Breaking the Mould shines a spotlight on the growing innovation-led organisations, businesses, not-for-profits and charities that have benefitted from the suite of innovative support programmes that are available from Keele University.

The awards celebrate Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire’s engaged collaborative community, and will culminate in an exciting online celebration of local enterprises that are the best in their field.

The 2020 Breaking the Mould Awards took place online on 2 December 2020 and were hosted by award-winning TV presenter Anita Rani.

Sponsors

Thank you to all of the sponsors of Breaking the Mould 2020:

We are Aspire - sponsors of the Cultivating Talent award Caja - sponsors of the Health and Wellbeing award Staffordshire County Council - sponsors of the Collaboration of the Year award Synectics Solutions - sponsors of the Social Impact award ENGIE - sponsors of the Sustainability award ITS Test Kits - sponsors of the Pandemic Response award

Award design

We are delighted to reveal this year's Breaking the Mould awards - hand and free motion embroidered pieces that represent and symbolise each award category, designed exclusively for the event by Jessica McMillan

Jessica’s artwork focuses on the act of noticing the unnoticed, the mundane and the ordinary. Her practice aims to recognise the overlooked yet beautiful things in our world and re-present them in such a way, that shines new light and offers a new perspective of the once overlooked; this could be cultural, social or observational. She is 'breaking the mould' of how we see the world. She tries to innovate traditional media to bring a new life to her work for example finding new ways to use the traditional medium of embroidery.

Award categories

Breaking the Mould 2020 will be recognising local organisations across eight award categories, details of which are available below:

Health & Wellbeing Award

Health & Wellbeing Award

Award for the most innovative new healthcare product, service or process that has or will have a substantial impact on the effectiveness of the delivery of healthcare and/or wellbeing, improve the effectiveness, safety or experience of patients, healthcare professionals and/or staff in the workplace and benefit the regional economy. This award is open to new or established businesses or social enterprises.


Eligibility

We are proud to successfully collaborate with partners on projects that are mutually beneficial and meaningful, whilst also supporting partners’ strategic aims, as well as meeting our own academic and charitable objectives.  Keele University has a highly-respected and valued reputation for partnering with organisations, businesses, charities, and public sector partners.

We are inviting companies, charities and not-for profits who have benefitted from any of the suite of innovative support programmes available at Keele, including:

  • Internship programme
  • Smart Innovation Hub programmes (including the Mercia Centre for Innovation Leadership (MCIL) programme and the Keele Research and Innovation Support Programme (KRISP))
  • Smart Energy Network Demonstrator (SEND)
  • Business Bridge
  • Student placements
  • Collaborative research 
  • Any organsation based on the Keele University Science and Innovation Park.
 
Organisations who submitted nominations for last year's Breaking the Mould awards are still eligible to submit entries for this year's awards.
 
The deadline for receipt of nominations was 11.59pm on Sunday 1 November 2020.
 
Please note that we reserve the right to refuse sponsorship or entry from any organisation that does not reflect the ethos of the University or who could negatively impact on the reputation of the institution.