Start-up Business of the Year 2026
Category criteria
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This award recognises businesses of any size and within any sector that were founded on or after January 1, 2024.
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The judges will look at each entrant’s entrepreneurial journey, the viability of their business model, long-term sustainability of the business and the growth of the business to date.
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The judges will look at financial projections for each entrant in this category but at such an early stage in the lifecycle of new businesses they will not make a decision based purely on balance sheets.
Power SOS
Start-up Business of the Year entrant
The brainchild of University of Staffordshire alumnus Steve Holmes, Power SOS is believed to be the first mobile app of its kind in the world.
Alongside long-established and thriving sister company Midlands Power Networks, Power SOS will help to restore power to critical services such as hospitals and prisons as well as the likes of retail, manufacturing, football stadiums and universities when it launches this year.
Steve, the managing director of Stoke-on-Trent based Midlands Power Networks, had the idea for a high voltage response emergency app and has worked with University of Staffordshire students to make it a reality.
Power SOS now has a team of five employees, mostly sourced from University of Staffordshire through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership and Unitemps, and is projected to go from a standing start to a significant annual turnover when it launches in the third quarter of the year.
The app holds each customer’s asset register and records and not only provides information as to possible causes but also highlights to any attending engineers any specific risks on that site ensuring they are well informed before arriving on site and HSE compliant. Not only will this minimise downtime it also reduces the risk for environmental impact and insurance claims.
Combining several cutting-edge technologies, AI to not only assist the customer in identifying their emergency but also the engineer in resolution; new location tracking, as yet not available in the world except within this app, and even predictive analysis to help prevent failures before they happen.
The app will record attendances and their outcomes and customers will be able to leave reviews.
Power SOS has entered the Start-up Business of the Year and Innovation Award categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Tiny Toes Scan Studio
Start-up Business of the Year entrant
NHS sonographer Jenny Holt set up a private ultrasound clinic in March 2025 and has already moved to new premises to allow the business to grow.
The mum of three, who runs Tiny Toes Scan Studio alongside working part time at UHNM, says turnover at the Milton-based studio is on track to increase further over the coming year.
She launched the business after spotting an ultrasound machine for sale online at an irresistible price and then storing it in her kitchen at home until she had found the right premises and got CQC permission to open.
Jenny said: “I took the plunge and set up my own business to provide exceptional care for patients - allowing them to share their pregnancy journey with loved ones with the hope to reduce the stigma attached to private ultrasound clinics.
“I started the business with nothing. I saw an ultrasound machine for sale on Facebook marketplace and decided it was now or never. We travelled to Liverpool to collect the machine and the next day we were driving past a shop in Milton available to let.
“After nearly 12 months of a rigorous CQC application- we got the go ahead to open in March 2025. Since then we have invested in a new ultrasound machine and moved to a larger shop enabling us to hire reception staff.
“So far we have scanned 1056 patients and continue to grow each month. We started with one member of staff. Now we have four. We are delivering high quality services to our local area, a service which is well trusted and highly reputable.”
Jenny and her team share moments of joy with many of their patients but they are also trained to work with people who have pregnancy complications and can provide treasured keepsakes such as heartbeat bears, videos and photos. They have also identified five ectopic pregnancies.
Tiny Toes Scan Studio has entered the Start-up Business of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards
Chillington Playbarn Ltd
Start-up Business of the Year entrant
A farm diversification business was launched less than two years ago but is already award-winning and employing 26 members of staff.
Chillington Playbarn Ltd, operating as Hockerhill Playbarn in Brewood, opened for business in March 2024 and has just won a national award for Best Food and Beverage at the NFAN Awards 2026.
It was launched by farmers Tessa and Charlie Giffard, of the Chillington Hall Estate, who quickly brought on board a head chef and a general manager, Sophie Galantini, who is University of Staffordshire alumna.
The all-weather indoor and outdoor attraction has a large, themed play area with a central great oak structure, a café, pedal go-karts, ziplines and a sensory den.
The business set out to include the surrounding villages as much as possible, with a loyalty scheme for local residents.
Local villagers have got behind the project and research has shown that 46% of visitors are returning customers, highlighting the positive impact it is having on the local community.
The team pride themselves in supporting local events, schools and charities by offering vouchers and family visits. Hockerhill ensures that all children regardless of their background or ability can have access to a fun and safe environment. Monthly SEN sessions have proved popular and they have made the space as wheelchair friendly as possible.
Chillington Playbarn Ltd has been nominated in the Start-up Business of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards by General Manager Sophie Galantini.
She said: “Hockerhill is committed to excellence in everything they do. From the design of their facilities to customer service, they put their heart and soul into ensuring a top-quality experience for every visitor. These values reflect Hockerhill’s desire to create a positive and lasting impact on families, communities and the development of children.
“Through their commitment to the local community, they listen to customer feedback and strive to increase customer demands and expectations. With the increase in revenue, they hope to expand the site to be able to offer more in the coming months and years.
“This family run business will hopefully continue for generations to come, with the Giffards’ own children often popping in to say hello to the staff or help with washing up, hopefully instilling a good work ethic and passion for their family business.”
Astro Education
Start-up Business of the Year entrant
Less than two years after it was set up as a one-man business Astro Education has expanded across two counties with a team of four staff and has ambitious plans to grow further.
The Stoke-on-Trent based business specialises in recruitment and retention for the education sector including connecting schools with high-quality teaching and support staff.
It works with primary schools, secondary schools, colleges and specialist SEN provisions across Staffordshire and Cheshire.
It provides both day-to-day supply staff and long-term placements covering a wide range of roles including qualified teachers, teaching assistants, SEN specialists, pastoral staff, cover supervisors and administrative professionals.
Founder Tim Howarth, who worked in the insurance industry before moving into recruitment, has added a former headteacher and teaching assistant into his team. They currently have a workforce of around 100 educational professionals.
Tim said: “From the outset, our mission has been to build a recruitment business that prioritises relationships, reliability and fairness. Schools rely heavily on agency support to maintain continuity for their pupils yet many report challenges around cost, inconsistent candidate quality and poor service from traditional recruitment providers.
“Astro Education was established specifically to address these issues. Our approach focuses on transparent pricing, high compliance standards and careful candidate matching to ensure that both schools and staff benefit from a supportive and professional recruitment experience.
“Although we are still a young business, our growth since launching has been significant. Within less than two years we have developed a strong and expanding client base across Staffordshire and have begun extending our reach into Cheshire.”
Wherever possible Tim tries to put back into the communities his business serves including sponsoring football kits for Excel Academy and sponsoring an early years practitioners event.
“I want people to want to work with us,” he said. "I’m creating a brand that is a transparent, responsive and ethical alternative that genuinely supports the education community.”
Astro Education has entered the Small Business of the Year, Start-up Business of the Year and Growth categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards and Tim Howarth has entered the Entrepreneur of the Year category.