Congratulations must go to JCB who following the production last week of its half millionth backhoe loader - the machine that made the company famous around the world, announced yesterday a £500 Christmas bonus to all its staff and a pay increase of 3% for January 2013.

Not only is this marvellous for the morale of JCB and its staff, but has to be a positive and encouraging outlook for Britain as a whole as the condition of the Construction Industry is an early indicator of the future state of our economy.

Sir Anthony Bamford has no doubt that it is Innovation that has lead to their recent and continued success as he said “It’s innovation over the past six decades that has made JCB a world leader for backhoe loaders and it’s innovation that will keep us in the lead with this product over the next 60 years”.

JCB has been one of the main supporters of the Business Innovation Centre since its inception and the BIC wishes them well for the future.

The introduction of new technologies can be a trigger for innovation and the BIC will be holding a Networking Event on 31 January 2013 looking at the application of technologies such as QR Codes, GPS and RFID and what support is around to help companies introduce them into their businesses.