Small Business of the Year 2023
Category criteria
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This category is open to businesses with a turnover not exceeding £5 million during the latest full trading year.
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Entrants must be able to demonstrate success and progression – this could be via a growth in profits, through research, new methods of working or bringing products or services to the market.
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The judges will welcome entries from businesses committed to corporate social responsibility.
SAS Water Ltd
Small Business of the Year entrant
A water hygiene company’s latest innovation has been described as a game changer that will transform the water safety sector.
Leek-based SAS Water is working with Staffordshire University to develop a sensor-based solution to automatically monitor water for Legionella bacteria using cutting-edge sensor technologies and a cloud-based management system.
Lizzie Ward, Managing Director of SAS Water, said: “Each year, hundreds of Legionella outbreaks are discovered across the UK and can result in serious illness and death.
“We had an idea for a new product but didn’t have the technical know-how to bring it to market, therefore working with Staffordshire University brings forward a fantastic opportunity to develop a game-changing solution. We believe it will save lives.”
There are more than 500 cases of Legionnaire’s Disease reported to Public Health England in a typical year and studies show the real case numbers are much higher. Legionnaire’s Disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia, is much under-reported, so the number of cases is likely to be well over 1,000 per annum.
It is hoped SAS Water’s innovation will improve testing accuracy and save resources and that the company’s partnership with Staffordshire University will help to bring it to market.
SAS Water was founded in 1988 and is an industry leader in Legionella control, working with clients across private and public sectors including factories, councils, nursing homes, housing associations, hotels, spas and leisure centres.
The company’s 14-strong team includes legionella control consultants and commercial plumbers. This mix of staff allows the company to provide a holistic service, supporting new developments from the design and planning phase and throughout a building’s life.
Major contract wins for SAS Water in recent months include Balfour Beatty and Vinci Construction.
The company has a specialist service for hotel, spa and leisure clients and has worked extensively with sports organisations including Burton Albion Football Club.
SAS Water Ltd has entered the Innovation Award and Small Business of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
HBMtelemarketing
Small Business of the Year entrant
Staffordshire University alumni Helen Bancroft-Morris has grown her business from being a sole in 2020 to having a team of six staff.
Helen, who studied level 6 data analytics at the university in 2022, runs Stafford-based business data company HBMtelemarketing. She has also now launched HBMevaluation and HBMdataanalytics divisions.
She said: “We marry the scientific stuff, that’s data, with the creative stuff, our telemarketing skills. Our services are bespoke to the client. We would never employ an off the shelf approach.
“We are data nerds but certainly not data robots. We’re very much the human face of telemarketing with a belief that professionalism and fun are not mutually exclusive.
“We offer our three core services of telemarketing, data analytics and evaluation to public, private and third sector organisations.
“All our clients receive the same timely and measured response, and we employ the DIKW principle of Data, Information, Knowledge and Wisdom.”
HBMtelemarketing was named Best Nationwide Telemarketing Business in the Midlands Enterprise Awards in May 2023.
Helen is a neuro-linguistic programming practitioner and has more than 30 years of sales experience in leisure and business services.
She has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Rushton Hickman
Small Business of the Year entrant
From sponsoring a trip to Ghana to build a school to serving as charity trustees and offering pro bono services, Rushton and Hickman is committed to giving back to the community.
An award-winning commercial property consultant and estate agent established in Burton upon Trent 25 years ago, the business covers East Staffordshire and South Derbyshire.
The team of 11 offer a range of commercial property services including the sale and letting of commercial property and development land, acquisition of freehold and leasehold property, property management and rent collection.
Graham Bancroft, Director of Rushton Hickman, said: “We believe there is a need to constantly evolve our business and strive for it to be better. We do this by listening to our team, providing a great working environment, encouraging personal development and creating new roles. Ultimately, our team are what makes our business successful and we really want to look after them.
“We are aware of our need to provide ongoing training and encourage development of our team which we have done via apprenticeships, funding university courses and providing support for other professional qualifications.
“The need to look after and develop individuals we see as part of our social responsibility, along with other more traditional ways of helping our local community via supporting local good causes and charities including sponsorship, fundraising, acting as charity trustees and providing pro-bono services.
“We recently sponsored the Burton Albion Community Trust on their trip to Ghana to build a school and we took part in a charity golf day to raise funds for The Burton upon Trent and District YMCA.”
Rushton Hickman has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Patera Engineering
Small Business of the Year entrant
When Fenton-based Patera Engineering say their work is fit for a king they literally mean it.
The family-run structural and architectural engineering business has been creating bespoke work for Royal residences since 1993.
Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, St James’ Palace and The Palace of Holyroodhouse all feature work created by Patera’s 50-strong team.
