Skills for the Future Award 2026
Category criteria
- This category will recognise businesses committed to the ongoing training, professional development and upskilling of their workforce.
- This can be via in-house training or external training providers and/or colleges or universities.
Staffordshire Signal CIC
Skills for the Future entrant
The Staffordshire Signal CIC is a non-profit, community-led media platform built to champion Staffordshire, support local businesses, strengthen community connection and tell the stories of people, places and organisations that may otherwise be overlooked.
The Signal brings together a free print magazine, digital features, newsletters, events coverage, business visibility, community stories and developing video work through The Staffordshire Signal TV.
The model is funded by local businesses and the community it serves through advertising, sponsorship, print subscriptions, reader support, partnerships and community backing. Because The Signal is a CIC, that support is reinvested into trusted local journalism, public interest storytelling, opportunities for young people and the long-term future of Staffordshire media.
This approach gives local businesses and organisations a trusted platform to reach local audiences. It helps residents discover events, places, stories and opportunities across the county. It provides positive, useful coverage for culture, heritage, hospitality, education, business, voluntary groups and community life.
The Signal recognises that not everyone has equal access to digital journalism. Digital poverty, low income, age, isolation, lack of confidence online or limited access to devices can all disconnect people from local news and information. A free, high-quality print magazine helps people in low-income areas, older residents, digitally excluded communities and those who feel disconnected from online platforms to access journalism rooted in where they live.
Founder Jenna Goodwin, also known as The Red Haired Stokie, built a trusted regional audience through local history, writing, photography, video and community storytelling before creating The Staffordshire Signal. That trust is central to the community impact. People engage with The Signal because it feels rooted in Staffordshire.
The Staffordshire Signal TV is the next stage of that community work. The video arm will tell Staffordshire’s stories through interviews, short films, documentaries, event coverage and community-led video content. It will also create opportunities for students and young people to gain real experience in writing, research, interviewing, photography, filming and editing.
The Signal is officially supported by key organisations across Staffordshire’s civic, business and education landscape including Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, universities, councils, educational partners and place-making networks. Jenna is a We Are Staffordshire ambassador and represented Staffordshire at the House of Commons as part of a recent Staffordshire showcase.
The Staffordshire Signal CIC has entered the Skills for the Future, Business in the Community and Innovation Award categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Recruitment Robin
Skills for the Future entrant
Recruitment Robin has developed a structured approach to workforce development focused on improving the alignment between education and industry skills needs across Staffordshire.
The Newcastle-under-Lyme based business, led by Managing Director Selina Rudzik, operates as both a recruitment agency and a practical training environment, where T-Level students are embedded into live business operations to develop core workplace competencies.
Students from a range of disciplines, including legal services, business management and marketing, are integrated into different areas of the business, allowing them to contribute to and gain experience across multiple aspects of operations.
Rather than limiting involvement to observation or administrative support, students gain structured exposure to the full recruitment lifecycle, including job advertising, candidate sourcing, client communication, interview coordination and professional relationship management. This model enables them to build confidence, commercial awareness and transferable workplace skills alongside their academic studies.
A key feature of Selina’s approach is its scalability across employers. Working in partnership with Newcastle and Stafford Colleges Group (NSCG), she has introduced more than 20 local businesses to structured T-Level placement opportunities. This includes supporting employers to understand how placements can be used to develop future talent pipelines, particularly in sectors experiencing ongoing skills shortages such as engineering, digital and commercial services.
To strengthen delivery on both sides of the partnership, Selina has also worked directly with education staff to enhance employer engagement capability. She has designed and delivered CPD sessions for placement teams, including Networking for Professionals and Prospecting for Success, which are based on real-world recruitment practices. These sessions have helped staff develop greater confidence in engaging employers and securing higher-quality placement opportunities for students.
