Small Business of the Year
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.
Cushy Paws
Small Business of the Year entrant
Designer Grace Allen has received commissions from as far away as Australia and even has one of her pieces in the office of Theo Paphitis from TV’s Dragons Den.
She creates fabric pet portraits on cushions. Prints of her work are also used for a wide range of products including coasters, greetings cards, tote bags, mugs, keyrings and kitchenware.
Her work is available at more than 15 stockists including Keep It Local and commissions come in from around the world.
Grace, from Newcastle-under-Lyme, set up her business Cushy Paws during the second year of a degree in Textiles and Innovation Design at Loughborough University.
She worked on the business for five years and now runs Cushy Paws alongside a part-time role as a content design specialist at World of Wedgwood where her work has included supporting other artisans.
Grace has exhibited at the Three Counties Show and had a solo exhibition at The Brampton Museum and Art Gallery in Newcastle.
She graduated with first class honours and clinched the coveted New Designers Award after exhibiting her final degree show in London’s Design Centre.
Despite securing a job in the textiles industry post-graduation she decided to embark on the full-time self-employment journey, officially establishing Cushy Paws.
Originally conceived as a brand focused on recycling and repurposing remnant fabrics, Cushy Paws has evolved from a pet portrait commission business into a dynamic entity with various collections. Grace’s most recent work explores the heritage and scenery of Stoke-on-Trent.
In 2021 Grace’s gesture of gifting Theo Paphitis with a bespoke cushion of his dog Gladys led to the opportunity for an SBS Spring Fair stand. This catapulted Cushy Paws into seven new stockists across the UK with wholesale orders ranging from card orders to a 57 original wall hanging artwork pieces.
Grace has entered the Young Business Person of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and has entered Cushy Paws into the Small Business of the Year category.
She said: “I hope to continue to elevate my brand to expand into different stockists across the UK and hope to continue to inspire others to follow their dreams and invest time and passion into their skills and creativity.”
Aston Marina
Small Business of the Year entrant
Since opening as a marina with a small bistro and farm shop in 2010 Aston Marina has become one of Staffordshire’s culinary and tourism success stories.
The family-owned business now includes a wedding and events venue seating up to 180 people, a smaller venue for up to 50 guests and plans have been revealed for an on-site hotel which will create 25 new jobs.
The hotel will be built using environmentally sustainable technologies including solar panels on the roof, ground source geothermal bore holes for mechanical heating and cooling as well as hot water and efficient air source heat pumps.
The marina itself remains active; offering 200 narrow boat moorings with picturesque views, premium washroom facilities, complementary WIFI, fuel, chandlery shop and a marina office open every day of the week.
Since the business began in 2010 it has been awarded a Trip Advisor certificate of excellence every year, putting it in the top 10% of restaurants worldwide. Google, Facebook and ResDiary all show ongoing and consistent excellent ratings for both food and service – all platforms have at least 4.5-5/5 stars over 15 years.
The restaurant was named Enjoy Staffordshire’s Independent Restaurant of the Year in 2019 and 2022 and won Good Food awards in 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Aston Marina hosts events throughout the year to support local charities, schools and colleges. In 2023 more than £5,000 was donated to causes including Katharine House Hospice, A Child of Mine, Douglas Macmillan Hospice and Stone Food & Drink Festival as well as local schools. Events have included a charity Easter Egg Hunt, Halloween Trail, charity painting classes, gala dinners plus regular donations for raffle and auction prizes.
Aston Marina Director Helen Clayton, whose parents co-founded the business, said: “We look to the local community when it comes to recruiting the team. 95% of the workforce live within 10 miles of Aston Marina and all are encouraged with the ethos of being friendly and professional at all times when they’re at work - to our customers and each other.”
The marina has a strong commitment to the environment. In 2023 extensive renovation of the entire marina saw upgrading all of the wooden decking, walkways and pontoons to Dura Composite, an environmentally-friendly alternative to wooden decking.
2023 also saw planning permission granted for an electric vehicle car park with 20 new parking spaces and 10 car chargers.
Aston Marina has entered the Growth and Small Business of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Hewitt&Carr
Small Business of the Year entrant
A Staffordshire-based group which encompasses three separate businesses is celebrating the best year yet for each of them – breaking through the £1 million turnover mark with plans to double it over the next three years.
The Hewitt&Carr Group, based in Cheadle, encompasses Hewitt&Carr Architects, Hewitt&Carr Services and Hewitt&Carr Developments.