“We create various architectural metalwork that can be seen around the palaces through our connection with The Royal Collection,” said Managing Director Shaun Lees. “We’re given passes each year to go and look at the work but we also regularly see it on TV.”
Patera has also completed projects for high profile public buildings including Lord’s Cricket Ground, the Victoria and Albert Museum and Lincoln’s Inn.
Closer to home they have worked for the likes of Stoke City FC, bet365 and Stoke-on-Trent City Council.
The company was originally set up by architects Sir Michael and Lady Patricia Hopkins before being bought by Shaun’s dad, who still works at the business. They have now been joined by Shaun’s sons, making it a three-generation family business.
Shaun said: “With continued growth and business improvements, we feel that showing how a business can thrive even after 36 years should be celebrated.
“Our projects are some of the highest profile in the UK construction industry and we work for the top 10 construction companies in the UK.”
The company organises an annual charity golf day that has raised thousands of pounds over the years.
It is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and working towards a greener future and has had its greener working practices ISO accredited.
Patera has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Carse & Waterman
Small Business of the Year entrant
The Prodigy, Santander, the NHS, ITV and The Prince's Trust are just some of the people Stoke-on-Trent animation company Carse & Waterman has worked with since it was founded by then Staffordshire University students Gary Carse and Dan Waterman in 2009.
Their dedication to push the boundaries has positioned Carse & Waterman as pioneers in the digital media realm locally and nationally and has seen them scoop a TV award for their work on ITV’s Keith and Paddy’s picture show.
Most recently their work with Josephine and Jack Charity about sexual health for people with learning difficulties was nominated for a Smiley Charity Film Award.
Other achievements include Carse & Waterman being recognised as one of Creative England's top Creative Companies in 2018.
Co-founder Dan Waterman said: “Challenging the status quo through the power of effective storytelling is what we were born to do. During our BA in Animation at Staffordshire University we set up our own studio in the heart of Stoke-on-Trent - a studio born to rewrite the rules of the animation industry and which led to the creation of Carse & Waterman.”
Dan and Gary transitioned seamlessly from stop-motion animation to 3D animation, visual effects,
interactive media, gaming and apps.
They use Unreal Engine technology which they say has revolutionised the animation process, removing rendering times and delivering projects in record time and at competitive costs.
Dan and Gary regularly act as ambassadors for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire’s createch sector, serving as proof that the region’s digital creative sector is growing.
They actively engage with the local community and support young talent in acquiring the skills needed for the future. They work very closely with local schools and colleges including Dan serving as an enterprise advisor for City of Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College, providing guidance and support to young people exploring career opportunities in the creative industry.
In 2022, 50 young people from Stoke-on-Trent took part in 96 days of work experience with Carse & Waterman.
Dan and Gary also collaborate with organisations such as the YMCA, Shaw Trust and other community groups.
Carse & Waterman has entered the Small Business of the Year and Skills for the Future categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Promtek Ltd
Small Business of the Year entrant
A second-generation, family-owned business, Promtek Ltd was founded in the 1970s but is very much in the 21st century when it comes to innovation and working practices.
Based in Brindley Ford, the automation technology company is constantly innovating and adapting to meet the needs of its customers in the digital era.
Sustainability is at the core of Promtek’s strategic approach, with a strong focus on achieving net carbon zero and embracing sustainable practices.
It’s a strategy that’s paying off as revenue has increased by 28% year on year.
Promtek has a longstanding relationship with Staffordshire University to offer undergraduate placements and graduate recruitment, as well as opportunities to accelerate its product innovation ideas. This includes funding a collaboration with the University on the first Staffordshire Advanced Manufacturing, Prototyping and Innovation Demonstrator (SAMPID) project to explore the use of robotics in ingredient handling applications.
The company prioritises its employees, fostering a culture of teamwork, creativity and personal growth. The Promtek workforce has grown by 20% this year, with a diverse team from the UK, South Africa and India.
Managing Director Charles Williams said: “We are deeply committed to making a positive impact on our community through various corporate social responsibility initiatives. This includes supporting local charities, championing environmental sustainability and actively participating in community events.
“Our belief in giving back extends to initiatives such as piloting talent development schemes, sponsoring the Port Vale Foundation Africa mission, providing work experience for high school students and offering local work placements and apprenticeships.
“We understand the importance of being a responsible corporate citizen and strive to make a meaningful difference in the lives of those we serve.”
The company won several awards last year including its Storaweigh software receiving the Food Processing Award, an Apprentice of the Year Award from Shapa and a gold employer certificate from Next Gen Makers Kitemark for its apprenticeship scheme.
To expand its global presence, Promtek has established the Promtek Africa office, where it has recruited a team of four professionals from the region.
