In a West Midlands Business Masters Awards ceremony like no other, the Class of 2020 were crowned this evening in a virtual event hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com’s joint managing director Alex Turner.
Innovation
Winner: Aurrigo
In a West Midlands Business Masters Awards ceremony like no other, the Class of 2020 were crowned this evening in a virtual event hosted by TheBusinessDesk.com’s joint managing director Alex Turner.
This year’s Ambassador of the Year Award went to Rob Groves, senior project director at Argent – the company in charge of developing the huge Paradise scheme in Birmingham city centre.
Alex Turner said: “We’d like to thank the West Midlands businesses for the support we’ve received since March. What we’ve noticed is a real sense of community and we’re sure that will continue when we see you face to face in 2021.”
Rob Groves added: “”I’d like to thank everyone for this award. I’m gobsmacked. We are in immensely challening times but seeing everyone’s faces when we open buildings is fantastic.
“Seeing and feeling our building at Paradise makes me very proud. We’ve got a great team in Birmingham and we’ve been through some hurdles, but it’s only through their passion that we can do something like Paradise.”
Double Award success highlights Aurrigo’s pioneering ‘autonomous technology’ work
Aurrigo has reinforced its reputation as one of the most innovative companies in the West Midlands after sealing a second major business award in just two weeks.
Our efforts in making autonomous technology a reality in everyday life has seen us beat off competition from a host of amazing companies to claim the Innovation titles at Insider’s Made in the Midlands and Business Desk West Midlands’ Masters Awards evenings.
Judges from both competitions highlighted our ability to combine increasing international trade with advancements in our engineering centre in Coventry and a number of major breakthroughs.
This includes a successful trial with the Blind Veterans UK to look at self-driving technology to aid mobility, a ground breaking luggage dolly at Heathrow and, most recently, a sporting first where our autonomous shuttle carried professional golfers at the Wales Open.
Miles Garner, Sales and Marketing Director at Aurrigo, commented: “To win one of the Awards is an achievement, but to secure a second one last night was the icing on the cake for us.
“We have been at the forefront of autonomous vehicle technology for more than a decade and have invested heavily in taking innovation in its purest form and applying it to solve real world solutions.”
He continued: “This approach is now starting to pay off with our pods in operation across six different countries, significant interest in our aviation work and a new shuttle trial that has just kicked-off in Cambridge.
“A big well done to all of the team, who have continued to innovate and work tirelessly during what has been a very challenging year with Covid-19.”
The double award success follows an earlier triumph this year, with Aurrigo beating off some of the world’s largest automotive suppliers and brands to claim Autocar’s Innovation Award.
2020 West Midlands Business Masters – Winners and shortlisted companies
Innovation
Winner: Aurrigo
Some of the world’s best golfers will be part of a global first demonstration when the European Tour rolls into the Celtic Manor Resort for the ISPS Handa Wales Open today. Golfers and their caddies will be among the first professional sportspeople ever to be transported in an autonomous shuttle.
A Coventry-based driverless vehicle specialist has beaten off some of the world’s largest car brands and manufacturers to secure Autocar’s Innovation Award.