Within Recruitment Robin, Selina has established a consistent mentoring structure for six T-Level students, providing ongoing workplace supervision and development opportunities. This ensures that learning is continuous, practical and directly linked to live business activity, rather than limited to short-term placement exposure.
Lyndsey Cherry, Head of Employer Engagements and Partnerships at NSCG, said: “Selina is a true entrepreneurial force. She doesn’t just hire students; she develops the wider system that supports their progression. Her input has strengthened employer engagement practice and significantly improved access to meaningful placement opportunities.”
Recruitment Robin has entered the Skills for the Future category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Capula
Skills for the Future entrant
Capula has been a leader in advanced system integration for decades, focusing on operational technology and digital transformation. It optimises energy efficiency, intelligent asset management and operational performance for asset and energy-intensive clients.
From its headquarters in Stone the business employs more than 450 people across multiple UK locations, operating within a highly technical and safety critical engineering environment.
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 has experienced a positive trend in sales turnover and profile development. It has seen consistent growth in its main sectors – energy and nuclear - but it is also expanding its presence in adjacent industries such as life sciences, pharmaceuticals and aerospace.
A focus on digitalisation recently resulted in the development of its Smart Digital Operations service enhancing its service offerings, attracting new clients and increasing sales turnover. A commitment to low carbon and sustainable infrastructure, including hydrogen and offshore wind projects, has boosted its profile and client base. By forming strategic partnerships with key industry players it has expanded its reach and capabilities, contributing to overall growth.
As one of Staffordshire’s largest providers of degree level apprenticeships, apprentices remain at the heart of Capula’s ‘grow our own’ philosophy. In 2025 the business welcomed 19 new apprentices alongside eight existing employees progressing to higher level programmes. This brought Capula’s total apprentice community to 79, underlining the strength of its commitment to developing local talent and building a resilient, future-ready workforce in Staffordshire – ensuring the region remains at the forefront of innovation and engineering excellence.
In 2025 Capula received more than 900 apprenticeship applications, with candidates drawn by its reputation for industry leading training, broad technical exposure and strong local partnerships with Newcastle & Stafford College Group (NSCG), University of Staffordshire, JCB Academy and Birmingham City University. Apprentices take on real responsibilities from day one and progress through structured pathways that integrate academic study with hands on, high impact engineering work.
Four apprentices from Capula’s nuclear team graduated with First Class BEng (Hons) degrees in electrical and electronic engineering and junior engineer Caitlin Howells achieved a distinction level qualification and won NSCG’s Student of the Year.
Capula has entered the Business of the Year and Skills for the Future categories of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Ford Mainwaring
Skills for the Future entrant
For more than 45 years Newcastle-under-Lyme based Ford Mainwaring has been a leading provider of building services, facilities management and mechanical engineering to public sector, high-security and educational establishments nationwide.
The business has grown by 49% since 2022 with an average year-on-year growth rate of around 14%.
The team of 62 employees includes more than 40 qualified gas, plumbing and electrical engineers supported by project managers, contract managers, finance, marketing, recruitment, compliance and administrative staff. Work can include anything from boiler breakdowns and water leaks to planned service and maintenance jobs.
Growth has been driven by strategic expansion within key sectors, including the prison and secure infrastructure markets. The business has diversified by expanding into commercial battery storage projects, strengthening its position within the evolving energy and infrastructure landscape.
Employee retention is strong at Ford Mainwaring with nearly half of the workforce achieving long-service status. It recently held its first Long Service Awards which will become an annual event. 11 employees who were recognised at the event started as engineering apprentices and are now highly skilled, fully qualified gas, plumbing or electrical engineers. One employee joined in an administrative role and has since progressed to Assistant Contract Manager. The Finance Manager celebrates 25 years with the business in July after starting in an administrative position and developing into her current leadership role.
Attracting, developing and retaining local talent is important to the company. In 2025 alone it invested £72,000 in employee training and development.
Developing the next generation of engineers is central to Ford Mainwaring’s long-term strategy. It currently employs five apprentices and is committed to recruiting at least two each year.