Charles said: “This strategic move empowers us to deliver our advanced technology to manufacturers in Southern Africa and beyond, broadening our customer base and making a significant impact in the global market. Our presence in Southern Africa underscores our unwavering commitment to innovation, customer satisfaction and international growth.”
He added: “Winning an award at the Staffordshire University Business Awards would be a tremendous honour and a testament to our unwavering commitment to excellence, innovation and community engagement.
“It would validate our tireless efforts and inspire us to continue pushing the boundaries, setting new benchmarks and positively impacting both our industry and the wider community.”
Promtek has entered the Small Business of the Year and Innovation categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
The Career Owl
Small Business of the Year entrant
After a 20-year career in retail and HR Kathryn Hall now uses her skills to help people build their own unique personal brand to share with recruiters.
Kathryn, based in Tamworth, founded The Career Owl in 2019 to work as a career transformation consultant.
She works one-to-one with people across the UK ranging from school and college leavers to senior managers.
“I work with people to understand the roles they may wish to pursue,” she said. “I’m very general in terms of the client industries I work with. I enjoy researching different industries and roles to support clients.”
Earlier in her career Kathryn worked for big name companies including Sainsbury’s, Adams Childrenswear, Store 21, DHL and Co-op.
After a career break she decided to pursue her passion of helping people ‘articulate and demonstrate their why within their careers’.
She said: “I love what I do. The part I really love the most is when I hear my clients have got a role they really wanted. It’s like a proud parent moment for me. Knowing I’ve made a difference for them is a very good feeling.
“I’ve had clients who are going through a redundancy situation that’s completely out of their control and they have to deal with that mindset as well as what happens next for them. I do a lot of work around giving them the belief in their skills.”
Kathryn has now worked with more than 500 clients across many different sectors.
She volunteers her time to two Tamworth secondary schools to support the development of their careers agenda.
The Career Owl has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
The Bridal Lounge
Small Business of the Year entrant
A bridal shop has been named as one of the best in the region and will represent Staffordshire in a national competition.
The Bridal Lounge, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, will represent Staffordshire in The England Business Awards in November.
The family-run business, which was established in 2006, had been nominated anonymously for the national award where the entries are based on customer opinions rather than submissions from businesses themselves. The next stage was a mystery shopper visit to assess the customer experience.
Louise Cartlidge, owner of The Bridal Lounge said: “There were some wonderful businesses and bridal boutiques at the regional West Midlands finals.
“We were thrilled to be announced as the winners and cannot thank our customers enough.
“We are so grateful to our lovely brides who took the time to vote for us. As more than half of all of our customers come to us via personal recommendation we feel really proud of this award.”
A spokesperson for Newcastle-under-Lyme Business Improvement District said: “This win now takes The Bridal Lounge to the National English Business Award finals that takes place in November and we wish them the best of luck!
“The Bridal Lounge is one of the area’s most reputable bridal retailers, with years of experience working with brides-to-be. The team have created a successful and thriving business over the years and endeavors to create a relaxed atmosphere and beautiful environment for brides to feel welcomed and at ease when looking for the dress of their dreams.”
The Bridal Lounge has now been nominated in the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Beta Commercial Finance Ltd
Small Business of the Year entrant
A team of Staffordshire business banking experts are supporting jobs and growth in the county by ensuring companies seeking external funding get the right results.
In the last 12 months Beta Commercial Finance has issued total funds of nearly £24million and has helped companies either sustain or create around 85 FTE jobs. Around £15million of that was to companies based in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.
Beta, which was launched in 2017, was included in the influential 2023 Credit 500 index.
It has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Best Company to Work For category at the national Credit Awards, the flagship awards for the credit and financial services industry, with the winner to be announced imminently.
Former business banker Tom Wilkinson founded Beta in his home village of Alton after identifying that many companies struggled to get the advice needed to allow their business to grow.
Beta CF now has a team of five experienced finance professionals and is currently looking to recruit a Senior Commercial Finance Manager and an apprentice.
Tom said: “In the past, many company directors would have had a regular relationship with a business bank manager, perhaps based at their local branch. That’s rare in 2023 and we believe Beta fills that gap, with the added advantage of being able to search the whole of the market and find solutions from more than one lender.
“By building relationships with the lenders we can negotiate the best pricing and funding packages.”
Beta works across many business sectors including working with Hewitt & Carr to develop the Daisy Bank House Business Centre and working on a finance deal to support the purchase of the historic Eagle Works in Cobridge as a headquarters for C2 Construction.
Tom even put together a package to help his local village shop to be bought out and thereby ensure it stayed as a vital lifeline for residents.
Tom is Chair of Alton’s successful community pub, The White Hart. The historic inn is thriving after been bought by around 60 local shareholders headed by Tom.
