Double success for North West in UK Energy Innovation Awards

Two North West businesses were amongst a host of companies honoured at the fourth annual UK Energy Innovation Awards 2014 which took place in Manchester.

Liverpool-based OSDS Ltd won the ‘Environmental Impact Award’ for developing a compact vehicle for utility companies that combines diamond core drilling and vacuum excavation into a single vehicle. The product reduces vehicle fuel consumption, vehicle emissions and traffic congestion wherever it is deployed.

Scott’s Hire Ltd from Sandbach, Cheshire took home the award for ‘Best Safety Innovation’ for its Digadoc® safety trailer for mini-excavators that makes safe loading as simple as possible, eliminating the risk of operator error.

Steve Dunmore of OSDS said: “Our business came about through a simple idea nine years ago which managed to come to fruition through UK engineering companies so we’re really delighted to now be recognised in these awards. It is great to see so many talented individuals together in one room to celebrate the very best in the industry.”

Martin Smithson of Scott’s Hire said: “It is a fantastic achievement to be recognised in these prestigious awards and this reinforces the fact that the Digadoc® trailer is the way forward in the transportation of mini excavators. Innovations which help discover solutions to potentially harmful problems are so important in the energy sector and so we’re delighted our product has won as competition was high.”

An audience of over 370 guests attended the event at the Hilton Manchester Deansgate on Thursday April 24th, which was an overwhelming endorsement for the impact that collaborative innovation is having on the UK’s energy sector as it looks to address the challenges of the future.

Denise Massey, managing director of the Ellesmere Port-based Energy Innovation Centre, organisers of the awards, said: “We are proud to host these awards which continue to go from strength-to-strength each year.

“Their evolution over the past four years reflects the development of innovation within the energy sector which has gone from being aspirational to an accepted part of business as usual.

“The stories we’ve heard tonight are further proof that with a degree of courage and a willingness to collaborate we can deliver transformational practices and processes that have the power to benefit both customers and the environment, and help to strengthen the industry moving forward.”

Sponsors of the UK Energy Innovation Awards 2014 were Amey, Earth Capital Partners, Northern Gas Network, the Offshore Renewable Energy Catapult, SSE Power Distribution, UKTI and ViaSat UK Ltd.

The event was also supported by: Electricity North West, the Energy Networks Association, National Grid, Northern Powergrid, SP Energy Networks, Scotia Gas Networks Plc and Wales and West Utilities.

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