CSR is also embedded in the business’s culture. It is a proud member of the Dougie Mac Business Club and has raised more than £6,000 within six months through a variety of fundraisers. In addition, every employee is given one paid volunteering day per year, enabling the team to support community initiatives.
Ford Mainwaring has entered the Business of the Year, Growth and Skills for the Future categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
NeuroTalks
Skills for the Future entrant
University of Staffordshire alumna Jodie Steele has created three brands inspired by her own experiences with neurodiversity.
The 44-year-old, from Stone, graduated in Marketing in 2003 and went on to work in high-pressure sales and marketing roles for multinational businesses including five years working overseas. She has worked for newspaper groups and in both radio and television.
During the pandemic she had a neurological crash which caused problems with her vision and a loss of motor skills on the right side of her body. She also had a late diagnosis of ADHD.
Jodie has spent several years rehabilitating during which the marketeer in her realised that her own lived experience was the basis of a brand that could help other people. That brand is also now becoming an income stream for Jodie.
She founded NeuroTalks, a lived experience led training and consultancy business that supports organisations to build neuro-inclusive, high-performing and psychologically safe environments.
A growing suite of digital products have been developed including free and paid workbooks, training resources and recorded content.
Alongside Neurotalks she has developed complementary ventures Alchemy Souls Travel, an inclusive and wellbeing-led travel storytelling brand, and Aura & Ash, a sustainability-focused lifestyle brand.
All three brands are gaining increased social media interaction. Jodie has been doing paid work through her brands since November including collaborations with the likes of the RSPCA.
Jodie said: “This could have broken a lot of people but if I can use it to help other people then I think that’s a really positive thing and it motivates me to do more.”
Jodie has entered the Alumni Business Person of the Year category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards and has entered NeuroTalks into the Innovation, Skills For The Future and Business in the Community categories.
She added: “I’m a graduate of University of Staffordshire and this is not simply a historical detail; it is part of my identity as a business leader. The value of that learning, real-world relevance and community connection continue to influence how I operate today.
“I represent the kind of graduate who builds impact over time and offers sustained contribution; not a single business, but an ecosystem; not profit at the expense of people, but performance through inclusion.
“To be recognised as Alumni Business Person of the Year would not only reflect my own journey but would shine a light on the importance of neuro-inclusive leadership, wellbeing-led innovation and values-driven entrepreneurship - areas that increasingly define future work, travel and community life.”
Ultra Clean Canines
Skills for the Future entrant
It’s been a year of development and innovation for the owners of Weston Coyney-based Ultra Clean Canines, who are about to launch an own-brand product.
They have been working with a manufacturer and packaging experts to bring to the market a dog hygiene product which was the brainchild of company founder Emma Cartlich.
The core business is a training academy set up by Emma in 2020 to combine her teaching qualifications with her expertise with an ultrasonic toothbrush for pets.
Emma and husband Adrian both completed emmi®-pet face-to-face training, bought an emmi®-pet ultrasonic toothbrush and started to deliver an emmi®-pet teeth cleaning, oral care and maintenance service in the Staffordshire and Cheshire area.
They then decided to create and deliver emmi®-pet seminars to teach and support pet care professionals, especially dog groomers, how to successfully implement the emmi®-pet into their business. Emma’s dream of running her own training academy was born.
Emma created a Zoom seminar for pet care professionals and offers the same course in an online pre-recorded version which is hosted on her own, one-of-a-kind learning management system.
E-learning has now overtaken Zoom seminars as people are able to complete the training at a time, location and pace that suits them. Over the past year Emma has also started to meet a demand for in-person training sessions.
All courses are officially endorsed by the manufacturer of the equipment and include certification.
Word spread and Emma was approached by a dog grooming college to deliver training to their students and course tutors. She now works with a number of colleges around the UK, has her training included in City and Guilds dog grooming courses and is currently creating a mini course for another dog grooming academy.