He added: “We value our culture and the ability to enjoy each and every day at work and have fun along the way.”
Beta Commercial Finance Ltd has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Lost and Found Projects
Small Business of the Year entrant
International fashion designer Iain Archer has returned to his home city to launch a furniture and interiors business using reclaimed and recycled materials.
Iain did a foundation course at Burslem School of Art and later studied menswear at The Royal College of Art before working around the world for fashion brands including Speedo and Mooks designing street and surf clothing.
He has now founded Lost and Found Projects, a studio and workshop space based within Barewall Art Gallery in Burslem.
Iain redesigns and reimagines abandoned objects such as furniture, fashion, textiles and art, using his skills to turn them into objects people will want in their home. Lost and Found Projects has objects to buy but it is also a studio space where people can watch him working rather than a shop.
Iain moved back to Stoke-on-Trent just before the first lockdown and is committed to being part of the city’s arts scene.
He said: “It was quite a funny feeling coming back to Burslem and walking down streets I hadn’t been down since finishing art college. It’s such a beautiful town with astonishing architecture.
“It’s actually a really creative little hub and we’re trying to help with the regeneration of it.”
Wanting to help regenerate Burslem ties in beautifully with Iain’s passion for ‘circular thinking’ around furniture. “I take things that are redundant for a lot of people and rework them to become an heirloom.”
Furniture was Iain’s hobby during his fashion career and he says he gradually moved into using recycled and repurposed textiles to transform old furniture as a response to trends within the fashion industry.
Most of the pieces currently available at Lost and Found Projects were created by Iain personally but he’s also working on collaborations with other artists.
He plans to have drop-off facilities where people can deposit old fabrics to be reworked rather than sending them to landfill, potentially combined with community workshops.
Lost and Found Projects has been entered into the Innovation Award and Small Business of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Barewall Art Gallery
Small Business of the Year entrant
From strengthening its online offer to collaborating with other businesses, a Stoke-on-Trent art gallery is constantly innovating to stay successful.
Barewall Art Gallery in Burslem has just reopened after a three-month refurbishment, including new business Lost and Found Projects moving into the Barewall gallery space.
Trading moved entirely online for the duration of the renovation after director Amanda Bromley perfected a web trading model during the pandemic. The website now attracts customers from across the UK and overseas.
The business was launched 14 years ago by Amanda, who is committed to supporting the work of artists from across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire including representing the estate of the late artist Arthur Berry.
It initially began as an empty shop front project which grew into an art gallery, drawing on Amanda’s own passions and contacts established through a long association with Burslem Arts and Crafts Festival.
She said: “We’ve worked hard to keep things going. You have to keep moving forward positively and diversify if you have to.
“The gallery space, now occupied by Lost and Found Projects, was originally our own exhibition space that we converted a few years ago. In lockdown we had to rent it out for storage and we’re delighted that we’re now able to have a partner business come and work closely with us.”
The gallery refurbishment was carried out using sustainable materials, including Georgian floorboards sourced from elsewhere in the building, with Amanda and wife Paula doing much of the work themselves.
Paula, a marketing director with a high-profile Staffordshire business, supports Amanda’s work at Barewall and they have three volunteers.
“We’ve made a lot of friends over the past 14 years,” said Amanda. “It’s been incredibly tough being in a place that has a lot of bad press. For various different reasons we’ve gone through one thing after another and Burslem is still changing, but the history of Burslem School of Art and various other reasons make Burslem the right place for an art business to be based.”
Barewall Art Gallery has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Premier Tax Solutions Ltd
Small Business of the Year entrant
Premier Tax Solutions has enjoyed year on year growth since it was founded by Emily Precious and Vanessa Fuller when they were both aged just 26.
The Stoke-on-Trent company has a team of nine staff and a specialism in the niche areas of hair, beauty and construction – which make up around 70% of all its clients.
The company has developed a talent for recruiting new hair and beauty clients through Instagram and has launched its own YouTube and Instagram channels to tap into this growing market.
Vanessa, who is Staffordshire University Business and Legal Studies alumni, heads up the personal tax team and also focuses heavily on business development.
Emily is a specialist tax adviser for larger businesses and took on a major HMRC enquiry reducing the tax interest and penalties against a client by £30,000. Emily’s highly specialised work also includes Research and Development claims and embedded Capital Allowance claims. Emily advised on the sale of a business worth £6 million, saving the business £100,000 in Capital Gains tax.
There is a strong focus on team spirit including a social fund for days out where employees’ family members are welcome too.
“The team are heavily invested in each other with a huge amount of respect and camaraderie which helps the team to achieve the best results by supporting each other,” said Vanessa.
“They want to produce the best results possible not only for their clients but to help and support each other too.”
