Business of the Year 2025
Category criteria
- The Business of the Year category is open to businesses with an annual turnover of more than £5 million.
- Entrants should demonstrate outstanding success during their most recent full financial year.
- Success can be judged on metrics ranging from exceptional growth and increased trading profit through to the development of services, developing staff, products or new production techniques.
- The judges will welcome entries from businesses committed to corporate social responsibility.

Woolcool
Business of the Year entrant
Founded by University of Staffordshire alumna and Honorary Doctor Angela Morris, Woolcool is a female-led, second-generation family business on a mission to use natural materials to change the world.
The Stone-based business uses 100% natural sheep’s wool as an alternative to synthetic insulation materials like polystyrene. Since the company’s inception, customers switching to Woolcool have saved around 40 million kilos of polystyrene packaging from going to UK landfill.
The innovation was first conceived by Angela Morris in 2001, whilst a packaging consultant to The National Trust after the UK Foot and Mouth crisis. Woolcool was founded in 2009 and today focuses on high-performance, environmentally friendly packaging solutions for temperature-sensitive products, making it a standout leader in packaging innovation.
In May 2025 Woolcool was listed as one of The Times newspaper’s Best Places to Work, scoring well over industry averages in all parts of the survey. Woolcool currently employs more than 70 Staffordshire people.
Consistent sales growth year on year has been achieved through strategic expansion, increased market share, and successful partnerships across diverse sectors including pharmaceuticals, food retail and direct-to-consumer logistics. In 2025 Woolcool is set to post another record year with a further 25 to 30% growth in revenue.
The company’s global export presence is strengthened by its Managing Director, Josie Morris MBE DL, who serves as a Department for International Trade’s Export Champion and SME advisor on the WTO Business Advisory Board, reporting directly to the Director General.
In 2024 export sales rose significantly and in 2025/26 Woolcool anticipate a further significant growth trajectory, assisted by attendance at major trade fairs in Lyon, France and ambitious plans to expand into the UAE.
Despite the current turbulence in the US, Woolcool has established a distribution platform in Ohio, from whence the company can service both the US food and pharmaceutical sectors for insulated packaging.
Josie Morris said: “Over the last 15 years, Woolcool has been made by its people, and this year is no exception. We set out ambitious and exciting objectives at the beginning of the year, and as always, our team has gone above and beyond to deliver for our customers, partners and continuous improvement projects.
“Thank you to everyone - team members, customers, suppliers and supporters. We are excited for our plans for 2025/26, so watch this space! We are changing the game.”
Woolcool has entered the Business of the Year and Team of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards

Comp Door
Business of the Year entrant
From a start-up team of 12 when it launched just under four years ago, Comp Door now has more than 95 staff and a £22 million annual turnover.
The Newcastle-under-Lyme based company has grown its turnover from £14 million in 2024, a 57% increase in just 12 months.
During the past year the manufacturing company has made and delivered 2,200 additional doors, taken on 26 new staff, added two vans to its fleet to cope with demand and invested in a new 17,000sqft facility.
Sales Director Richard Diliberto said: “This expansion didn’t happen by chance. It’s the result of a focused strategy and an unwavering belief that we can, and should, always do better.
“In just under four years, we’ve grown from a 12-person start-up into a 95+ strong team of skilled professionals. This is a testament to our empowering culture, strong values and reputation as a great place to work in the region.
“We invest in training, value collaboration and nurture an entrepreneurial spirit across all roles, because we know innovation is driven by people as much as by process.
“At Comp Door, innovation isn’t a department, it’s a culture. From the leadership team to the factory floor, we ask one simple question: How can we improve this?”
Innovations in the last year include an app-integrated system that lets homeowners check the locked status of their door in real time via a smartphone.
Comp Door’s SleekSkin finish is a ‘luxury skin’ that gives doors a handpainted look. It has also added a decorative glazing collection and launched a new range of stainless steel door hardware and a new range of doors with modern, linear aesthetics.
Comp Door has entered the Business of the Year, Growth Award and Innovation Award categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Richard Diliberto added: “We believe these awards belong to a business that combines vision with values, scale with soul and momentum with meaning.That’s who we are. That’s what we’re building. And that’s why we’re ready to win.”