2025 saw Ultra Clean Canines become Supplier of the Year finalists in the Pet Industry Federation Awards, develop a partnership with Micropet Franchise Network and have editorial articles in Edition Dog and Edition Dog Professionals magazines.
They are now looking to launch a podcast with guests speakers to spread the message about canine oral health.
Ultra Clean Canines has entered the Skills for the Future and Small Business of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Precious Pets Weddings
Skills for the Future entrant
When rival businesses entered their sector the owners of Precious Pets Weddings didn’t see it as a threat, they saw it as a business opportunity.
Launched in 2018 and featured on TV’s The One Show, This Morning and Dragons’ Den, their business was among the first in the UK to offer a professional service for people who want their pet dog at their wedding.
Weston Coyney based owners Emma and Adrian Cartlich have now launched a training arm to their business to upskill the likes of dog groomers and professional dog walkers who want to expand into the wedding market.
“We were one of the first in the UK to offer this service,” said Emma. “Now we have other people turning up at weddings calling themselves dog chaperones but without the experience which could potentially damage the reputation of the dog chaperone service.”
Emma, who has a background in training, has created a CPD accredited wedding dog chaperone course which she says is designed to put the welfare of dogs first.
“People are going to be setting themselves up in business anyway but if they have been properly trained and had guidance from one of the first businesses in that field in the UK then it will be better for everyone.”
Emma has already had interest in the course from Australia and the US as well as the UK.
The training is currently being delivered over Zoom but Emma plans to move it onto a learning management system so that people can access it at their own pace.
Emms and Adrian recently invested in new custom crates and have had their chaperone vehicle revamped.
They caught the eye of Theo Paphitis when they appeared on Dragons’ Den and he has invited them to attend his small business event for the fourth year in a row.
Emma and Adrian plan, co-ordinate and take away stress for the happy couple so that their dog can be a big part of their wedding day.
They enable dogs to be ring bearers, meet and greeters, the best man, a bridesmaid or simply to attend for an hour to be part of the photographs.
Emma and Adrian even have a Wedding Wheels dog van and a Mini Cooper decorated with paw print weddingsribbons and bows so that pets can arrive in style.
Every dog chaperone package is bespoke and can include full day pet care if needed.
They work at weddings around the region and are increasingly recommended by wedding venues. They recently worked at their biggest wedding to date, chaperoning six dogs.
Precious Pets Weddings has entered the Small Business of the Year and Skills for the Future categories of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
DPC Chartered Accountants
Skills for the Future entrant
Founded in Stoke-on-Trent in 1943, DPC Chartered Accountants has grown its revenue by 51% over the last three years - reaching £4.4 million in 2025.
It completed its first acquisition in November 2025 and now has an office in Nottingham alongside its Stoke office, which brings the workforce up to 80 people.
The ambition is to grow the business by 25% annually over the next three years while continuing to invest in people and strengthen the culture.
Many of DPC’s clients have been with the firm for decades which is matched by a high retention rate for both early careers and more established staff.
In July 2024 DPC became part of the Sumer Group, one of the UK and Ireland’s fastest growing mid-market accountancy networks. Joining the group has allowed the business to create more opportunities for its people and clients while continuing to operate as a locally focused firm.
DPC was chosen as the regional hub for its area, reflecting the strength of its team and the ambition it has have for future growth. Sumer is currently 12th place in the Top 50+50 Accountancy Firms 2025 League Table.
Around half of DPC’s employees are currently studying undertaking some form of professional development. This ranges from apprentices starting their careers through to experienced team members continuing their technical training or developing leadership skills.
The firm holds monthly lunch and learn sessions on accountancy topics to keep people up to date, and all employees have a personal development programme with yearly CPD requirements.
DPC has an award-winning apprenticeship programme which has been operating for many years.