Across the group turnover has increased by more than 60%, Architects has increased by 53%, Services by 93% and Developments by 44%.
Staff numbers have grown from 12 in 2021 to 23 now with two new team members due to start soon and plans to recruit further this year.
Success has been achieved in a number of ways including expanding the Services arm of the business which has taken on more staff. This has enabled the creation of an enhanced offering to clients, delivering on a larger scale and increasing its client base.
The Architects arm of the business, founded in 2011, has celebrated some huge client wins over the last 12 months and is currently working on commercial projects for GivEnergy, Broxap, the Wrights Food Group as well as on student accommodation in the city.
2023’s bumper figures and client wins come as Hewitt&Carr Developments celebrates DaisyBank’s sixth birthday. The serviced office accommodation was set up to provide a social lifeline and communal base for rural enterprises in the area.
The first of its kind in the Staffordshire Moorlands its currently home to 12 units, with plans underway to attract more businesses as well as offering hot-desking facilities.
This year the Group has also moved into other areas with virtual offices in Wilmslow, Matlock, Nantwich and Whitchurch to expand their client base into Cheshire, Derbyshire and Shropshire.
Having broken through the £1 million turnover milestone across the group in 2023, the main focus will be to double turnover to £2 million by 2027.
Natalie said: “It was fantastic to see the growth across each of our businesses last year. The figures for the Services arm of the Group were phenomenal and we are in a very strong position to exceed these results this year and hit all our targets to continue our sustained growth.
“Our Group performance is something that as a team we are all incredibly proud of. To reward them and celebrate our results, each of the team has been given an extra day’s annual leave to do with what they want. We do what we do because of the people we work with and the people we work for, and our biggest mantra is that we are all about teamwork.”
Fellow Director Mark Carr added: “We’ve got to where we are with strong leadership, hard work and sheer grit and determination. We pride ourselves on the level and quality of service we deliver and want to make our clients’ lives easier, but we couldn’t do it without the fantastic team we have, and I want to thank them for all their support. We’re already looking ahead and planning beyond 2024.”
Hewitt&Carr has entered the Small Business of the Year and Team of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Women's Natural Health
Small Business of the Year entrant
Registered midwife Amanda Redford set up a business combining her medical knowledge with her lifelong interest in complementary therapies.
Amanda, from Bagnall, was Senior Research Midwife at the UHNM where her work included clinical trials using acupuncture.
Her business, Women’s Natural Health, sees Amanda supporting women with their fertility and pregnancy journeys using her knowledge of reproductive health and complementary therapies.
She works with couples who need help with their fertility, helps women to go into natural labour and avoid induced birth, encourages breech babies to turn and much more.
Amanda estimates that she has helped thousands of women over the years by using techniques that may not be available in a more traditional setting.
She has a clinical space at Brampton House in Newcastle-under-Lyme and has ambitions to put together a team of practitioners offering the likes of massage, hypnotherapy and nutritional advice under one roof.
Amanda, who left her role at the hospital in 2019, is also looking to develop online packages and to deliver community programmes.
“My mum used to blend essential oils and she introduced me to aromatherapy,” said Amanda. “I used to do complementary therapy alongside my day job and set up a therapy space about 10 years ago while I still worked full time. Whenever I could I would find a way to bring in complementary therapies.
“I taught midwives for around 10 years and I was always passionate about promoting natural birth. I never really thought that it would be a business or that I would be running a business but when it happened I never looked back.”
She added: “I’m pretty niche in the work that I do. There is nobody else locally who offers what I do and I have people travelling a distance to see me, mostly because of word of mouth.”
Amanda is studying for the Peter Coates MSc in Entrepreneurship, which she says is helping her to develop her ideas for the business.
She has entered the Alumni Business Person of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and has entered Women’s Natural Health into the Small Business of the Year and Skills for the Future categories.
Mitchell Arts Centre
Small Business of the Year entrant
Nearly 70 years after it opened as a tribute to the designer of the Spitfire, The Mitchell Arts Centre continues to be a hub of the community and to support and entertain thousands of people.
The Stoke-on-Trent city centre venue is home to a theatre auditorium, dance studio and café plus various spaces it offers for corporate hire.
Education and community outreach play a key role. MAC Education was launched in September 2022 and in its first year supported 528 families with accessible arts and committed 1,270 hours to education.
In 2023 the centre partnered with the Hubb Foundation to provide 240 free workshops across the year for children receiving free school meals.