Reliance Medical Ltd
Business of the Year entrant
Founded nearly two decades ago by University of Staffordshire alumnus Andrew Pear, Reliance Medical has grown into the UK’s leading trade manufacturer of first aid and medical supplies.
A family run, true British success story, Reliance has carved out a strong international presence through cutting-edge product development and a commitment to helping save lives.
Based in North Staffordshire, the business employs 70 staff in the UK and 105 at its wholly owned manufacturing facility in Shanghai with newly established operations across Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Innovation lies at the heart of Reliance Medical’s success. In 2024 the company introduced the groundbreaking Igloo Blanket. This state-of-the-art hypothermia blanket has been developed to aid trauma patients, newborn infants and individuals exposed to extreme weather conditions. Using multi-layered, latex-free, reflective materials, Igloo blankets trap and reflect body heat, significantly reducing the risk of hypothermia in emergency situations such as major blood loss.
Already being deployed by ambulance and military services, Igloo blankets are distributed in 16 languages ensuring they are ready for use by emergency services across Europe.
Reliance Medical’s commitment to the planet is as strong as its commitment to saving lives. The company is proud to lead the sector with sustainable design and production initiatives.
Reliance Medical’s flagship first aid kit boxes - Aura3 and Titan, are industry firsts: both are made entirely from recycled and recyclable plastic, reducing the need for virgin materials and saving the equivalent of six million plastic bottles per year. These kits feature screen printed, globally recognisable iconography to replace printed labels, further reducing plastic waste.
Thomas Pear MBA, Managing Director of Reliance Medical, said: "Reliance Medical prides itself on leading the industry, both in terms of innovation and thought leadership, supporting and affecting regulatory and legislation changes. Our aim is to continue to grow UK sales and open new export and retail markets around the world - this desire has fuelled our major international expansion.”
Reliance Medical has entered the Business of the Year and Innovation Award categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

Browns Distribution
Business of the Year entrant
Despite a turbulent climate for its sector, Browns Distribution has grown its turnover from £14.1 million in 2020 to a projected £23.4 million in 2025.
The third-generation family-owned business, which launched in 1955 with a single van to transport Staffordshire pottery, serves some of the largest companies in the UK and its reach extends to more than 30 European countries.
In 2023 the company invested £9 million in a new headquarters and distribution centre in Stoke-on-Trent. It has invested £3.5 million in fleet renewal since 2023 – its average articulated fleet age is 2.1 years compared to the UK average of 8 years.
In a year when more than 500 hauliers have entered administration, Browns Distribution has stayed focused, financially sound and forward thinking.
It has strengthened its senior team with strategic appointments to support growth, digital innovation and service expansion.
The company has been actively involved in shaping the industry through engagement with the industry bodies, sharing insight on driver shortages, supply chain developments and sustainability.
An eCommerce division, PalletOnline, addresses a market need for business-to-consumer pallet delivery across the UK and Europe and established the company as a key player in eCommerce logistics.
Browns is also a shareholder of Palletline, the UK’s leading palletised distribution network, and is the largest inputter of freight into its network.
Browns Distribution has entered the Business of the Year and Growth categories of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

We Buy Any Motorcaravan
Business of the Year entrant
We Buy Any Motorcaravan has gone from a two-person business to having 35 staff and a £25.5 million annual turnover.
The Burton upon Trent business is now owned and run by husband and wife team Shane Malpass and Victoria Malpass after being launched by Shane and his dad Neil.
The journey began in 2007 when Shane, aged just 19 at the time, teamed up with his father, Neil. Neil had decades of industry experience and Shane brought ambition and entrepreneurial drive.
They started by sourcing motorhomes for a dealership where Neil worked. When the 2008 recession hit they pivoted to launch their own business — Caravan and Motorhome Sales — and in the first year they generated £309,877 in sales. By 2012 they had an annual turnover of more than £1 million.
The true growth story began in 2015 when Shane spotted a gap in the market. He launched We Buy Any Motorcaravan, invested in a user-friendly website and began running targeted Google Ads. The shift from trade-only to direct-to-consumer sourcing allowed the business to scale dramatically.
From a £1.5 million turnover in 2016, the company grew to £2.28 million in 2017. It remained steady through 2018 and 2019 while Shane invested in tools, training and team infrastructure. Then came the turning point — the COVID-19 pandemic.
Where many companies paused, Shane adapted. He introduced video walkaround appraisals, sent condition reports to buyers and moved operations online almost overnight. It kept the business moving at a time when face-to-face contact was impossible. That year turnover nearly doubled to £4.58 million.
In 2021 turnover grew to £12.4 million. In 2022, £19.8 million in 2022 and in 2023 it reached £25.5 million. Even in 2024, as the average purchase price of motorhomes dropped and the market cooled, the business remained strong with £21.4 million in turnover.
To support continued expansion the company is developing an AI-powered motorhome pricing tool, enabling staff to generate accurate quotes instantly.
We Buy Any Motorcaravan has been nominated in the Business of the Year and Growth categories of the University of Staffordshire Business awards by staff member Paul Anthony Holmes.
He said: “From a father-and-son startup to a national leader in the motorhome industry, We Buy Any Motorcaravan is an incredible example of what can be achieved when vision, innovation and values come together. And with Shane at the helm, this is only the beginning.”

