IT is one of the essential ingredients of a successful business.

The ability to think outside the box, tackle a problem in a new way or come up with a completely original idea.

The winner of the Trethowans Excellence Through Innovation award will be a company that best shows success through the application of a new idea, product, method, process or technology.

Judges will be looking for firms with a creative way of working who strive to be fresh and responsive to customer needs.

Simon Rhodes, Trethowans managing partner said: “We believe that the reason that we’ve had happy clients for nearly 150 years, is because we are constantly striving to improve and develop the service that we provide.

“By being innovative we are able to adapt what we do, which helps us to achieve great results for our clients.

“We look forward to meeting like-minded Business people from the south coast and hearing about the many ways that Southampton businesses are demonstrating excellence through innovation.

He added the South Coast Business Awards, organised by the Daily Echo and Business Southampton, is an exciting addition to the Southampton business calendar.

He added Trethowans saw innovation as the route to its success and the firm were delighted to be involved with the gongs.

There will also be awards for corporate social responsibility, customer service, use of technology, training and education and growth.

There will be four finalists picked in each category and these will automatically be entered into the running for the coveted Business of the Year accolade.

Entries must be in by April 21 with the winners being revealed on July 15 at a ceremony in Southampton.