Staff and their immediate family are offered private health insurance and there are opportunities to attend external training courses.
Premier Tax Solutions has entered the Team of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
V-Prep IT Ltd
Small Business of the Year entrant
Stoke-on-Trent based V-Prep IT Ltd creates airline training videos for the most popular narrow body aircraft in operation.
With a vision to make training a more immersive, inclusive experience and responding to the demand for thousands more pilots over the next decade, the company has partnered with Staffordshire University on innovative VR software to cut down on costly resources such as simulator time - allowing pilots the ability to train away from the conventional classroom setting.
Longton-based V-Prep IT Ltd has been making training videos for the Boeing 737NG and the Airbus A320 since it was established by Training Captain James Feeney in 2016.
The team of eight staff includes animators, videographers, editors and sound technicians to enable all content to be produced in house.
Their aim is to replicate the VR training platform for different aircraft and to adapt to the needs of different airlines.
V-Prep IT Ltd’s business development manager, Nicky Reeves, said: “It would give us the ultimate pride to receive the award for Small Business of the Year. The previous three years have been extremely disruptive for businesses, the aviation industry being one of the hardest hit.
“Through this time, although having a dramatic effect on the production outcome and the overall volume of sales, we have been able to survive and also able to provide pilots internationally with the ability to keep up to speed and refreshed with their training - minimising skill fade through our online platforms.
“We have been also able to retain staff throughout a global pandemic whilst maintaining our enthusiasm to provide and develop quality visual training packages for pilots worldwide, even gaining the custom of some actual airline training centres.”
V-Prep IT Ltd has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Landpod
Small Business of the Year entrant
Eco glamping pods made by a family-run Staffordshire business made their TV debut recently in Ben Fogle’s New Lives in The Wild and will feature in a Channel 4 comedy entertainment programme later this year.
Landpod, which handmakes everything in its workshop in Barlaston, has exported pods worldwide including to Dyreparken, the number one tourist attraction in Norway.
The business was established in 2014, has five staff and had a £400,000 turnover for 2022. It is on track to increase its turnover by 45% in 2023.
Director and founder Jake Watson said: “We’re a small family-run business that has achieved significant success and progression while remaining committed to our core values.
“We have innovative products, we’re committed to sustainable business practices and we’re dedicated to supporting local businesses and charitable organisations.”
The company specialises in producing eco-friendly, off-grid glamping pods that offer comfortable and sustainable living spaces, allowing people to reconnect with nature.
The Landpod structure is made from sustainable materials and designed to be powered totally off grid by 30KW solar panels.
Built on adjustable legs, the base of each pod helps protect the ground it’s built on, without the need for intrusive foundations or costly infrastructure, saving money on the initial setup for its customers and minimising impact on the surrounding nature.
Landpod was approached by Cam Cameron, the leader of the Rockall Expedition 2023 to ask if they could design and build a bespoke Landpod for the expedition team to sleep in during their attempt to break the world record for the number of days spent on Rockall Island – 200 miles off the coast of Scotland and the nearest civilisation. Landpod agreed to donate this unique one-off pod as the expedition is raising money for The Royal Navy and Royal Marines Charity.
Landpod has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Red Box Web Design Ltd
Small Business of the Year entrant
Red Box Web Design Ltd has transformed the way its staff work and the services it offers – and turnover is growing rapidly at a time when some clients have had to cut their marketing spend.
The Stafford-based company had a turnover of £383,000 in 2021 and is on course to increase that by 56% in 2023.
The company, which was founded by Rob Mackley more than 16 years ago as a sole trader, went limited in 2014 and now has nine members of staff.
Sales and marketing manager Clare Taggart said: “At the end of 2022 we recognised our customers’ needs were changing. They needed more flexibility with their marketing. Gone were the packages of set support our clients needed. Instead, we launched Pick and Mix marketing, enabling clients to chop and change their support from month to month to suit the needs of their business.
“This new and innovative view of marketing is a break from the norm. No big contracts, no committing to one type of marketing support over another. Clients now get the perfect mix for them, we even throw in some pick-and-mix sweets too to highlight their choices.”
They have also launched free Red Box business networking events where businesses can meet and help one another but don’t need to commit, pay a fee or refer new guests.
The company has downscaled its offices but moved into the centre of Stafford town centre and offers flexible working so that staff can be based anywhere in the UK or even globally.
Clients range from sole traders to national businesses and include Visit Stafford, Rory Mack Associates and Mamafit.
Red Box offers free hosting and design services for specific local charities and stages volunteer days and fundraising events. Rob Mackley recently completed a charity walk to raise £835 for County Air Ambulance Trust’s HELP Appeal.
The company is committed to reducing its carbon footprint and has been planting trees every month since June 2022 – 128 trees to date.
