News

Durham Student Plugs the Gap

(24 October 2006)

Mathematical Sciences research student Simon Creek has walked away from the Blueprint Regional Universities business planning competition with £10,000 and a further £40,000 of support and consultancy.

Simon was the first place winner in the Durham University Blueprint business planning and creation competition final in June of this year, winning a cash prize of £2,000 together with additional mentoring and support. The Blueprint Regional Universities competition final was held at the Gateshead Hilton on Wednesday 18 October, where winners from the five universities own business planning competitions came together at a black tie event; the culmination of a year's hard work. Simon's business idea is a foam based earplug which has attracted interest from investors and Simon has already secured patent and product design support for his product. Simon's idea originated from a realisation that existing earplugs are often uncomfortable and that the concept was ripe for a re-design. As Simon himself says "The competiton has helped me take my idea from just being an idea to becoming a reality, and the support I've received from my mentors has helped my enormously in achieving my success." Second place winners in the Blueprint Durham business planning and creation competition, Vimuse Technologies created by Final Year students Dan Rackham, Adam Clements and Daniel Harvey, were runners-up in the Regional Universities competition, also securing £5,000 worth of rent and rates free premises and consultancy from Consett Innovation Centre. The winners were: Blueprint Business Awards Winner – Auricularis, Durham University Runner-Up – Vimuse Technologies, Durham University Highly Commended – Supe, Newcastle University Blueprint Science & Technology Awards Winner – ConoStem, Newcastle University Runner-Up – Vimuse Technologies, Durham University Highly Commended - Auricularis, Durham University Special Awards were also presented to Herbees from the University of Sunderland who scooped the Dare to be Different Award, sponsored by Musa the competition’s first ever winner; and Vimuse Technologies also walked away with £5,000 worth of accommodation and consultancy and technology incubation space, at Consett Innovation Centre. This year's Blueprint Durham business planning and creation competiton will be launched shortly. For more information contact the Blueprint Durham competition organiser Rachel Orange rachel.orange@durham.ac.uk For more information about the grand final and to get involved next year please visit www.blueprintcompetition.co.uk