OPD launches Design Award

The 2025 TBAT Innovation Challenge is now officially open, and we are pleased to announce that we are the Design Award Sponsor and a prize contributor!

The Innovation Challenge is a 9-month business programme designed to support and stimulate innovation among UK-based SMEs, and we are proud to be involved again this year.

The annual competition offers 4 free-to-attend online workshops and a chance to pitch LIVE in October to win a £10,000 prize and over £65,000 of tailored business support.

The 4 workshops will take place March-June, with registrations for Workshop 1 ‘How to Finance your Business’ on 19th March now open! Steve Green, Head Of Medical at OPD will present on Workshop 2 in April and Andy Last, Lead Industrial Designer, will present on Workshop 3 in May.

We are excited to see the innovations and applications for the challenge in the months ahead, leading to the Finalist Showcase event in October, where we will present the Design Award to our winner.

We are delighted to work alongside Shakespeare Martineau as the Headline Sponsor, and Barclays Eagle Labs as the Platinum Sponsor. Also joining IC25 as sponsors are: Modus Accountants, Forresters, Rhodes Wealth Management Ltd, Datalink Electronics Ltd, Charnwood Campus Science Innovation and Technology Park, Coadax, and Med-Tech Innovation (Med-Tech Insights).

For more information or to register, click here.

Workshops presentations

We will also be hosting two sessions across Workshop 2 and Workshop 3 as part of the challenge:

Workshop 2: Building your Dream Team

OPD Speaker: Steve G., Head of Medical on the topic - Leaning on external expertise

The second workshop of the 2025 TBAT Innovation Challenge, Building your Dream Team, sponsored by Rhodes Wealth Management, is tailored for business founders, leaders, entrepreneurs and HR professionals dedicated to building high-performing teams and creating a collaborative culture to drive success. Designed to provide actionable insights, it will explore topics such as recruitment strategies, HR best practices, investment in talent, and leadership roles like non-executive directors, empowering participants to develop their dream team and achieve sustainable growth.

Find out more and register for Workshop 2.

Workshop 3: Product Development & Protection

OPD Speaker: Andy L., Lead Industrial Designer on the topic - Product Design

This online workshop, sponsored by Forresters IP, is designed to help innovators and businesses navigate the complexities of product development and intellectual property protection. With a focus on practical solutions, it will delve into topics like regulatory compliance, licensing strategies, and digital innovation—empowering attendees to refine their concepts and bring them to market with confidence.

Find out more and register for Workshop 3.