Two free workshops to help young innovators

Jo Allum

Tauranga's Young Innovator Awards (YIA) are back for the sixth year, with two free workshops scheduled for June 22 and July 6 to help entrants develop ideas into winning submissions, with expert help from the VentureCentre and Locus Research.

The YIA gives young business professionals and students the chance to enter their ideas for an innovative product or service, with submissions judged by a panel of New Zealand's legendary innovators. The supreme winner of the Young Professionals category will take home a prize of $8500. The deadline for secondary school students is July 3 and, for over-18s, July 13, with the awards announced at the YIA Forum in August.

YIA is a joint initiative between Priority One, Locus Research, Woods Creative and ExportNZ BOP.

The first workshop offers an introduction to the awards, how to articulate and research the market and problem, and how to develop an idea into an entry. The second workshop will offer expert feedback on the entries.

Timothy Allan, managing director of Locus Research, said the firm's involvement was all about inspiring the Bay's future innovators.

"For our secondary student entries, the teachers in the schools provide support to our entrants and do an amazing job," he said.

"We wanted to create a parallel experience for the over-18s. The workshops are a great opportunity to discuss and refine your innovative ideas with experts before submitting your entry."

Reuben Woods, creative director of Woods Creative, said the company's vision was to create the future of the Bay of Plenty, which started with youth.

"We are in the business of bringing great ideas to life and are passionate about creating a unique and thriving culture of innovation on our own doorstep," he said.

Jo Allum, co-founder of VentureCentre, described the YIA as a great annual initiative.

"The workshops will set people up to have the best chance of winning, grabbing the prize pool and moving their idea through that initial inspiration stage and into the work of turning it into an economically viable success."