Award Categories 2010
New to the 2010 Grand Final is the introduction of the Student - Social Enterprise Awards, and Staff - Knowledge Transfer Awards. Students will compete against each other in the Main Business Awards, Creativity & Design and Social Enterprise categories. Staff with intellectual property-based businesses in all sectors are invited to enter into the Knowledge Transfer Awards.Student - Business Awards
The Blueprint Business Awards consists of 10 entrants, 2 student individuals (or teams) from each of the 5 universities. Each university selects which student teams will go forward to the regional final from the winners of its own local business planning competition. In addition to the main Business Awards category we also have....
Student - Creativity & Design Awards
The creative industries have in recent years, grown twice as fast as the overall UK economy. Recognising the huge contribution made to the global economy, The Creativity & Design Awards, were introduced in 2007. This additional Blueprint category gives teams and individuals from the region a chance to show off their creative talents.
From freelance designers, artists, and craftspeople, to teams planning advertising agencies, media production or software companies, to those working in music or performance arts sectors, this new category will recognize the breadth and depth of creative talent across the region.
Further examples of Creativity & Design entries may include... (but are not restricted to): advertising, architecture, art/antiques market, craft, design, fashion, film/video, interactive leisure software, music, performing arts, publishing, software/computer service and television/radio.
Student - Social Entrepreneurship Awards
NEW at the 2010 Final are the Social Enterpreneurship Awards. This award category has been introduced to acknowledge and highlight those who set up businesses with specifically social objectives.
Such Social Enterprises will normally be “not-for-profit” organisations where the assets and surplus are principally restricted for the purpose of the business.
Alternatively, the business model should be such that social and financial success is intrinsically linked. However, other business models may qualify and, if there is doubt, advice should be sought from the Blueprint Co-ordinator. (Ethical businesses run for profit, and where profits are distributed to shareholders, do not qualify).
Staff - Knowledge Transfer Awards
Also NEW to the 2010 competition are the Knowledge Transfer Awards (which subsume the Science and Technology Awards) for members of staff at the 5 universities. The Knowledge Transfer Awards, which specifically include science and technology based spin-outs (but are open to all sectors), are aimed primarily at intellectual property based businesses emerging from the five regional universities.
All 4 Award categories within the Blueprint Business Planning Competition will run in parallel, celebrating the winners at the same Grand Final, with cash prizes and in-kind prizes for the Winners and additional prizes for Runners-Up and Highly Commeneded Awards. Further details of the prize fund will be made available once the details have been finalised. The 4 awards run simultaneously, but are separate and will be judged by independant panels.
and finally, we have....
The Musa Dare to be Different & Award
The Musa Dare to be Different Award, introduced in 2005 by the 2004 winners - Musa,is given to the most passionate and creative Finalist in the competition from either the Blueprint: Business Awards, Creativity and Design or Science and Technology Awards.
Garbeau Award
Introduced in 2009, by Jessica McLean (2008 Business Awards Runner-up), the prize is a custom, made to measure shirt for the Winner of the Creativity & Design Awards.