“We are absolutely delighted and honoured to have been selected as the winning company. This is very much the South West’s most prestigious business award and the rigour of the judging process justifies the high standing of the award within the business community. The award is a recognition that all our staff can celebrate and are very proud of the achievement.”

Neil Douglas Managing Director and business co-founder

Viper Innovations has been awarded the prestigious title ‘2017 West of England Business of Year’, in the category for business with a turnover less than £30m.

Specialised in introducing innovative technological advancements to the Subsea Oil and Gas Industry, one of Vipers major successes is V-LIFE, a technology that can reverse the detrimental effects of water ingress into subsea electrical cables without the need of cable recovery and replacement. Launched in 2012, the technology has had global success providing companies with an alternative solution to remediating failing cables, with significant cost savings in the oil and gas industry.

Viper are now focused on transferring some of its innovative experience to other industries such as Rail. CableGuardian, is a technology that offers the ability to monitor and immediately locate the position of electrical faults on live electrical power cable networks, typically used in trackside signalling. The technology again provides companies with an alternative and efficient solution to remediating faults, providing significant cost savings and helping to keep the trains running on time.

One of the Independent Judges said “Viper has created one of the most innovative products I have encountered. Solving a really critical problem for subsea electrical systems and saving the oil majors significant costs in repairs and downtime”.

Despite being hit by the collapse in oil price from $115 per barrel to less than $30 per barrel in a single year, the company has fared well, with its V-LIFE technology. For Viper’s customers, the V-LIFE technology provides an alternative solution with significant cost savings and prevents the need to procure and install replacement subsea hardware. The technology keeps oil and gas fields producing by reversing the effects of failed subsea electrical equipment.

The company has also been successful in obtaining funding for research and development (R&D) from oil field operators (via Joint Industry Projects) and government grants (RDA, RGF and Innovate UK). They have also partnered on projects with BP, Shell, Chevron, Total and ExxonMobil, as well as a number of Universities.

Pippa Clarke, private business leader for PwC in the West and chair of the Judges concludes:

“This year’s competition was tough as there were four great businesses in the final. The Independent Judges were hugely impressed by Viper Innovations’ all round strong business model, which includes impressive innovation, contribution to the region plus a highly engaged workforce and career progression opportunities available for their people”.

“I would like to personally congratulate Viper Innovations on being awarded this title, and also to congratulate all the 2017 finalists.  It is an amazing achievement to make it through to being a finalist, given the high standards required across all facets of the business and the rigour which the judges apply”