Organisers of an awards ceremony for the East Midlands food and drink sector have begun the hunt for the most inspiring companies, organisations and individuals. 

The Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards are being held for the second year to celebrate and reward new and improved ways of working in the region's food and drink industry.

The Food and Drink innovation Network (iNet) Innovation Awards were successfully launched last year to recognise some of the most forward-thinking and innovative  achievements in the sector in the East Midlands.

Now the categories for this year's awards have been revealed, and organisers are appealing for entries from across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire and Rutland. Winners will be unveiled at a glittering ceremony on November 17th at Athena, Leicester.

Entries are being encouraged for the following categories:

• The University of Lincoln Award for Most Innovative SME Food and Drink Manufacturer

This award will recognise small to medium food and drink manufacturers within the East Midlands that have championed innovation projects in order to improve their business.

• The Campden BRI Award for Most Innovative Business across the Food and Drink Supply Chain

This award will recognise businesses working in the food and drink supply chain within the East Midlands that have undertaken an innovation project that has benefited the food and drink manufacturing sector.

• Award for Most Innovative Research Project

This award will recognise the most successful research projects undertaken by universities within the East Midlands that have made a significant beneficial impact on the food and drink sector.

• The Food Processing Faraday Partnership Ltd Award for Most Innovative Large Food and Drink Manufacturer

This award will recognise large food and drink manufacturers within the East Midlands that have championed innovation projects in order to improve their business.

• Award for Most Innovative Business in the Wider Food Sector

This award will recognise innovation in a food or drink business that is not a manufacturer. Examples of businesses eligible to enter this award include primary producers, restaurants, caterers, deli's and local food retailers  

• The Food and Drink Forum Innovation Champion Award 2009

The Innovation Champion 2009 will be selected from the winners of each of the above categories. 

"We were impressed with last year's entries for the inaugural Innovation Awards, and are expecting that this year's entries will build on that and continue to reflect the exciting and innovative work that is going on in the food and drink sector in the East Midlands," said Richard Adlington, Food and Drink iNet interim project director.

David Wallace, Innovation Director of East Midlands Development Agency (emda) which funds the Food and Drink iNet, added: "It is great to see the Food and Drink iNet leading the development of the innovation culture in the East Midlands' food and drink sector. Innovation is difficult and daunting, but essential if businesses are to adapt to the unsettling changes in both the economic and natural environments. The Food and Drink iNet Innovation Awards are especially welcome. Those businesses that innovate successfully deserve to be celebrated."

Entry to the awards is free, and for the purposes of the awards, innovation is defined as creating value out of new ideas, new products, new services or new ways of doing things. This does not have to be "new to the world" but must be "new to you".

The Food and Drink iNet aims to foster innovation in the region's food and drink sector by encouraging businesses to turn new ideas into new business through the development of new technologies and products. It also hopes to stimulate new processes, services and ways of working in the industry to help boost the sector in 2009 and beyond.

Funded by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the Food and Drink iNet is managed by a consortium, led by The Food and Drink Forum and including The Food Processing Faraday Partnership, Nottingham Trent University, The University of Lincoln, and The University of Nottingham.

Opportunities to sponsor an award at this year's event are selling fast however there is still time for your business to be involved. Sponsorship of the Award for Most Innovative Research Project or Most Innovative Business in the Wider Food Sector provides a superior communications opportunity for companies wishing to get themselves recognised across the food and drink sector. 

Any business interested in sponsoring an award or entering one of this year's categories should contact Jo Stevenson on 0115 975 8810 or enquiries@foodanddrinkforum.co.uk