Growth Award 2025
Category criteria
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This category is designed to recognise growth within businesses of any size and sector.
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This could include relatively new businesses that have gone from a standing start right through to long-standing organisations that have been thriving over many years.
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The judges will be looking for growth in areas such as revenue, recruitment or indeed trading territories. Importantly this growth strategy should be sustainable and the business should have the momentum and resources for this to continue.
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The judges will also be interested to see the innovation that has helped to drive growth.
Ellina Pollitt
Growth Award entrant
What began as a solo project for Ellina Pollitt during her time as a student at University of Staffordshire has turned into an award-winning, internationally-recognised jewellery brand.
Ellina, who co-designed the University’s mace, has had her designs featured in Vogue magazine, The Jeweller and recently had a multi-page feature about her work and career in the glossy French magazine Moevir.
Originally from Russia and now living in Biddulph, Ellina has exhibited at major national and international events such as Munich Jewellery Week, the Goldsmiths Fair and the Cluster Contemporary Jewellery Fair in London.
Her shortlisting for the 2024 NAJ Rising Star of the Year Award is a testament to the growing industry recognition her business is receiving.
She blends traditional jewellery-making techniques with cutting-edge technologies such as fibre laser cutting and powder coating.
Ellina joined University of Staffordshire in 2016 for a foundation year followed by a BA (Hons) in 3D Design (Jewellery) which she completed with First-Class Honours. She later returned to join the Peter Coates MSc in Entrepreneurship, which supported the development of her business.
She is a strong advocate of the transformational power of education and says she owes much of her current success to the support she has received during her time at University of Staffordshire.
“I appreciate so much everything that the University has done for me,” she said. “I wouldn’t have done it without all of the people at the University. I never thought I’d be where I am today with my own business, but the University has helped me.
“University of Staffordshire played a critical role in laying the foundation for the growth of my business. Through access to mentors, equipment, entrepreneurial guidance and a strong creative network I was able to go from student to award-winning business owner in a few short years.
“The skills, resilience and confidence I gained during my academic journey continue to drive me forward as I scale my brand and explore new avenues for growth.”
Ellina Pollitt has entered the Alumni Business Person of the Year, Growth, Entrepreneur of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
We Buy Any Motorcaravan
Growth Award 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.”
Heywoods Estate Agents
Growth Award entrant
In October 2022, at the age of just 26, Alistair Trippett bought an estate and lettings agency that had gone into administration. Two years later he has transformed the fortunes of Heywoods Estate Agents and doubled the team from nine to 18 staff.
The Newcastle-under-Lyme based business, which was founded more than a century ago, is now thriving in an industry where many estate and lettings agencies have faced insolvency.
Heywoods’ lettings portfolio has grown by 33% in managed properties over two years, solidifying its position as a leading agency in the region. This growth has complemented its dominance in the ST5 sales market where it has nearly 15% of the market share compared to its nearest competitor’s 9% share.
The lettings team was presented with a Gold Award at the British Property Awards, a national accolade that celebrates outstanding customer service in the property sector.
The Heywoods team was also recognised with a Gold Award for Sales at the EA Masters and has been included in the Best Estate Agent Guide for 2025.
Alistair said: “In 2024, we were proud to help a total of 283 families and individuals in finding their perfect homes, marking our busiest year on record. This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to our clients and our ability to deliver results even in a competitive market.
“Despite operating in an industry fraught with challenges, our strategic vision, innovative practices and community-focused initiatives position us as a leading example of sustainable growth and excellence in the property sector. We remain committed to continuous improvement, client satisfaction and contributing positively to our community.”
New operating procedures have been introduced to streamline processes and to increase efficiency and client satisfaction.
Heywoods Maintenance has been launched to offer property care for homeowners and landlords. Led by Phil Harrison, who joined in a newly-formed maintenance operative role, this initiative ensures property issues are addressed swiftly.
Community engagement is a cornerstone of the company’s ethos. In 2024 it donated £10,000 to various charitable causes including donating £25 to the Peter Pan Centre for every house completion and tenant move-in during December 2024 and February 2025.
Alistair Trippett has entered the Entrepreneur of the Year and Young Business Person of the Year categories of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards and Heywoods Estate Agents has been entered into the Growth Award category.
Next2IT
Growth Award entrant
Founded in a bedroom just before the UK went into its first lockdown, tech company Next2IT now has a £3.5 million annual turnover and a team of 14 staff.
Based at Stafford Technology Park, the IT managed service provider specialises in digital transformation, cybersecurity and enterprise IT solutions.
It was founded by 34-year-old Deklan van de Laarschot with a mission to simplify technology while delivering cutting-edge solutions that enhance business efficiency, security and scalability.
The company’s expertise spans cloud services, IT infrastructure, cybersecurity and managed support, providing businesses with the technical capability to grow and thrive in a digital-first world.
It supports a diverse portfolio of clients ranging from SMEs to enterprise organisations including Churchill China, CVS Group, ABP Group, The Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and LoneStar Fasteners Europe.
Founder and CEO Deklan van de Laarschot said: “At Next2IT we believe in building a strong, highly skilled team. Over the past year our workforce has grown to 14 IT professionals, each bringing expertise in cloud computing, networking, cybersecurity and digital transformation.
“Next2IT exemplifies what it means to be a high-growth, innovative and customer-focused small business. Our ability to scale rapidly, secure major clients and invest in people and technology demonstrates our commitment to excellence.
“As a Staffordshire-based business, we are not only growing but driving digital transformation across multiple industries. Winning a University of Staffordshire Business Award would recognise the dedication, hard work and strategic vision that have propelled Next2IT to where it is today.”
Deklan launched a software development company 18 months ago which now has three members of staff. It sits alongside Next2IT and enhances its capabilities.
Next2IT has entered the Growth Award and Small Business of the Year categories of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.