Clare added: “Red Box Web Design Ltd is not just any small business - we are trailblazers in our industry. Our innovative approach to staff management, unparalleled commitment to customer service excellence and passion for supporting our community are unmatched by any of our competitors. It is with great pride that we submit our application for Staffordshire University’s Small Business of the Year Award.”
The Old Hall Country House
Small Business of the Year entrant
Simon and Gary’s White’s home is not only their business it’s also a hub of the community and a regular venue for charity events.
The couple, who are both Newcastle-under-Lyme borough councillors, bought The Old Hall Country House in Madeley in 2007.
They substantially but sympathetically renovated both the interior and exterior of the 16th Century building before deciding to open it as a luxury bed and breakfast. They later expanded their offering to add a boutique wedding business.
“The business is also our home and we are both borough councillors and treat our home as the heart of everything we do,” said Simon, who is currently Mayor Elect for Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Simon and Gary regularly host open garden and house charity events and allow the local community to use the grounds and gardens for their own fundraising. More than £10,000 has been raised during the last five years for charities including The Dougie Mac, MacMillan and The Tri Service and Veteran Support Centre. Simon and Gary have an annual fundraising event and have also supported their local GP practice’s fund a number of times.
They held a charity ball at Keele Hall in October 2022 in aid of The Academy for Theatre Arts in Bradwell which raised £16,000.
The business has grown over the years and has welcomed many famous people through its doors including Mel C from The Spice Girls when she was performing at Keele University Students Union, Theo Paphitis from Dragons’ Den and the actress Sherrie Hewson. Guests have also included the Chinese Ambassador and the cast of Most Haunted, who took over the venue while filming locally.
The Old Hall Country House has entered the Staffordshire University Business Awards in the Business in the Community and the Small Business of the Year categories.
AEDdonate
Small Business of the Year entrant
Staffordshire-based AEDdonate was set up in 2014 by a firefighter determined to do whatever he could to improve the outcomes of sudden cardiac arrest.
Fast forward to 2023 and it has facilitated more than 4,500 lifesaving defibrillators around the UK and Jamie Richards has left his role with the fire service to focus on being the charity’s CEO, including setting up three charity shops and a donation centre.
“At AEDdonate our mission is to help communities protect themselves against sudden cardiac arrest,” said Jamie.
“Defibrillators should be available to all communities, and our charity promises to provide them. As champions of our community, we pledge our support from the beginning.
“We can all play a role in the fight to prevent lives lost to sudden cardiac arrest. Let's work together to keep more families together. Regardless of how big or small our contribution might be, we can all make a difference.”
Sudden Cardiac Arrest kills around 100,000 people every year in the UK.
AEDdonate is committed to improving survival from out of hospital cardiac arrests by supporting the placement and use of automated external defibrillators (AED) to local communities.
It achieves this by giving communities the opportunity to fundraise or purchase an AED which can then be registered with the local ambulance trust for use in an emergency.
Amber Mottershead, AEDdonate’s charity development officer, said: “In 2023 we aim to partner with as many businesses as we can with the objective to increase awareness around sudden cardiac arrest, CPR, basic life support and defibrillator training within local communities and workplaces. We can ultimately work together to save lives.
“As a charity we pride ourselves on the in-depth service that we provide to ensure that all people, of any ability, are comfortable enough to be able to save a life if they should need to.”
The charity’s objectives over the next three years are to continue to put defibrillators into communities nationally with the aim of placing 1,500 defibrillators per year.
AEDdonate has entered the Staffordshire University Business Awards in the Business in the Community and Small Business of the Year categories.
Best of British Beer
Small Business of the Year entrant
When Will and Gill Sherwin launched Best of British Beer from their garden shed in 2011 they had no idea that by 2022 it would have grown into a business with an annual turnover of £1.7million.
In 2022 they set themselves the challenge of doubling profit within three years and are on track to achieve that target.
The Silverdale-based company recently became one of only two Employee Ownership Trusts in the brewing industry after taking the decision to give 51% of the business to its team to reward their hard work over previous years and to safeguard the future of the company.
“We aim to deliver wealth and happiness through hops,” said co-founder and director Will Sherwin.
“Throughout our history, we've placed an emphasis on developing the younger members of our team. In 2018, the average employee age was 19 years old. This focus has continued with two of our team joining us as apprentices at 17. They are now co-owners.
“We're proud of being a Staffordshire business and we keep our key suppliers local. Our cardboard comes from Chesterton, the photographs are taken in Burslem, our designer is in the Westlands and we use two agencies, both in Newcastle.
“The beer and lager we use for personalised products comes from Leek and Stafford. We were therefore very proud to have been awarded the Chamber's Staffordshire Ambassador of the Year in 2022.”