Capula
Business of the Year entrant
Capula has been a leader in advanced system integration for decades, focusing on operational technology and digital transformation.
The company, which has its headquarters in Stone, optimises energy efficiency, intelligent asset management and operational performance for asset and energy-intensive clients.
It delivers critical technical solutions across automation control, panel build, cyber security, digitalisation and industrial operational technology programmes. This ensures the integrity, safety and security of complex solutions in the industrial landscape, addressing current and future challenges.
Capula’s clients operate and control some of the UK's most strategically important critical national infrastructure. With more than 50 years of experience, Capula is committed to supporting low carbon, sustainable and critical infrastructure. Its customer-focused approach combines technical expertise with market-led insight, enabling it to design, engineer and implement leading solutions consistently.
Over recent years Capula has experienced significant growth in sales turnover and profile development, nearly doubling in size. It has seen consistent growth in its main sectors - energy and nuclear—while expanding into adjacent industries such as life sciences, pharmaceuticals, manufacturing and aerospace.
In 2024 Capula's revenue grew by 34%, with increased profitability, cash generation and overall financial performance.
Capula is predicting continued growth in its Staffordshire region as well as establishing further its geographical footprint in the UK including Cumbria, Yorkshire, Berkshire and Scotland to better service its clients and enhance its service offerings.
With more than 400 employees, Capula has consistently demonstrated outstanding performance in financial management, leadership, employee learning and development, career development, environmental sustainability, corporate social responsibility and future growth planning.
The company has consistently exceeded financial targets, with revenue, profit,and sales all well ahead of budget. This robust financial health has enabled it to reinvest in its people and infrastructure, ensuring sustained growth and stability. Its leadership team, led by Managing Director Simon Coombs, is committed to fostering a culture of excellence and innovation. The senior leadership team’s strategic vision and effective management have been pivotal in navigating market challenges and driving the company’s success.
Capula has entered the Business of the Year category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

Mincrete
Business of the Year entrant
Richard Evans has grown Burslem-based Mincrete into a business with a £15 million annual turnover.
He has succeeded in business against the backdrop of personal struggles. 25 years ago he was in the grip of acute alcoholism but turned his life around after spending time in rehab. He has now been sober for 16 years and has even bought a financial stake in the clinic where he received his treatment.
Richard has been nominated as Entrepreneur of the Year in University of Staffordshire Business Awards by his proud daughter, Elizabeth Evans, who is University of Staffordshire Business Management alumna and now works at Mincrete.
Mincrete, which specialises in ready mixed concrete, has also been nominated as Business of the Year.
Elizabeth said: “The specific set of intellectual skills that he possesses, combined with personality traits of compassion, passion, premeditation and stoicism is the fundamental key to Mincrete's success and ability to weather uncertain and often cruel times.
“His rise from the ashes is an astonishing story that not only resonates with so many people but provides something that every person needs, hope.”
Richard’s catchphrase in ‘you’ve got to give it away to keep it’, which has seen him buying trolley loads of Christmas presents for families in need and giving up his free time to support people struggling with alcoholism or gambling.
Under Richard’s leadership the Mincrete turnover has grown exponentially. It has also recently gained British Standards Institution accreditation.
Richard’s business philosophy centres around sustainable and incremental growth, social responsibility and corporate social responsibility. This includes creating a low-carbon alternative concrete range called APOGEE to allow for lower carbon footprints across the supply chain.
Richard recently bought Nettlebank Memorials and is planning to expand further into the funerals and graveyard sector.
Elizabeth added: “Richard’s story is one of extraordinary transformation of a man who rebuilt his life from nothing, who went on to build a thriving business that contributes to the local economy and provides valuable services.
“He has achieved remarkable financial growth for Mincrete, attained industry recognition with BSI accreditation and expanded his vision to include other ventures that serve the community. He has done all of this while remaining grounded, compassionate and committed to giving back.
“I know he’s my dad but he really is an exceptional person. He just fills you with a lot of hope.”

