Livingston business win top award

Jul 28 2011 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

A WEST Lothian-based business have scooped a top award thanks to public support.

UWI Technology of Livingston, have been awarded £50,000 prize money, as well as free support and advice from Barclays, after winning the bank’s Take One Small Step competition.

The company have developed the UWI Label (pronounced “yoo-way”), a smart label that will revolutionise food jars and combat the amount of unnecessary food wastage.

And the public voted in their thousands for their favourite Scottish businesses, helping UWI Technology to scoop the winning prize.

Pete Higgins, founder and CEO of UWI Technology, said the money awarded to the company will boost their work.

He said: “The money will help accelerate our programme by as much as up to six or even nine months.

“Ultimately, it will help us get to market that much quicker as we fine tune our development and research of the labels.

“Going hand-in-hand with the development and production of the labels is our marketing and we are committed to raising the profile of the labels to potential partners so we can work with them in designing labels that meet their needs.”

Over 5000 businesses registered to take part in the competition following the launch in March.

They were then whittled down to a final shortlist of 27 inspired enterprise ideas across nine UK regions by a regional panel of three judges.

The entries, brought to life by videos at www.takeonesmallstep.co.uk, captured the imagination of the public, who were canvassed to vote for their favourite online.

Steve Cooper, Barclays managing director of business and personal banking solutions, passed his congratulations to the winners.

He said: “Congratulations to all the winners of this year’s Take One Small Step competition.

“It is a life-changing moment for these deserving businesses and we intend to support them every step of the way in order to help build the next generation of SMEs in the UK.

“The standard of entries has again exceeded our expectations and this year’s winners have clearly demonstrated a real flair and passion that has set them apart from the rest.”

UWI Technology’s success was also praised by Livingston MP, Graeme Morrice.

He added: “This is fantastic news for UWI Technology and the whole of West Lothian.

“Pete Higgins and his colleagues have a great product and I am delighted that people in Scotland have embraced it and voted for them to win the prize.

“Their success helps to keep West Lothian on the map when it comes to innovative and enterprising companies.”