TUBE Lines is running its own ‘Dragons Den’ style challenge cup competition to encourage and reward employees who come up with business improvement ideas.

In the style of the popular TV show, short-listed candidates pitch their ideas to a panel of judges, including chief executive Terry Morgan.

The difference is, they are being asked to showcase winning ideas for cash rewards instead of investment.

Joint first place in the first quarter competition has already gone to environment asset manager Steve Judd for his scheme to clean iron filings from trackside train position detectors using industrial wipes.

Health, safety and environment manager Danny Pollard, whose idea was for a special metal platform to allow maintenance staff safe crossing of tracks in tunnels, was also a winner.

Steve’s idea was judged a winner for its simple solution to a problem that is expensive in terms of train delays, and for its potential to save the company £1.3 million a year.

And, in avoiding the need for scaffolding, Danny’s invention has already attracted interest from contractors impressed by its improved safety benefit.

In each quarterly competition judges select the best entry and two runners-up, with an overall winner and runner-up at the end of the year.

 Mr Morgan said: “Our competition sends out a clear message that ideas, technical innovations and change initiatives will get a fair hearing and the best will be rewarded.”

- Tube Lines’ status as a good employer has been reinforced through the company’s
successful renewal of its existing Investors in People accreditation.

After two weeks of conducting confidential interviews with people at all levels in Tube Lines’ organisation, independent assessors congratulated the company on ensuring good training and development opportunities for staff.

Its £10 million skills training centre in Stratford was singled out for a commendation, as was its award-winning apprentice training scheme.

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