DPC Chartered Accountants has entered the Growth Award and Skills For The Future categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
KMF
Skills for the Future entrant
KMF is a market leader in the supply of precision sheet metal fabrication and engineering solutions with annual sales of more than £32 million.
Formed in 1971, it remains under the management of its founding family and has grown into one of the largest and most successful sheet metal manufacturing plants in the UK.
With 300 full time staff, of which 20% are apprentices, KMF is committed to creating a sustainable business to deliver the premier service expected by its expanding customer base.
In 2002 KMF recruited its first apprentices, then in 2007 became an EAL approved apprentice training provider. In 2018 it became an employer provider with RoATP approval and was recognised as strong in two areas during its 2026 OFSTED Inspection.
KMF moved its apprenticeship program inhouse in 2007 as a strategic response to addressing long-term skills shortages, creating sustainable talent pipelines and supporting workforce succession planning across the business.
The apprenticeship strategy was to overcome the barriers of an ageing workforce (average age 65 in 2007, compared to 40 now) and skill shortages presented by being located in a Government-recognised area of deprivation to develop a sustainable talent pool with the skills and values to fulfil strategic annual 10% growth.
Apprenticeships are embedded into KMF’s wider business and people strategy rather than being viewed as a standalone training initiative. Senior leadership sponsorship ensures apprenticeships are a core component of manufacturing workforce planning, organisational progression and development and social value delivery.
The programmes are designed to enable the utilisation of KMF’s Apprentice Levy and to support both new engineering apprentices (85 since 2020) and upskill existing employees (23 within the last three years).
KMF has entered the Skills for the Future category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards
The HEX Group
Skills for the Future entrant
The HEX Group has built its workforce by embedding training, development and upskilling into its business strategy, creating a sustainable talent pipeline that drives performance and long-term growth.
Based in Hixon, near Stafford, the manufacturing company operates across sectors including automotive, aerospace, agriculture, construction and utilities.
It has made a deliberate shift away from a sole reliance on external recruitment. Instead it has invested in developing its own people, including a structured apprenticeship programme that now accounts for 10% of the total workforce.
Since 2010 more than 200 apprentices have started their careers with the business, with 100% offered full-time roles on completion. This is not simply a training scheme; it’s a long-term workforce strategy that creates careers, strengthens retention and supports succession planning at every level.
The impact is clear and measurable. The HEX Group had a 100% apprenticeship pass rate in both 2024 and 2025.
The organisation also recognises that future skills extend beyond technical capability. Its apprenticeship programme includes enrichment activities, from fully funded residential experiences and charity initiatives to collaborative projects such as building a kit car. These opportunities develop teamwork, resilience and broader professional skills that are critical for future success. This investment has delivered tangible improvements in engagement, including an 11.9% increase in NextGen survey results, alongside achieving Gold-level accreditation as an Engineering Apprenticeships Excellent Employer.
The HEX Group is also committed to widening access and supporting its local community. By working closely with schools and colleges, it creates opportunities for individuals across Staffordshire to access high-quality training and sustainable careers. The recruitment approach focuses on potential rather than purely academic achievement, ensuring pathways remain open and inclusive.
At the heart of this approach is The HEX Group Academy, a well-established programme providing clear, supported pathways from entry-level through to degree-level learning. Apprentices rotate across departments, gain hands on experience with the latest equipment, take part in regular enrichment activities that broaden their horizons, developing them both professionally and personally.
The launch of its Centre of Excellence in March 2025 represents a major step forward in workforce development. Designed as a dedicated hub for hands-on learning, the facility delivers a structured three-stage training framework of Initiate, Rejuvenate and Elevate — supporting employees at every stage of their career, from onboarding through to advanced professional growth.
Alongside early careers and technical training, The HEX Group actively invests in accelerating skills development for emerging professionals. Its three-year Accelerate Programme provides structured career development through cross-functional rotations, enabling employees to build a deep, strategic understanding of how the business operates.