This summer will see the launch of Get Labelled, a sister company to Best of British Beer. Get Labelled will be a user-friendly website supplying personalised alcohol for corporate use and special events.
Also coming this year is a reusable cardboard beer cooler. Will and Gill are in talks with retailers, including a high-end supermarket, about stocking this for the summer.
Best of British Beer already supplies national retailers including Notonthehighstreet.com, Menkind and Funky Pigeon.
In 2022, with Staffordshire University’s Pathfinder Scheme, the business launched a dedicated subscription site which has already generated £50,000 in additional income. “We couldn’t have done it without the innovative support from the University,” added Will.
Best of British Beer has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Home2Home4Dogs Ltd
Small Business of the Year entrant
Nikki and Craig Bowden were inspired to launch their own business following the death of their beloved pet dog.
Five years later the couple, a college lecturer and a former engineer, are running Home2Home4Dogs Ltd from their home in Meir Hay, Stoke-on-Trent
They offer home boarding for up to six dogs at any one time and have recently expanded to offer extra places for more nervous dogs at Craig’s mum’s home.
Within the last 12 months they have entered into contracts with a local dog grooming business and a dog wedding chaperone business, to offer both of those services to their customers.
They have also invested in doggie shower facilities for post-walk pampering and underfloor heating to keep their house guests warm and comfortable.
“What was once a little idea after losing our own dog Max has now turned into a wonderful family business with regular day care and repeat customers to support people who don’t want to use kennels or need support in getting the best out of their pup,” said Nikki.
The couple, whose three children also help with the business, regularly take their canine house guests on trips to the seaside, woodland walks and even camping.
They are licenced with Stoke-on-Trent City Council and can offer long stays, short stays and day care.
Nikki added: “When we started the business we were looking after a couple of dogs per week to try to fill the void left by Max. Then in November last year we were in a position for Craig to leave his job to work in the business full-time.”
The couple’s next ambition for their business is to buy a ‘freedom field’ for the dogs to use.
Home2Home4Dogs Ltd has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Pole Dance Studio by Nat
Small Business of the Year entrant
A pole dance studio that opened its doors just a fortnight before the country went into the first Covid lockdown is thriving post-pandemic.
Pole Dance Studio by Nat held its open day on March 8. Lockdown was announced on March 23.
Owner Natalia Borkowska now works alongside a team of two fellow instructors at her studio in King Street, Longton.
She said: “We opened three or four times in the gaps between lockdowns. It was very difficult. Sometimes, if I’m having a low self-esteem day, I think about what we’ve overcome and where we are now and that reminds me what we’ve achieved.”
Natalia has a dance background and has been a cheerleader but says pole dancing has been her passion since she took in up in 2009.
She was a member of the Pole Sport Association in her native Poland and organised pole dancing championships and competitions.
“Pole dancing is amazing for everything,” she said. “When I see some of the girls it’s hard to believe what low confidence they had when they started. It’s amazing just how much people grow from doing this.
“Some people still think pole dancing is connected with clubs but it’s about so much more, including mental health.
“Since June 2021 we have created many amazing groups, given the opportunity for new friendships that have gone beyond the studio but most importantly we have helped many women to regain confidence in themselves and this has translated into success in their personal lives.
“We started with two groups a week and now we have almost 20 groups that run regularly thanks to having at least half or full seats.
“We have created a place full of love and fitness, a place where the participants are so strongly connected to the instructor that relationships are formed outside of class while maintaining respect from both sides.
“Our studio is a place where everyone feels invited and where almost everyone stays for a long time. As well as being involved in the studio, we try to be socially active and support various events in Stoke- on-Trent and support various charities.”
Pole Dance Studio by Nat has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
C residential
Small Business of the Year entrant
An independent estate agent has been named the best in the UK and the founder says it’s because she’s never chased money.
Angi Cooney set up C residential in 2003 and now has a team of six staff based in Rugeley.
In 2022 C residential won the title of Overall Best Estate Agent of the Year for the UK and it also won the Overall Guild Member of the Year out of more than 800 branches.
Angi said: “Of course a business needs to be profitable, but the experience of the clients is more important than how much money you can make from them.
“Anyone can sell property but it takes compassion and a genuine desire to do the very best you can for clients to ensure you are the best of the best.
“Many agents will tell you they have professionalism blah blah blah but without compassion you are just like all the rest.
“We are at the forefront of our community – we are completely involved with the local town council and I organised the annual Christmas events for more than 10 years. This has recently been passed to the town council using the blueprint of the very successful community event.”
Out of hours the team regularly don their C res sweatshirts and go to all of the local community events. Angi says this is because her team are #allaboutthebrand
During the pandemic the team hand-delivered letters to all of the bungalows in the area with a note asking them to ring the office if they needed anything.
