

   The Wales Quality Centre and WAG have agreed to extend the pan Wales Inside Welsh Industry best practice scheme (www.insidewelshindusrty.org.uk) to a pilot exclusively involving the 2007 HoV Innovation Award winners.

   Royvon is the first 2007 Award winner (with the exception of Penn Pharmaceuticals, who are already a host), to be approved as a host. Royvon will host best practice visits from September 2008. The visits will be focused on how a family owned SME has grown over 50 years and their multiple Award winning customer relationship management practices.

6. 10 March 2008: HOVIP join with Design Wales to offer combined Branding Workshops and Creativity and Innovation Taster sessions.

   3 June 2008: St. Margarets Park, Aberbargoed.
   7 Oct 2008: Parc Bryn Bach, Tredegar.
   26 Feb 2009: Orbit Business Centre, Merthyr Tydfil.

7. 3 March 2008: Started HOVIP2 which is partially funded by the WAG Heads of the Valleys Regeneration initiative and hosted by Merthyr Tydfil County Borough Council.

8. 15 January 2008: HOVIP entered for the 'Effective Partnership Working' category of the 2008 National Fforwm Awards.

9. 10 January 2008: HoV Innovation Award winner, Royvon Dog Training achieves, Investors in People accreditation.

   Download Press Release

10. 1 January 2008: HOVIP Newsletter 1

    PDF file is available to download

11. 9 January 2008: Wales Quality Centre approve pilot to extend the existing Inside Welsh Industry best practice visit scheme to include the 2007 Heads of the Valleys Innovation Award winners.

12. 19 November 2007: HoV Innovation Award winner, Purple Prose, launches 2008 Leading Ladies Calendar.

    Download Press Release

2007 News

2006 News