The HEX Group has entered the Skills For The Future category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Wavemaker Stoke CIC
Skills for the Future entrant
Wavemaker Stoke CIC was set up to bridge the digital divide and ensure that people across Stoke-on-Trent are not left behind in an increasingly digital world.
Since 2015 it has worked at the intersection of community, technology, education and social impact, helping residents gain the digital access, confidence and skills they need for everyday life, employment, health, wellbeing and future opportunity.
The CIC was set up by co-founders and directors Alex Rowley, who was born and bred in Stoke-on-Trent, and University of Staffordshire alumni Ben McManus.
Over the last two years, through the UKSPF-funded DigitAll programme, Wavemaker has delivered a city-wide digital inclusion model across Stoke-on-Trent, designed to reach people who are often furthest from opportunity.
This has included economically inactive residents, job seekers, older adults, people experiencing social isolation, families, school pupils, community volunteers and those facing barriers linked to poverty, confidence, health, disability or lack of access to technology.
Wavemaker has built a strong local delivery ecosystem, working with 45 partner organisations and establishing 20 hyper-local digital hubs across community settings such as foodbanks, family hubs, employment centres and trusted local venues.
These hubs bring support into the places people already know and trust, rather than expecting residents to find their way into formal training environments. This approach has helped create a welcoming, accessible and community-led model of support.
In the last two years Wavemaker has distributed 571 laptops to economically inactive residents, delivered 408 face-to-face digital skills sessions and trained 2,298 adults. Each laptop, session and learner represents someone gaining the ability to apply for work, manage appointments, access services, stay connected, learn new skills or take greater control of their life.
Wavemaker CIC has entered the Skills for the Future, Team of the Year, Innovation, Business in the Community and Small Business of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Myers & Co Solicitors
Skills for the Future entrant
Myers and Co Solicitors was established in 2005 when Stephen Myers bought the Stoke-on-Trent practice from Heatons Solicitors.
Still proudly based in Burslem in Stoke-on-Trent, Myers and Co has a team of 53 staff working across departments including residential conveyancing, litigation, commercial property, corporate and business services.
In 2022 Myers and Co became part of The MAPD Group ahead of the retirement Stephen and Helen Myers in December 2023. Long-standing Head of Dispute Resolution Tim Newsome was appointed as the firm’s new Managing Director to carry Myers and Co forward.
He said: “At Myers & Co Solicitors, success is driven by the collective strength of our people. While the firm is structured into clearly defined departments, its defining strength lies in how those teams work together by sharing knowledge, supporting one another and leveraging individual strengths to achieve consistent, high quality outcomes for clients and the organisation as a whole.
“This balance between departmental expertise and firm wide collaboration has enabled Myers & Co to manage sustained increases in workload, maintain high service standards and retain and develop its people during a period of significant change across the legal sector.
“The wider team culture encourages open communication and mutual support, allowing teams to work together when workloads fluctuate or pressures increase. This approach ensures continuity of service, protects staff wellbeing and reinforces a shared sense of purpose.
“When a department experiences increased demand, such as spikes in conveyancing volumes or time sensitive litigation matters, other teams provide operational or administrative support where appropriate. This flexibility minimises bottlenecks, maintains turnaround times and ensures client service remains consistent regardless of external pressures.
“Each departmental team is built around the strengths of its members. Work is allocated deliberately so that individuals can focus on areas where they add the greatest value, whether that is client communication, technical legal work, supervision or operational coordination.
“This approach allows junior staff to develop confidence and capability while benefitting from the knowledge and experience of senior colleagues. It also ensures that more experienced team members are able to concentrate on complex matters, mentorship and quality assurance, rather than being overstretched operationally.
“By playing to individual strengths while fostering collaboration, Myers & Co has created a working environment where people feel supported, respected and motivated to perform at their best.”
Myers & Co Solicitors has entered the Team of the Year, Growth and Skills for the Future categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.