North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Citizen of The Year Award for Innovation awarded to Dr Vijay Reddy by sponsors Laura Bailey Ceramics. Picture courtesy of North Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent Citizen of The Year 2003 A Stoke on Trent GP was awarded his second award for Innovation during November.  Dr Reddy is not only a PMS GP in Stoke on Trent providing healthcare to the homeless, Ear Nose and Throat GPSI clinics in South Stoke Primary Care Trust and training new doctors at the new university hospital, he is the director of his own company - GVR Products Ltd.  Dr Reddy was awarded the Innovation Award at the Stoke on Trent and North Staffordshire Citizen of the Year Award 2003.  The award was presented to Dr Reddy by Stoke-on-Trent’s Mayor – Mike Wolfe on 29th November.  The award was an honour after all the hard work he and the team have put in.  In the previous year he was the winner of the Lord Stafford Awards for innovation for the innovative idea of a new head light – the office will need to expand to house the trophy cabinet at this rate.  With the support of the North Staffordshire Business Innovation Centre, GVR has joined together with local organisations to develop the ideas into prototypes – it is hoped that in the next few months GVR will have another 3 new lights to its collection and it is hoped that the enterprise will help to employ some more local people.  It is only with support that ideas can become reality, with the work commitments of Dr Reddy to his patients at the surgery, he relies upon his team to bring the day to day operations together.  The practice team are all very committed to the surgery and the PMS has helped with reorganising the way in which we operate.

GVR Products Limited Wins the Lord Stafford Award For Development in Innovation. Picture Courtesy of Advantage West Midlands. From Left to Right: Joanne Malin (Central News), Dr Reddy (Director - GVR Products Limited), The Rt. Hon. Lord Stafford. Working in collaboration with Staffordshire University, GVR Products Ltd, established in 1994, have been specialising in the      development of low cost aids to Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) diagnosis. The project involved the development and early prototyping of a new diagnostic head-worn light to be used by physicians for ENT investigations. Incorporating innovative optics and electronics in a rapid prototyped enclosure, the product can be volume produced at low cost (prototype product). Meeting with Dr Reddy, Mark Farrell, Cathy McMain and Steve Grainger of Staffs University. Winners of the Development in Innovation 2002 Category. see www.lordstaffordawards.com/devinovwin.html

Design Innovations go on show at major event. Picture Courtesy of Sentinel News Paper. Article By David Elks, Deputy Business Editor. Innovations developed with funding from an Advantage West Midlands funded design project will go on show at the prestigious Manufacturer Live 2004 event later this month. The ground-breaking developments have all been helped by Different by Design – a £2.7 million project aimed at encouraging Staffordshire businesses to make better use of world class design. They will come together on a Different by Design exhibition stand at the Manufacturer Live event to be held at the International Centre, Telford on September 15 and 16. Innovations which will be on show include a light, vertical take off aeroplane being developed by Kestrel Aerospace of Longton, an aesthetic coffee table constructed from high tech materials normally used in the aerospace industry, developed by Matrix of Newcastle-under-Lyme and a portable medical endoscope under development at GVR at Shelton. Other Different by Design aided projects include a hand held internet “find engine” under development by Dotcom of Trentham, a combined water chiller and filter from V.A. Heating of Stoke on Trent and new ceramic products from Portmeirion, also of Stoke on Trent. Different by Design, which is fully funded by AWM and supported by Staffordshire University, will fund 50 design-led innovations to market ready prototype stage during the three year life of the project. Project director Bruce Wood said, “As the project nears its first anniversary, these projects demonstrate the progress made. They are all great examples of good ideas enhanced by excellence in design. We would urge other businesses to take advantage of this opportunity to get funding which can help innovation within their organisation.” The Manufacturer Live event is a showcase for all that is best in manufacturing and an opportunity to share best practice. As well as an exhibition, the event includes themed manufacturer to manufacturer seminars and debates. More information about the Different by Design project can be obtained from the project’s web site at www.dxd.org.uk or by calling 01782 343892. Different by Design has been created to bring world class design knowledge to progressive companies. The project will fund 50 new design-led projects through to prototype and promote them internationally.  Further information: Kate Fletcher, Different by Design, tel 01782 343892 Issued by Ian Strachan Communications, tel 01543 490932 or 07949 202596