HOVIP is a KEF-ESF funded programme which aims to provide small and medium sized local businesses with opportunities to improve their people, processes, products and services, ultimately boosting their profitability. Designed for business people by business people HOVIP provides the tools and techniques to support companies in becoming more competitive. At HOVIPs inaugural awards ceremony for all businesses in the region, Penn received the ‘Most Innovative Business’ award (more than 20 employees category). The award, sponsored by BT, was recognition of a new approach implemented by Penn to manage an ever-growing client base dealing with around 140 clients and 300 projects. The cross functional ‘Fast Track Phase 1’ team was established with full responsibility for delivering complete Phase 1 clinical trial projects from specification through to despatch to Clients. With the emphasis on fast turn around time this innovation enabled the team to accelerate the route to market for small projects and contributed to a 16% annual growth rate. The judges commented that Penn’s was; "A very strong entry, well presented and clearly setting out the achievements against the criteria. Excellent example of team work. This is a sustainable approach to ensure Customer loyalty by giving employees autonomy and accountability for what they do." Peter George, CEO of Penn Pharmaceuticals said: "As the global pharmaceutical market continues to grow, so too do the opportunities for outsourcing, which is at the very core of our business. "This award recognises just one area of business that has helped drive growth as we continue to work to build a company with the relevant technical capabilities and resources required to provide our expanding client base with the highest standard of service and I think it indicates the exceptional quality of our staff." Penn is a leading provider of outsourced pharmaceutical development services to the international healthcare industry and is one of five companies in the UK to offer research and development for new drugs. The company’s core business expertise includes a fully comprehensive product development service, which consists of formulation and analytical development, clinical trial manufacturing, packing and supply management and extensive custom manufacturing capabilities. Penn also offers CMC Consultancy and Qualified Person (QP) Services. The Heads of the Valleys Innovation Programme (HOVIP) aims to increase the capacity of innovation in SMEs in the Heads of the Valleys area. HOVIP is KEF-ESF funded and facilitated by UGCS Ltd, Merthyr Tydfil College, University of Glamorgan. For more information visit www.hovip.org.uk or call Phil Burkhard, Programme Manager, HOVIP on 01685 726061 or email: hovip@merthyr.ac.uk