Other key programmes have included the cultural project You Are Here and the creation of a Youth Board.
In 2024 MAC Education is doubling its public workshops in half term and working hard behind the scenes applying for funding to provide more opportunities for the community.
Mitchell Arts Centre Education Officer Caroline Sherratt said: “Our strengths blossom from the legacy of the venue. The venue was paid for by public money in 1957 and the community spirit has continued to shine through ever since.
“The venue is used by local amateur dramatics groups, community groups and children’s theatre groups and within these connections we have made strong relationships which helps the venue stand tall in Stoke-on-Trent.”
The Mitchell Arts Centre has entered the Small Business of the Year, Team of the Year, Growth, Skills For the Future and Business in the Community categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Play@ Lower Drayton Farm
Small Business of the Year entrant
When Play@ Lower Drayton Farm opened its doors in August 2020 it had four staff – now it employs a team of 67 and has been named Staffordshire’s Small Visitor Attraction of the Year.
A family-run beef and arable farm near Penkridge, Lower Drayton has been welcoming the public for nearly 20 years. The Brexit vote and the prospect of losing EU grants reinforced the need to diversify further - becoming a tourist attraction was the solution.
Play@ Lower Drayton Farm has enabled Managing Director Richard Bower to quadruple the farm’s turnover, create dozens of jobs and safeguard a business that has been owned by his family for generations.
He said: “I’m proud to be born and bred in Staffordshire, to have been educated here, to run a business here and to hopefully give back to our employees and visitors.
“I feel very lucky to be able to continue the good work of previous generations that have gone before me on the farm. Without them we wouldn’t be where we are now.”
Play@ has been recognised with several awards – it was named Best New Tourist Attraction of the Year in the 2022 Enjoy Staffordshire Food & Tourism Awards, Best Small Visitor Attraction of the Year in the 2023 Enjoy Staffordshire Food & Tourism Awards and was shortlisted in the School Travel Awards 2023.
A key focus within the business is looking after returning visitors. The introduction of memberships in August 2022 allowed attracted even more loyal customers, with more than 700 current members.
There has been significant ongoing investment in the attraction, with visitor feedback driving many of the improvements. Examples include the installation of a new grass toboggan run to the outdoor play area within the first 12 months and an additional, undercover bouncy pillow installed in summer 2023. 2023 also saw significant investment in the Dino Discovery Maize Maze with the addition of life-size animatronic dinosaurs.
The biggest investment to date was the Christmas event for 2023 – Jingle Ville. More than £250,000 was invested in converting a barn into a magical winter village complete with a set built by professional designers and a purpose-built cinema barn which will be used for events throughout the year. It proved a huge success with visitor numbers exceeding the target for year one.
Richard Bower has entered the Entrepreneur of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and has entered Play@ Lower Drayton Farm into the Small Business of the Year and Innovation categories.
Brookeswood Joinery
Small Business of the Year entrant
A Staffordshire Moorlands company that specialises in designing and manufacturing handcrafted timber windows, doors and staircases is forecast to turnover £1 million for the first time as it celebrates its tenth anniversary.
The business, which is run by a father, mother and son team, has expanded over the years and now employs a growing team of 20 which has increased from 12 in 2020.
Their handcrafted products are all designed and manufactured by joiners on site at their manufacturing headquarters at Fould Farm in Leek.
Over the last 12 months they’ve completed more than 75 bespoke projects with plans to increase that over the coming year.
Sales and Projects Director Bradley Brookes said: “Brookeswood’s success and longevity is down to the hard work of the talented team we have here and the sheer quality of our handcrafted products. We have seen the number of projects we’ve completed over the last 12 months grow and we have plans to continue that growth. Our team is expanding and we recently took on a fantastic new apprentice who is a credit to the team and a real star of the future.”
He added: “The feedback we get from our customers is fantastic and makes everything we do at Brookeswood worthwhile. We’re looking forward to building for the future, increasing our brand exposure and taking the company to the next level.”
Bradley’s mum Sue Brookes, a fellow director of the business, said: “We’ve come a long way since those first days when my husband Neil was designing and producing bespoke caskets. Now we are a team of 20, creating our handcrafted products across the Midlands with a fantastic, skilled, hardworking team.
