The Corona package developed by Lightsout Computer Services earned the company the Best Technology Innovation in a Business and the overall Bright Sparc award, presented at Cranfield School of Management.
The software, hailed as three years ahead of its time, has produced significant cost savings and commercial benefits to businesses in the sector, in particular for those in highway maintenance.
Lightsout Computer Services director Tim Usher (pictured receiving the Bright Sparc award from Mayor of Milton Keynes Cllr Debbie Brock) said: “We have been dedicated to developing Corona to overcome the common inefficiencies in the construction, utilities and facilities management industries. We hope to continue our success and provide such solutions in other sectors.”
Operating from a central system linked to hand-held devices, Corona provides real-time images and information from the field to head offices and management teams. It saved one customer £250,000 in the first five months.
The range and diversity of the candidates in all Bright Sparc award categories was very encouraging for the region, said Guy Barnett, marketing manager of Bright Sparc award sponsor Invest Milton Keynes.
He told the ceremony: “The award finalists display a great bunch of success stories, showing that the SME community is in very good shape. We bring businesses to Milton Keynes and encourage them to stay. This kind of event fills them with confidence and helps them to see what’s going on.”
Businesses based at Cranfield Technology Park, a partnership between Cranfield University and St. Modwen, fared particularly well, collecting eight awards. The on-site Innovation Centre, which provides a supportive environment for start-up technology based businesses, produced two winners and two runners-up.
Innovation Centre winners:
Young Technology Entrepreneur Dan Hyman of Studioworx Ltd. Runner-up:Steven Oddy of So Technology.
Education and Business Collaboration Kinetic Solutions. Runner-up: Specialist Microwave Solutions.
Other recipients: Acuigen, runner up in the Bright Sparc Award; Total IT, runner-up in the Business Support category; Parallel Global, runner-up in Best Technology Innovation in a Business; Caltec received a the Judges Special Merit Award
Robin Vaughan, development manager at St Modwen Northern Home Counties which sponsored the event, said: “The Bright Sparc Awards remind us all of the fantastic innovations that are being forged by young businessmen and women across the region.
“Everyone nominated in these awards has shown particular flair for using technology to achieve innovation, drive new business growth or significantly enhance their business."