The Catering Butcher/HH Jackson
Business of the Year nominee
A Stoke-on-Trent butchers celebrates its 100th anniversary next year and is the longest-serving stallholder in Stoke Market - but by moving with the times and responding to customer demands has secured its place as a 21st-century business with a multi-million-pound turnover.
HH Jackson, which is also known as The Catering Butcher, has a stall in Stoke Market and a traditional shop in Fenpark Road, Fenton, that was set up by the business’s founder, farmer Herbert Henry Jackson.
The Catering Butcher was set up 20 years ago and has its own premises in Sutherland Road, Longton. It’s become a highly regarded catering and hospitality butchers for Staffordshire, Cheshire and Manchester, supplying to many high profile and prestigious clients.
The Catering Butcher opened a factory shop to serve the public during the pandemic, which proved so popular it has stayed.
All three parts of the business are run by members of the Jackson family including Herbert’s grandson, Arthur, running the Fenpark Road shop, fourth generation family member Mark Jackson running the stall in Stoke Market and fourth generation family member Dave Jackson is Managing Director of The Catering Butcher. Dave’s son Lewis, the fifth generation of HH Jackson butchers, works in the shop.
“We opened the factory shop during the pandemic so we could open our doors to the public and it’s proved to be a great business. It’s a beautiful shop and really high end. People can buy small portions, catering portions and pretty much any cut of meat they could ask for,” said Dave Jackson.
“Our customers include many of the regions leading catering and hospitality businesses such as Paragon Pubs.”
The business, which has around 50 employees across the group, has been nominated in the Business of the Year category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards by customer Steve Crowe.
Steve, a chef and food content creator, is based in Manchester but buys his meat from The Catering Butcher because he says the service he receives is better than anything he can get closer to home.
“They’ve really helped me on a personal level and also with my business,” said Steve. “I’ve built up such a rapport with the shop manager that we’ve become good friends.
“I specialise in barbecue and outdoor cooking. If there’s anything that I want that I wouldn’t be able to get from a normal butchers, I know I can get it from them.
“I’ll go in there and ask for some obscure cut that another butcher would have to order in for me, but they just tell me to wait 10 minutes and go and prepare it there and then. I can get anything I want and they’re so enthusiastic.”

Simarco International
Business of the Year entrant
Simarco International is one of the UK's leading independent logistics and freight operators, with more than 25 years of experience in the industry.
Stoke-on-Trent is Simarco`s newest, flagship site, at Radial Park, Sideway. At 108,000 sqft it operates cross dock services throughout Europe including import and export, ocean exports, air export and imports, courier, customs clearance, third-party logistics and domestic transport.
The site operates 24 hours per day, every day of the week. The site is an external temporary storage facility and customs bonded facility, allowing export and imports customs clearance to take place in Stoke-on-Trent, negating bottlenecks in UK ports and airports.
Whilst Simarco International is a nationwide business offering full international services, besides Stoke-on-Trent being Simarco`s flagship location, more than 17% of its worldwide workforce is based in North Staffordshire.
The Stoke facility is increasing its market share of Simarco’s total European business, which currently sees more than 525,000 pallets of groupage shipments, 16,000 full load European shipments and 100,000 UK pallets annually. The Stoke warehouse is ideally placed to service international movements across the whole of the Midlands and North of England.
Over the course of Simarco’s history it has grown exponentially, not only through sales, employee numbers, facilities and locations, but also in its commitment to the environment and our local community.
Causes and people the company supports within North Staffordshire include The Peter Pan Centre, Project Indi, Newcastle Wanderers Youth Squad, Circus Star – The Circus with a purpose, The Macari Centre, the BMX champion Ruby Moores and The Salvation Army.
Simarco has entered the Business of the Year, Team of the Year and Business in the Community categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.