She added: “Bradley has been instrumental in transforming the way we operate as a company. As a child he was diagnosed with ADHD and was also dyslexic, so school wasn’t always easy for him but he has always been entrepreneurial who has a real flair for business. He is a creative thinker and problem solver and those skills, plus the way he has been able to build such great relationships with customers, suppliers and the team, have undoubtedly transformed the business. Brookeswood really is going from strength to strength and we are looking forward to what the future holds.”
Brookeswood Joinery has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
ChattyDuck Creative
Small Business of the Year entrant
A Stoke-on-Trent creative agency is on track is increase its annual turnover by 45% this year.
ChattyDuck Creative, based in Fenton, has a team of four staff working across writing, multimedia content creation and quality assurance.
It works with clients in sectors including real estate and construction, manufacturing and industrial, automotive, logistics, energy and utilities, infrastructure, technology, travel and tourism, education and R&D, charities, non-profits and government.
Set up by Managing Director James Morgan in 2021 the company works with clients across the UK as well as in Europe and the Middle East.
He said: “Ultimately, ChattyDuck’s bottom line is not its sole metric for success. If we can ensure that each team member earns a living wage and enjoys a healthy work-life balance, while making a positive contribution to our local area, we believe we will have done a good job.”
ChattyDuck has gone to great lengths to incorporate community outreach and CSR within its organisational DNA. The company’s ChattyDuck Pledge includes a commitment to donate at least 3% of its annual post-tax profits to charitable causes. It also offers concessionary rates to charities and non-profits.
Since ChattyDuck was founded in 2021, it has donated more than £2,300 to local causes. It has given more than £600 to Caudwell Children, more than £600 to The Gingerbread Centre, £500 to Asha North Staffordshire and smaller amounts to Emmaus North Staffs, Ruff & Ruby, Alice Charity and others.
In addition to monetary donations, ChattyDuck has provided extensive pro bono content and communications assistance to a broad range of Staffordshire-based charities and non-profits. This includes ongoing support for IN2HEALTH & WELLBEING CIC, The Gingerbread Centre and Asha North Staffordshire as well as ad hoc assistance for organisations such as Framescape, Birches Head Get Growing, Ruff & Ruby, VAST and the Community Foundation for Staffordshire.
In total, ChattyDuck has delivered more than 600 hours of free-of-charge services to local charities and non-profits since its establishment – the monetary equivalent of more than £50,000 at its standard hourly rate.
ChattyDuck Creative has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
JLC Interiors Ltd
Small Business of the Year entrant
JLC Interiors Limited’s service is so bespoke its range is virtually limitless and it can work with rooms of any shape and size.
The Hednesford-based company designs, manufactures and fits bespoke fitted furniture for every room in the home including lounge units, media wall units, wardrobes, kitchens, home offices, understairs units and entertainment spaces.
Founded by husband and wife team Libby and John Chapman in January 2018, the business now employs a team of six staff including John’s sister, Karen.
“Our team is like an extended family,” said Libby. “We’re very family oriented. We’ve known most of the people who work for us for a long time – there aren’t many people who can say they’ve known their colleagues for 35 years.”
John has been working in the furniture industry since his teens so it was a natural progression to start his own business.
“My husband has been doing this since he was 14 and started helping his dad when he was still at school," said Libby. “He’s always had an aptitude for woodworking and has worked with all types of wood over the years.
“John is a very knowledgeable individual and not only does he design the furniture he buys the necessary items, manufactures and on occasions delivers our products.
“He follows every job from beginning to end and has a profound understanding of what customers want.”
JLC Interiors’s USP is that unlike some fitted furniture companies it isn’t limited by standard sizes.
“Our furniture is so bespoke that we’re not governed by standard sizes. Some companies have units that come in particular sizes and can’t make them bespoke to fit a room. We can make furniture bespoke to fit any space which can come in useful for curved ceilings, angles and other irregular spaces.
“We can do whatever the customers needs and make use of every space that’s available.”
JLC Interiors Limited has entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Unique Carpets and Flooring
Small Business of the Year entrant
At just 24 years old Hassan Ali Sheikh is already running a business that has a team of eight staff and a city centre premises.
Hassan, from Shelton in Stoke-on-Trent, was still in primary school when his mum founded Unique Carpets and Flooring 15 years ago.
He joined the business as a teenager after studying for A Levels at Stoke-on-Trent Sixth Form College and now runs day-to-day operations including a showroom in Broad Street, Hanley.
Hassan has a team of three showroom staff plus five contractors who fit carpets and flooring for both domestic and business clients across Staffordshire.
