Finalists for the North West in a new UK-wide awards initiative championing the best in start-ups and entrepreneurial activity can been revealed.
The StartUp Awards National Series has been launched to recognise the booming startup scene across the UK which has accelerated since the pandemic began. In 2020, when most of the world was shutting down, more than 400,000 startups were set up in Britain, with similar increases seen in other European countries.
This marked boost in nascent entrepreneurship is mirrored by a huge 2,500 applications which have been received in response to the Startup Awards National Series’ first ever call for entries.
The North West startups that made the shortlist are a true snapshot of the future economy, with a collective turnover of over £36m and employing 676 people between them.
One finalist said: “The people of the north have a real tenacity about them, and you don't have to go far to find a mentor who has been there and done it.
“The talent is excellent as well, with the continued development of some serious universities and colleges. We have benefited from government backed growth hubs and continue to work closely with community programmes for SMEs.”
The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures. This includes North West-based Ash Jones, founder of personal branding agency Great Influence, and Chris Legh, founder of Junkyard Golf.
Supported nationally by BT, EY, Dell & Intel, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing individuals across the UK who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.
Co-founded by the team behind the Great British Entrepreneur Awards , the new series follows the success of the Wales StartUp Awards, after organisers recognised the exceptional potential in the startup scene across the other British regions.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans , the creator of the StartUp Awards National Series, said: “New firms are important for generating economic prosperity, employment opportunities and innovation. Since 2016, the Wales StartUp Awards have celebrated this amazing annual contribution to our economy by entrepreneurs and the impact they have on communities across the nation.
“Given the sheer volume of phenomenal startups we’ve heard from since then, as well as the huge post-pandemic shift in people’s desires to take their career in a new direction and set up a business against the odds, we felt it was the right time to take the programme nationwide. We’ve been blown away by the standard of entries from the North West in this first year and truly look forward to crowning the winners.”
The awards will be held on July 5th at Cotton Sheds in Manchester.
This year’s StartUp Awards National Series finalists from the North West are:
B2B Services StartUp
Brandempwr, Founded by Ryan & Heather Metcalfe
Business Travel Desk , Founded by Sebastian Burgess & Max Fone
Closer Consultancy , Founded by Naima Lacerna
QASSS, Founded by Ciarán Harkin
Teach Well Toolkit , Founded by Steve Waters, Suneta Bagri & Debbie Van Tonder
B2C Services StartUp
Birkdale Kitchen Company, Founded by Neil Gokcen & Stephen Dunne
Boombae, Founded by Olivia Norman
BEEWEIGHED , Founded by Lynda Leadbetter
FindMyData, Founded by Claudiu Cogalniceanu
The Laser Lounge , Founded by Lucie Grech
Construction & Building Services StartUp
A+A Property Stagers , Founded by Angela Drakeford
NTB Survey , Founded by Nick Bamber
Rogers Mchugh Recruitment, Founded by John Lugsden
Excel TM Group, Founded by Mike Dunn
Creative StartUp
Platinum Live , Founded by Oliver Hodgson
Talk Twenties, Founded by Gaby Mendes
22 Impact , Founded by Freedom Doran
Silverwood Jewellery , Founded by Claire de Bezenac
Bizzybee, Founded by Erin Buch
Digital StartUp
Digibean, Founded by Luke Flannery
By Sam Crawford , Founded by Sam Crawford
