Innovation award launched

The School of Technology is sponsoring the West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence (WMCCE) Innovation Award 2011, which is part of the Celebrating Construction Awards.

The Award recognises organisations that have broken new ground in the construction industry which has the potential to fundamentally change the way companies operate.

Professor Rob Moreton, Dean of the School of Technology, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Innovation Award, which recognises significant achievement in the West Midlands construction industry.”

A special event was held at the University to mark the launch of the award and to congratulate two West Midlands companies that enjoyed regional and national success in this year’s WMCCE awards.

Rugby-based Stepnell, a building and civil engineering firm, secured the award for Integration and Collaborative Working, and Lichfield-based Linford Group, a leading contractor, claimed the top prize for Innovation at the prestigious Constructing Excellence National Awards 2010.

The launch was attended by members of the University and representatives from the two award-winning companies.

The Innovation Award 2011 is part of the WMCCE Celebrating Construction Awards 2011, hosted by WMCCE, Birmingham City Council and the Chartered Institute of Building’s (CIOB) West Midlands branch. The award is about developing new and innovative solutions which enhances the value of a finished product. The award highlights innovation for technical or environmental solutions within a project or process.

The Awards are open to organisations, both public and private, which are based in the West Midlands region and whose business is related to construction. The ceremony will take place on Friday, 29 April 2011 at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham. The closing date for entries is Friday, 14 January 2011.

For more information, visit www.wmcce.org

ENDS

Pictured at the Innovation Award launch and celebration event are Harriet Maule-Ffinch from the University’s School of Technology (STech), Phil Wilson from WMCCE, Alan Lyons from Stepnell, Neil Walters from Linford, Professor Rob Moreton Dean of STech, Professor Ian Oakes, Pro-Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise at the University, Paul Hampton and Sam Sutcliffe, both from STech.

For more information please contact Vickie Warren in the Media Relations Office on 01902 322736

About WMCCE

The West Midlands Centre for Constructing Excellence (WMCCE) is one of several centres in the UK that drive best practice in construction by providing ways for businesses, clients and society to learn, share and improve their construction knowledge and practices through information sharing and industry support.

WMCCE was set up with support from Advantage West Midlands and the European Regional Development Fund, to improve the capabilities and competitiveness of the West Midlands construction industry. The Centre is supported by the University of Wolverhampton.