Date Announced: 09 Aug 2011 One of the UK’s leading lighting manufacturers has today been named as one of the most innovative businesses in the country. Harvard Engineering has been shortlisted for the coveted Orange Innovation Award, in the 10th annual National Business Awards.The firm has been shortlisted because of its innovative carbon emission saving LeafNut wireless street lighting monitoring and control solution. Harvard also manufactures LED and HID lighting controls offering efficiency for commercial, retail, emergency and street lighting applications. With over 60 LeafNut installations worldwide the company employs approximately 210 people in Normanton and is projected to reach a turnover of over £20 million, a 44.4 percent increase on sales in the previous 12 months.The Orange Innovation Award recognises businesses that have gone beyond the ordinary in their development and implemented cutting edge innovation in terms of products, services or company culture. Harvard Engineering will now prepare to make its presentation in person before an independent, expert judging panel in October before the winners are announced at an awards ceremony in November.John McDonnell, Managing Director Harvard Engineering commented, “We are extremely proud that LeafNut, our energy saving street lighting control system, has been shortlisted for the Orange Innovation category, it’s a credit to the whole company. For the first time ever Local Authorities are able to manage their energy consumption and maintenance schedules by wirelessly controlling each street light via the internet. It helps to reduce CO2 emissions too. LeafNut makes it easy for the local authority engineer to save money from the outset since we provide the user interface web software, the wireless networks and the dimming units, together with a financial package that gives an immediate payback.” The system, which is entirely developed and manufactured in the UK is now being rolled out by Local Authorities across the UK and the world.In total, over 152 of Britain’s top public and private sector businesses have been announced as finalists across all categories in the National Business Awards, in partnership with Orange. Announcing the Orange Innovation finalists, Martin Stiven, Vice President of Business at Orange, part of Everything Everywhere, said: “Orange believes that innovation is central to all business growth and we support businesses to achieve this goal. If the UK is to regain its role as a world leader of innovation, we firmly believe that British companies must embrace a new way of thinking and invest time and resource into doing this. This year’s finalists demonstrate exceptional innovation and are a testament to pioneering UK business.”Sherry Coutu, Investment Committee, NESTA, who sat on this year’s National Business Awards shorlisting panel, said: “Harvard Engineering scored highly for its innovative wireless street-lighting system which saved their customers 322m per annum and reduced their carbon emissions by 700m kg pa. A triumph of customer led entrepreneurship”.The National Business Awards are organised by UBM plc. Winners will be honoured at the National Business Awards gala dinner at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, Tuesday 8th November, where George Osborne, the Chancellor of the Exchequer will deliver this year’s welcome address. Visit www.nationalbusinessawards.co.uk for a full list of all 2011 finalists.
Contact
Harvard Engineering plc Tyler Close Normanton Wakefield WF6 1RL
E-mail:[email protected]
Web Site:www.harvardeng.com
