OPEN FOR BUSINESS
July 1, 2009
OPEN FOR BUSINESS - THE INNOVATORS 2009
‘Recognising new thinking' is the theme of the 2009 Innovators awards for Scotland's financial services industry - and they are open for entries from now to September 2009.
The Innovators are run by industry body Scottish Financial Enterprise, in association with Ernst & Young. They profile the best new developments in the industry in Scotland, with winners announced in October 2009.
The Innovators are open to any financial services company or team with operations in Scotland, and to firms providing services to the industry of any kind. Winning or being short-listed is a great way for companies to show how they are turning new thinking into solid business.
Owen Kelly, chief executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise, said:
" The Innovators 2009 are a great opportunity for Scotland's financial services companies to demonstrate the skills and new thinking that are here in the industry and which will be so necessary to prepare us for the return to economic growth, whenever that comes. With so much regulatory change and market uncertainty, our capacity to generate fresh ideas is more important than ever to our future success."
Tom McGrath, managing partner for Ernst & Young's European, Middle East, India and Africa (EMEIA) financial services business, said:
"Over the last 18 months the financial services industry has had to grapple with a crisis leading to a global economic slowdown and significant regulatory change. An active, prosperous and innovative economy must be underpinned by a financial system which is vibrant and dynamic. Without a healthy level of innovation, activity in the credit and capital markets will remain constrained, which will have a negative impact on the local as well as global economy."
This year, the judges will be looking in particular for new thinking that illustrates Scotland's international reach in financial services; new thinking around how the industry communicates; and new thinking in skills development and customer services.
Judges will also be looking for innovations that may have been introduced some time ago but are now delivering a quantifiable and positive impact for a business. In other words, they are about showcasing ideas and creativity at all stages of the process, from initial idea to actual business improvement or benefit.
Sponsors of the awards include Scottish Enterprise, the Scotsman, Accenture and Assiso.
Last year's overall winner was AEGON UK and category winners were Standard Life, RBS and BNP Paribas.
More information on the Innovators 2009 is available at: http://www.sfe.org.uk/