Inspired Copy, Founded by Jane Toner
Team Tracker, Founded by Robin Gibson & Andrew Isherwood
PamperBook, Founded by Jody Riley
Fintech StartUp
Bank North, Founded by Jonathan Thompson
Financielle , Founded by Laura Pomfret & Holly Holland
Collctiv, Founded by Amy Whitell & Pete Casson
Food and Drink StartUp
Bio&Me, Founded by Jon Walsh & Dr Megan Rossi
Crave Drinks, Founded by Anita Rae
The Fermentation Station , Founded by Sam Watson & Amy Yarker
Tipples of Manchester , Founded by Thomas Pedley & Greg Adams
Global StartUp
Global HRIS, Founded by Simon Bradbury
Joshua Lloyd, Founded by Joshua Griffin
Orange County CBD , Founded by Aaron Spinks & Sean McCullough
Graduate StartUp
Homethings, Founded by Tim Keaveney & Matthew Aubrey
TMI Lifestyle , Founded by Yulanda Duff
Jarmabox, Founded by Sarah Stringer & Amarn Gulamhusein
Green StartUp
Eco Offset , Founded by Chantelle Brandwood
FETCH.IT , Founded by Kiki Lam
Greenr, Founded by Jimmy Murray & Gabrielle Bourret-Sicotte
CONTUR, Founded by Claire Turpin
Innovative StartUp
Aquarate , Founded by Rebecca Taylor
My Time Wellness, Founded by Alexandra Ferguson & Natasha Richards
PixelMax, Founded by Shay O'Carroll, Rob Hilton & Andy Sands
PropCall , Founded by Aaron Mcwilliam
Mobile & Emerging Technologies StartUp
Mindset Ai , Founded by Jack Houghton, Christine Davies, Barrie Hadfield, Wic Verhoef & William Evans
GoJoe, Founded by Sophie Edwards, Will Turner & Phil Steele
Buymyupgrade , Founded by Joe Bleasdale
Xploro, Founded by Holly Ward & Dom Raban
Online Retail StartUp
Coco's Puppy Boutique, Founded by Kerry Cunliffe
Fable Yoga, Founded by Natalie Baker
Night , Founded by Dan & Charlotte Hawthorne
Sophie Summer, Founded by Josefina Villanueva-Alonso
The NAP Co, Founded by Siobhan Dudley
Professional Services StartUp
Essentialise Workplace Wellbeing , Founded by Lee Chambers
Manhattan Partners, Founded by Julie Mombielova & John Gaskell
Rowley Heron Associates , Founded by Matt Jagger
Venndorly, Founded by Danny Seals & Sam Davies
Accountants247, Founded by James Drinkwater & Mark Greeve
Social StartUp
Stand Out Socks, Founded by Christian & Ross Laing
Changing Streams CIC , Founded by Neal Maxwell
Offsite Alliance CIC , Founded by Gaynor Tennent
Tourism & Leisure StartUp
Panache Cruises, Founded by James Cole
The Secret Garden Glamping , Founded by Derry Green
Jacksonheim , Founded by Corin Craig Jackson
Young Entrepreneur
22 Impact , Founded by Freedom Doran
Boombae, Founded by Olivia Norman
Mindset Ai, Founded by Jack Houghton, Christine Davies, Barrie Hadfield, Wic Verhoef & William Evans
Manhattan Partners , Founded by Julie Mombielova & John Gaskell
Rising Star Award
Pop Fizz Party Events , Founded by Nicola Mills
The Foxlie Plan , Founded by Allegra Foxlie
Winners Strength & Wellbeing, Founded by Chloe Blair
MOi + ME , Founded by Catherine Meardon & Laura Walton
Sitori, Founded by Victoria Kennedy
Vibrant Skin , Founded by Kelly & Sarah Owen
Upholstery2u , Founded by Daniel Boyle
HACE: Data Changing Child Labour, Founded by Eleanor Harry
VOGO Tours, Founded by Harika Parmer
Greater Manchester StartUp
QASSS, Founded by Ciarán Harkin
PixelMax, Founded by Shay O'Carroll, Rob Hilton & Andy Sands
Mindset Ai, Founded by Jack Houghton, Christine Davies, Barrie Hadfield, Wic Verhoef, William Evans
Boombae, Founded by Olivia Norman
Merseyside Start-Up
Orange County CBD, Founded by Aaron Spinks & Sean McCullough
PropCall, Founded by Aaron Mcwilliam
22 Impact, Founded by Freedom Doran
Birkdale Kitchen Company, Founded by Neil Gokcen & Stephen Dunne
Cheshire Start-Up
Bio&Me , Founded by Jon Walsh & Dr Megan Rossi
Excel TM Group, Founded by Mike Dunn
Accountants247 , Founded by James Drinkwater & Mark Greeve
Night, Founded by Dan Hawthorne & Charlotte Hawthorne
For the full list of national finalist click here.
