The Lincolnshire Technology Hubs, set up as part of the county council’s onlincolnshire project, have won another national accolade.

Following their success at the Next Generation Digital Challenge Awards 2014 in November, the hubs have received a High Impact Award from Global Entrepreneurship Week 2014 (GEW 2014) in recognition of their contribution to this year’s campaign.

As part of GEW 2014 (17^th to 23^rd November), the hubs in Mablethorpe, Horncastle, Boston Louth and Lincoln hosted a series of networking and demonstration events.

Businesses were encouraged to ‘get connected with technology’, which was the theme of this year’s GEW campaign, by attending two demonstrations and networking events at the Lincoln and Horncastle hubs.

The Mablethorpe Technology Hub also celebrated its official opening at the Mablethorpe Business Centre and held a Dragons’ Den style competition, in conjunction with Monks’ Dyke Technology College.

As part of the challenge, students from the college’s Louth and Mablethorpe campuses had to come up with an idea for a new product which they could make using the equipment at the hub.

They then pitched their idea to a panel of dragons which included Andy Harsley who famously impressed the panel on the BBC’s Dragons’ Den with his rapstrap technology.

The team which won the competition came up with the idea for an artists’ drawing board that can be used on a desk or on your knee.

All of the events were well attended and delegates were able to learn more about the equipment on offer at the hubs and the free support which is available to eligible businesses thought the onlincolnshire programme.

This is the project’s first High Impact Award since becoming involved with GEW last year and Councillor Colin Davie of Lincolnshire County Council said he’s delighted to see the hubs working together so well.

“Winning another award is a fantastic achievement and shows what good work the Lincolnshire Technology Hubs do to support entrepreneurship in Lincolnshire,” said Councillor Davie.

“The hubs were set up to support fledgling business as well as established SMEs to grow through technology, which is why we were keen to support Global Entrepreneurship Week. To be recognised in this way for the all the effort and hard work the hubs have put in is brilliant.”

The hubs, which are home to a range of digital technology including 3D printers, laser cutters, scanners, Go Pro cameras and Oculus Rift virtual reality glasses, are part-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

For more information please visit http://www.onlincolnshire.org and to find out about Global Entrepreneurship Week, please visit http://www.gew.org.uk.

Ends

Notes to Editors:

About onlincolnshire

• onlincolnshire is a Lincolnshire County Council-run project which is part-funded by the East Midlands European Regional Development Fund Programme 2007 to 2013.
• In March 2013, the council signed a £48 million contract with BT to provide superfast broadband to at least 88% of county properties by 2016, with the remaining properties having access to at least of 2Mbps broadband. A further investment of £2.8 million was announced in February 2014 which has increased the number of properties to 89%.
• The contract with BT concentrates on an intervention area of over 150,000 premises where existing or planned commercial roll outs would not deliver superfast speeds.
• The Department for Communities and Local Government is the managing authority for the European Regional Development Fund Programme, which is one of the funds established by the European Commission to help local areas stimulate their economic development by investing in projects which will support local businesses and create jobs. For more information visit www.communities.gov.uk/erdf
• Some internet users in rural Lincolnshire experience speeds of less than 1 Mbps. The UK’s average broadband speed is 12 Mbps, according to Ofcom.
• onlincolnshire also offers up to 12 hours of support and advice to eligible Lincolnshire businesses to help them make the most of their access to improved broadband. Specialist consultants provide demonstrations, workshops, masterclasses or one-to-one coaching and mentoring to businesses to improve their services, processes, productivity and profitability.

For further information or to arrange interviews, please contact:
Kate Strawson
Shooting Star PR
kate@weareshootingstar.co.uk
01522 528540
@KateStrawson