“We had in excess of 20 calls from elderly people needing help with picking up prescriptions and food for them,” she said. “The team all got behind this and we carried on doing this until the lockdown eased.”
Last year they were at the forefront in creating a community garden within Rugeley town centre and Angi, through her contacts, managed to have all of the materials either donated free of charge or provided at a discount. This project was in association with the town council and has become a community focal point where people of all ages meet and chat.
Angi said: “It is appropriately called the Mindfulness Garden as we have a high number of suicides within the area, particularly young men.”
This year the team are putting their fundraising efforts into installing sound booths into a local secondary school.
Angi said: “We believe that these booths will help create and stimulate young people to develop not only their skills but their self-confidence. This is on the back of the work we did with the Mindfulness Garden.”
She added: “
Finally “We never take our business for granted. We are only as good as our last sale which is why we associate ourselves only with the best of the best companies to ensure we stay ahead of our competitors.”
C residential has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
TopBuild Carpentry
Small Business of the Year entrant
Award-winning TopBuild Carpentry is a Staffordshire-based bespoke carpentry and joinery company with two decades of experience.
Set up by Karl Malone, a former board member of the Federation of Master Builders, the business works for both the commercial and domestic markets from its workshop in Tamworth.
Karl said: “We create a wide range of modern and traditional furniture and supply other carpentry businesses, interior designers, homeowners and general businesses across the UK.
“Everything is made at our Tamworth workshop. We have our own unique range of wardrobe doors that we design and make that are fast becoming popular.
“We have invested heavily in the best machinery available and bought our own workshop. We are constantly looking to expand and create more job opportunities around the area and give more young people good opportunities and the chance of starting a great career with us.”
TopBuild won the Client Service Excellence Award at the Home Builder Awards 2023 and was named Most Trusted Carpentry and Joinery Business in the West Midlands at the same ceremony.
In 2022 it was named Best Bespoke Carpentry and Joinery Business in the West Midlands at the Global Home Builder Awards.
Karl said: “We believe the best tradesmen are those that are passionate about their work, look to push the boundaries of excellence and look back at their work with pride, that’s why all of our carpenters are fully qualified holding Advanced Construction Award (ACA) and NVQ Level 3.
“We take pride in everything we do and aim for nothing more than outstanding results on time and on budget that will make TopBuild stand out from the rest. Customer satisfaction is always of the utmost importance.
“We will help design, build and produce anything in the form of traditional or contemporary style carpentry and joinery. Using our own CNC technology and hi-tech machinery we are able to create all aspects of bespoke joinery at our Tamworth workshop. We have our own spray painting section with top of the range curing rooms - our furniture is finished here after we have made it.”
To find out more about TopBuild visit topbuildcarpentry.co.uk
The Globe Group CIC
Small Business of the Year entrant
The Managing Director of a marketing firm set up a not-for-profit after her eyes were opened to environmental issues by working on campaigns for the likes of Vinted.
The Globe Group CIC is a non-profit environmental organisation intended to mitigate the impacts of modern-day living on the climate.
It champions education and action through collaboration and works with industry, community, academia and local government.
Set up in 2018 by founder and Managing Director Kate Copeland, it is based in a former mill in Uttoxeter.
The team of four project staff are supported by 24 volunteers in activities ranging from litter picks, a zero waste shop and repair shops to running climate and sustainability conferences.
Kate said: ““As a Staffordshire resident, I was becoming incredibly frustrated at the lack of grassroots community support for climate change. So after some grumbling and self-reflection I took the plunge, left my day job and started The Globe Group CIC.
“Since then we have been able to develop a thriving community eco centre, a successful volunteer programme and rapidly expand the impact of our climate action projects.
“I’m so proud of how Globe has grown and look forward to the next five years as we continue to tackle the net zero agenda.”
Before setting up The Globe Group Kate was the Managing Director of a marketing firm where she worked on campaigns including Love Your Clothes and Love Food Hate Waste. It was this work that opened her eyes to the issues of sustainability and climate change.
She organised a litter pick with six people followed by a community consultation to better understand local needs. It was community feedback that helped her develop the eco centre idea.
The team support communities and businesses in building climate resilience, skills and activities with the aim of making communities more robust and futureproofing the systems that support them.
The CIC’s board includes representation from well-known national and global industry brands, academia and the community, with the hope of enabling upscaled regional climate support into Staffordshire and the wider area.
Partners have included Keele University, Make Some Noise, The Climate Coalition, Uttoxeter Town Council, Birmingham City University, East Staffordshire Borough Council, Staffordshire Chamber of Commerce, NatWest and many more.
Now The Globe Group CIC has entered the Business in the Community, Small Business of the Year and Team of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.