NYC Update

Now that we're safely in NYC (despite the best efforts of terrible British weather, delays, missed connections and the like!) We're beginning to get excited about what tomorrow has in store for us!

All 10 finalists are to be interviewed on stage during the black-tie dinner tomorrow, infront of a prestigious audience of designers, financiers, innovators and world-leaders (including, apparently, H.R.H Tunku Naquiyuddin, the crown prince of Malaysia!) before the winner is announced at the end of the night. In true American award ceremony style we have been issued with briefing packs including a list of the questions we shall be asked so that we may prepare our answers. But in all honesty, as the only UK representitives at a US award ceremony (again!) I'm beginning to feel the pressure.

Questions include the following:

- How does sustainable design and innovation benefit both the CEO’s bottom line and the consumer’s daily life?

- What are your thoughts on the new US presidential administration and its environmental policies?

- How do you begin to change a legacy largely marked by inefficiency and wastefulness?

I guess i should navigate away from the NY City Ballet's box office site and start swotting up on US politics.


Thanks to James for the photograph above, of the breathtaking view from the hotel's 9th floor, floor-to-ceiling bedroom windows!

New York Bound: Earth Awards Press Release

"On January 12, 2009, ten of the world's most gifted young designers will convene in New York for The Earth Awards, a global search for products and concepts that are sustainable, innovative and — for many — essential to improving basic quality of life.

The evening will award a significant cash prize for the best new design, chosen by an esteemed, international Selection Committee, and will be presented before an audience of high profile environmentalists, venture capitalists, sustainable designers and media. Each design or concept was judged by its potential to sustain the planet and the people who inhabit it."

For more information about the Earth Awards, please contact Nadine Johnson at 212-228-5555 or earth.awards@nadinejohnson.com

We will of course keep blogging during our time stateside so stay tuned for vital updates!

Meanwhile, we'll be staying at the Standard Hotel NY who have cunningly placed a webcam in a building opposite so take a peek for 24 hour views of life inside the hotel & the NY weather (we're expecting snow!)

A Thought For The New Year

2009 has landed, bringing with it not just the obligatory hangover but yet another wave of companies falling into administration, fresh concerns for so many formerly stable business sectors and a sizeable chunk of the country's workforce fearing for their jobs. In fact Flybe has picked up on the extent of our insecurity announcing, this morning, that they will be offering insurance to customers allowing them to claim a full refund on their travel costs if they lose their jobs.

With the economy so out of kilter there has probably been no better time to develop your skills. Take that night course you've been talking about for so many months, buy that Language DVD, start working on that brilliant business idea you had in the pub over the holidays, put yourself forward for that first aid course or an advanced industry qualification.
Make yourself indispensable in 2009

I am always doing that which I can not do, in order that I may learn how to do it.
- Pablo Picasso

I hope each of you have a happy, peaceful and successful 2009.

The Earth Awards Want Us! ... In New York!

I have just received confirmation that we're one of 10 finalists in The Earth Awards.

The Earth Awards launched as "a global search for future-crucial design solutions that will improve our collective social, cultural, economic and ecological quality of life."

This is an incredibly significant award and I can't quite believe the opportunity it presents:

"All finalists will be flown to New York City for an Awards Ceremony Gala on January 12th, 2009, where the first prize winner will be announced. The winner will receive a monetary prize, and all finalists will receive the opportunity to pitch their ideas to industry leaders including venture capitalists, industrialists, and Fortune 500 business leaders."

*speachless*

More info:
The Awards
The Judges

Doug Richard's "School for Start Ups"

If mass media hasn't taken the opportunity to remind you yet today, let me.
We are in the grips of economic disaster.
Shops are closing, jobs vanishing, bankruptcy is stalking us all and they tell us no sector is safe. With newspaper headlines reading more like the tag lines from an (admittedly very boring) US disaster movie by the day, anyone who knows anything about the economic climate is being dragged onto talk shows, begged to fill newspaper columns and guesting on local radio question time.

Understanding economics has never been so sexy.

And yet, lets face it, it still ... isn't.

This makes it all the more significant that James and I both dragged our flu-ravaged selves, pockets stuffed with Lemsip sachets, out into the freezing rain and it into town for 8:30am and knowingly and willingly spent the whole day learning about 'Entrepreneurial Economics'.

Run by former BBC2 Dragon, Doug Richard, we think getting yourself a place at a School for Start Ups event is a is a must-do for all young companies and aspiring entrepreneurs. Doug has stood in the shoes of both investor and investee, and by his own admission has had great successes and failures in both. He is also a professional speaker (incidentally he had also been the guest speaker at the previous night's John Logie Baird Awards*) and it shows in the ease with which he expresses complex ideas, throws in snippets of his vast personal experience and completely charms the audience

It was useful, engaging and we thoroughly enjoyed it.

So go here and sign up to attend, it may well be available free of change (depending on your situation). If there isn't one local to you - travel to it. Especially if you're not paying to attend. Make the effort to go, you (and the crumbling economy) will be glad you did.


* and quite frankly saved the show, but that's another story!

John Logie Baird “Young Innovators” Award 2008

Red Button Design narrowly missed out on the top spot of the John Logie Baird “Young Innovators” Award 2008, receiving a second place commendation after making it into the final 5 from over 350 businesses.

Isabell Majewsky, chief executive of organisers GO Group, said: “The Awards aim to identify innovators as well as discovering the next generation of John Logie Bairds. We can then give them the help and support they need to bring their products to market.”

John Logie Baird, of course, dedicated most of his adult life to creating the television and the awards in his name were presented to the most innovative projects with the best prospects of commercial success. Fraser Docherty of SuperJam fame scooped the first place prize demonstrating his prospects of commercial success by already having his innovative 'no added sugar' Jam stocked in Waitrose, Morrisons and Tesco!

SuperJam
John Logie Baird Awards

In a credit crunch, can you afford not to know?

Every academic year, over 120,000 of the brightest students in the UK take part in some form of work placement. Infact many students are now opting for degree courses which allow them to spend their third year in employment. In an insecure economic climate graduates are looking to work experience to differentiate themselves from the pack.

But as a student how can you tell a placement that will inspire you and develop key industry skills, from a placement that will just refine your tea and coffee making abilities?

As an employer how can you tell if you're providing the best experience possible to these bright, enthusiastic potential-employees?

That's where Rate My Placement come in.

RateMyPlacement.co.uk is the UK’s leading website dedicated to work placements and internships. The website contains over 1,000 student written reviews covering their experiences in work placements and internships. Students are required to rate and review their employer over 15 questions on their role, the company and other aspects including outside of work opportunities and activities.

For my part, James and I met the fantastic RMP team during the finals of the HSBC Unipreneurs Competition. back in the spring. The four guys behind the website are recent graduates themselves and originally created the site for the benefit of their friends and coursemates at Loughborough University. But like the ledgend that is Facebook, they took the opportunity to make the site available to all.

So if you're considering a placement, (and why wouldn't you given all the benefits?) get yourself over to Rate My Placement.co.uk and find out which companies can offer you the most in return for your time.