HOVIP - Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme

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Testimonials

"The workshop provides you with immediate solutions to business problems and also provides you with techniques to use in addressing future goals / objectives."

Mike Regan, Regan Construction Ltd

News Archive 2008

1. 31 December 2008: HOVIP helps Caerphilly-based business gain funding

   In the final quarter of 2008 Jeff Harris, Business Recruitment Consultant and Funding Advisor for the HOVIP helped Discromatics, a Caerphilly-based CD and DVD Duplication and Replication Company to gain funding of £15,000 to help in the purchase of a new state of the art CD printer and also a digital printer and finishing equipment that has the potential to change the face of their business. The Grant came through the Welsh Assembly Governments Technology Exploitation Award via the ITC for the Caerphilly area Mr Steve Jones. He was approached by Jeff after other funding routes proved unsuccessful and one of the last applications for this very successful program was made in late October and approved by 1st November in a very quick and successful stress-free process.

   Gareth Spencer, Director of Dischromatics, said “We are not sure what this will mean in terms of employment and turnover to be truthful, but once we are fully up and running the potential is huge, indeed if the ideas take off we may even invest in more machinery and construct more rooms on our premises to enclose it!  As a conservative estimate I see no reason why the machinery could not help us increase turnover by at least 10% over the next financial year, if not more, and if the printer can be run non-stop we almost certainly will need a new employee to solely operate it.”  

2. 1 December 2008: HOVIP Newsletter 3

   Download newsletter issue 03

3. 18 November 2008: First HOVIP2 Business Challenge Workshop

   This workshop was delivered at the stunning Orbit Business Centre, in Merthyr, which opened at the beginning of the month. The workshop brought together social enterprises and other businesses. Delegates worked together to obtain creative solutions to their challenges, new skills, new tools and new contacts.

   For more information see Business Challenge Workshops

4. 29 October 2008: HOVIP wins a Wales National Training Award

   HEADS OF THE VALLEYS BUSINESS INITIATIVE IN AWARDS SPOTLIGHT

   On a packed evening at Cardiff City Hall, the Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme (HOVIP) recently won a coveted Wales National Training Award. The National Training Awards are recognised as the most prestigious training awards in the UK.

   For more information, download the press release (102 KB pdf).

5. 27 November 2008: First Turning Heads Club meeting

   The first Turning Heads Club, for HoV Innovation Award winners and entrants, was held in a converted chapel in Tredegar at the amazing Venue 1, owned by Kidz R Us. Members were treated to a mouth-watering taster session from Blaenafon Cheddar and Mountain Tours Ltd. and Blaengawney Farm Cider. Innovative and unusual networking opportunities complemented the two brief presentations from JobMatch (an HoV employment initiative) and the University of Glamorgan Commercial Services / Merthyr Tydfil College (who spoke about their new Delivering Exceptional Customer Centre of Excellence and related services).

   For more information see the Turning Heads Club page.

6. 23 October 2008: HOVIP wins a Wales National Training Award

   On a packed evening at Cardiff City Hall, HOVIP recently won a coveted Wales National Training Award. The National Training Awards are recognised as the most prestigious training awards in the UK.

   Download the press release (102 KB pdf)

7. 22 October 2008: HOVIP sponsors Merthyr launch of Enterprise Week

   HOVIP is delighted to support the launch of Merthyr’s contribution to National Enterprise Week. This includes a series of practical event for people thinking about starting a business, existing businesses and social enterprises.

   For information contact: Sharon Phillips, Orbit Business Development Manager (01685 725016).

8. 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

9. 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 the press release (134 KB pdf)

10. 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 the press release (77 KB pdf)

11. 1 April 2008: HOVIP Newsletter 2

    Download newsletter issue 02 (269 KB pdf)

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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.

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

16. 10 January 2008: HoV Innovation Award winner, Royvon Dog Training achieves, Investors in People accreditation.

    Download the press release (108 KB pdf)

17. 1 January 2008: HOVIP Newsletter 1

    Download newsletter issue 01 (278 KB pdf)

18. 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.