The fourth Lincolnshire Technology and Innovation Awards 2018, organised by CityX, celebrated the county’s most innovative and creative digital technology companies.
Some 250 business representatives attended the awards held at The Epic Centre, Lincolnshire Showground, as part of Lincolnshire Tech Week on Thursday, June 7, in anticipation of winning an accolade for their digital achievements.
Lincolnshire Tech Week, which is powered by the University of Lincoln and its Innovation Programme for Greater Lincolnshire, is aimed at promoting and rewarding existing businesses in the tech world as well as to helping to educate and inform other companies looking to expand their knowledge and expertise.
BBC Radio Lincolnshire’s Melvyn Prior presented the evening, revealing there had been over 120 entries across the 19 categories with around 60 local companies and individuals making the shortlist for the awards.
A judging panel, made up of business leaders and experts from across Greater Lincolnshire, gave their verdict on the record number of applications.
Karl Blakesley, Marketing Manager at Orderwise, winner of the Business of the Year category, said: “We are absolutely over the moon. Our CEO, David Hallam, started Orderwise almost 30 years ago and he had grown it to be what it is today.”
Dean Graham, Founder of CityX and organiser of the awards said: “For the fourth annual Lincolnshire Technology and Innovation Awards we are really pleased to see a record turn out, a record number of businesses nominated and a record number of awards given away.
“It’s fantastic to see so many different businesses be celebrated and showcased at a large industry event and we look forward to next year.”
The winners of the 2018 Lincolnshire Technology and Innovation Awards are:
CityX Award: Leo Scott Smith
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Leo Scott Smith was awarded with the CityX Award, which is awarded to the person who will put Lincoln on the map in the tech world.
On receiving the award, which was secret until the night itself, Leo said: “I am very pleased to have won the award, it wasn’t anything that I was expecting but I think that it is definitely something that reflects what we are doing currently.
“I was also very pleased with the comments Dean made specifically about how we are going to put Lincoln on the map because I hope that as well.”
Digital Innovation: Lincolnshire Co-Op and Cursor
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: Bytron Aviation Systems
Innovation in Construction: Minster Surfacing
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: Aeroscape
Innovation in Education: ScholarPack
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: NetSupport Limited
Innovation in Healthcare: Selenity
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: Streets Heaver Healthcare
Innovation in Tourism: Visit Lincoln
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: The Sleaford and District Civic Trust
Digital Campaign of The Year: Distract – Action On Hearing Loss
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: Knapton Wright – Bruce Equipment Inc.
Creative Agency of The Year: Optima
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: Distract
Startup of the year: KryptoKloud
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: Tension VR
Education Product of The Year: The Students’ Union Management System (SUMS)
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: ScholarPack
Software Product of The Year: Bytron Aviation Systems – Skybook
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: Khaos Control – Khaos Control Cloud
Product of The Year: Greens Water Systems – Softly Laundry Powder
Entrepreneur of the Year: Charlotte Hay (The Creative Larder)
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: Leo Scott Smith
Student Enterprise Award: Ben Williamson from Bishop Burton College
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: ESTV at Grimsby Institute
Industry Ambassador: Neil Everatt – Selenity
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Business person of the year: David Hallam – OrderWise
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: Peter Watson – Distract
Small Business of The Year: Root2Recruit
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: DBS Internet Marketing
Business of The Year: Orderwise
Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Highly Commended: Minster Surfacing
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The former Curiosity Shop in Lincoln is set to reopen as new bar Be At One.
Stonegate Pub Group have been given approval for a major refurbishment to the front, interior and courtyard of the cocktail bar.
The Curiosity Shop closed in February after being unable to renew the lease on the premies at the top of Lincoln High Street.
The makeover will include new furniture, bar, pillars and flooring to the interior.
The owners also plan to replace the outdoor pergola and install a new drinks shelf and courtyard surfacing.
Be At One has dozens of locations in the south of England, but this will be the first for Lincolnshire.
The application which was submitted for the location says: “As with all commercial hospitality and leisure facilities such as this, the applicant needs to continually refresh and enhance its customer offer and attraction at this public house, in order to remain commercially viable and the application proposals should be considered within this context.
How the inside of Be At One could look | Photo: Stonegate Pub Group
“The continued commercial viability of these commercial hospitality and leisure premises ensures the continuing maintenance and upkeep of this listed building for a publicly accessible use.
“These proposals would help to facilitate the continuing beneficial and sympathetic use of these premises, which will continue to add to and enhance the vitality and pedestrian footfall within the local street scene and Lincoln city centre in general.”
It says that the customer demand for al fresco facilities has risen following the pandemic, when diners and drinkers were often required to stay outside.
The interior will see a major refurbishment | Photo: Stonegate Pub Group
The Stonegate Pub Group say that the investment in the site will help to mitigate the “continuing difficult economic climate.”
No opening date for the new cocktail bar has been announced yet.
The new owners have also applied for extended opening times to serve alcohol up to 3am.
The Curiosity Shop announced their closure in February, saying they were “incredibly sad”.
A social media post said: “Sadly, we have not been able to renew the lease on the property and after five years of incredible fun with you and yours, it’s time to say goodbye.”
A man allegedly assaulted and verbally abused a member of rail staff after being questioned over having an incorrect ticket.
A member of rail staff on board questioned the man travelling on a train from Lincoln to Leeds with an incorrect ticket at 5.03pm on Tuesday, May 3.
British Transport Police said when the train was stood at Worksop station, the man grabbed his arm and pulled him whilst verbally abusing him. He is then said to have thrown a drink bottle at his leg.
On Wednesday, May 18 British Transport Police released a CCTV image of a man they believe may have information which could help their investigation.
They did not specify whether or not he is a suspect or a witness.
Do you recognise this man? | Photo: British Transport Police
Anyone who recognises the man, or has any information, is being urged to contact British Transport Police by texting 61016 or calling 0800 40 50 40 quoting reference 516 of 03/05/22.
Alternatively, information can be reported through the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.