News
Thursday 8 June 2006
Hive start-up showered with praise
An innovative business idea to develop an environmentally-friendly power shower has won first prize for a Nottingham Trent University Hive start-up, About DT Ltd. Ross Haddow, from About DT, beat 55 entries from universities across the East Midlands, winning £3000 for the initiative.
The Regional Student Business Plan Competition, hosted this year by Loughborough University, seeks to encourage and support students in the area of business planning. It invites them to develop a business initiative and business plan, with the aim of demonstrating its potential as a financially successful new enterprise.
Six of the most commercially-promising proposals were selected from the 55 entries by a panel of regional judges, and the winners were revealed at a special award ceremony at Holywell Park, Loughborough. Another of Nottingham Trent University’s Hive-based companies – Digital Cubed Ltd – also made the shortlist.
Ross Haddow, from About DT, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have won this competition. The power shower is currently going through the patent process and this win gives me even more incentive to develop its full potential.
“I’ve had a huge amount of support, particularly from The Hive. The Centre has provided me with invaluable business knowledge.”
Marina Pickles, Student Enterprise Manager at Loughborough University, added: “All of the finalists developed plans that show real potential to start-up a successful new enterprise that may ultimately aid regional wealth creation.”
ENDS
Notes to editors
- The regional competition was open to all students (undergraduates and postgraduates) from the following East Midlands universities and associated colleges: Bishop Grosseteste College Lincoln, De Montfort University, University of Derby, University of Leicester, University of Lincoln, Loughborough University, The University of Northampton, Nottingham Trent University, and the University of Nottingham.
- The regional student business planning competition was developed by emsen, the East Midlands Science Enterprise Network. It is currently in its third year.
- Mark Grubb of the University of Nottingham won the second prize of £2000 for his proposal to exploit novel optical heart rate sensing technology to reduce morbidity in new born babies and aid health self-monitoring. The third place prize of £1000 was awarded to a team of two Loughborough University students, Joel Pegram and Kieran Bucknall, who plan to pioneer the implementation of affordable smart home technologies in new homes.
- The Hive is a purpose built enterprise development centre to facilitate Nottingham Trent University in creating and supporting new ventures. It provides a fully supported germination and incubation environment for the creation of new business ventures and has so far helped 61 new businesses to start- up. Two of the Hive created businesses reached the 2005 finals of the National Start-up Awards for Micro Business of the Year and Young Entrepreneur of the Year.
For more information please contact:
Dave Rogers, Press Officer, on Tel: 0115 848 8782 or via email: dave.rogers@ntu.ac.uk
Or Therese Easom, Press and Media Relations Manager, on Tel: 0115 848 8774 or via email: therese.easom@ntu.ac.uk