“I just fell into working in the business after leaving college and it’s going well. The business continues to develop and grow,” said Hassan.
“I want to be the best. I want to offer the best service, the best quality products, the best quality installations and to be the go-to place when people want to buy the best.
“We’re a family-run business, very competitively priced and have quick installations times. We also pride ourselves on offering the personal touch.
“All our staff, across both teams, are very professional, fully trained and attend numerous courses with manufacturers.”
Hassan has entered the Young Business Person of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and has entered Unique Carpets and Flooring into the High Street Impact and Small Business of the Year categories.
Mirage and Mole
Small Business of the Year entrant
Marketing company Mirage and Mole was launched during the pandemic after the co-founders chose to leave secure, senior roles for what they call ‘a daring entrepreneurial journey’.
Co-directors Lee Moulson and Emma Marley were looking for a way of working that suited their personal circumstances and that also championed diversity and inclusion.
“Being members of the LGBTQ+ community and having experienced life's unique challenges, we embraced our role as inclusive marketers,” said Lee.
“By encouraging businesses to reevaluate their messaging and imagery, we have successfully expanded our clients' customer base, ensuring that the most successful brands cater to a diverse audience.”
Before launching the business Lee had relocated to Drointon in Staffordshire for a fresh start with his long-term partner and found himself seeking suitable employment opportunities.
Meanwhile, Emma needed a home-based role to balance her responsibilities as a single mother and as caregiver to her own mother who has vascular dementia, arthritis and other ailments.
“Taking a leap of faith, we shattered conventional norms to create a new paradigm tailored to our unique circumstances,” said Lee.
“Our shared vision was to revolutionise how businesses operate and improve the lives of people from all walks of life.
“As the world of sales and marketing evolved, we identified a gap in the market: inclusive marketing strategies.
“Harnessing our extensive network in the sports and hospitality industries we launched a boutique agency offering bespoke sales and marketing support that championed diversity and inclusion.”
Successful campaigns have included working with Claudine Collins from BBC’s The Apprentice to promote the services of RE Recruitment.
The business has developed to the point where it can sustain two full-time directors and a team of five freelancers. Lee and Emma hope to grow their team to include a full-time account manager and more freelancers.
They have entered Mirage and Mole into the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Indian Fusion and Harji's Help at Home
Small Business of the Year entrant
Harji Kaur has made it her mission to spread happiness and to help as many people as she can along the way.
The mum-of-two, who moved to Stoke-on-Trent from India, has set up two linked businesses inspired by years of volunteering within the community.
Indian Fusion combines her love of dancing, cooking and yoga to offer classes within schools and through organisations including The HUBB Foundation, Affordable Food Stoke and The Indi Club.
Harji’s Help at Home is a home support and cleaning service.
The businesses, both based in Fenton in Stoke-on-Trent, were launched in May 2023. Harji is currently a sole trader but aims to recruit a team as her businesses grow.
The 37-year-old, who previously worked as a chef, said: “I’ve always wanted to help people. I did volunteering with people with learning disabilities which inspired me to want to make their life better.”
Harji trained as a fitness instructor and did a yoga course and says she is proud to be ‘a plus sized girl’ with the confidence to deliver fitness classes.
“I wanted to prove that if you set out to do something and if you want it enough then you can make it happen,” she said. “My aim is to spread happiness regardless of size and regardless of skin colour.
“The first thing I do in my classes is to smile and I encourage everyone else to smile too. I see around 150 ladies in my classes each week and I get them all smiling.”
Harji has entered the Young Business Person of the Year, Small Business of the Year and Business in the Community categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
The Hearing Centres
Small Business of the Year entrant
A business launched during the pandemic has grown to have 16 members of staff, a projected £1.6 million annual turnover and bases around the region.
The Hearing Centres was started by audiologist Clare Kewney in January 2021 with a premises in Bollington, Cheshire. By June the same year she had opened a centre in Leek and a year later expanded into Biddulph.
In April 2023 Clare merged the business with another local home visit hearing care provider and has gone on to open three more hearing care practices with another two planned for this year.
“We are passionate about ensuring people remain able to communicate with loved ones and involved in the community, helping to reduce the risk of cognitive decline and dementia due to lack of social stimulation and activity,” said Clare.
“Our team are friendly and knowledgeable. They care about our patients and will go above and beyond to help and assist.
“We aim to deliver the very highest standards of service, care and expertise to our patients. Primarily we love to solve our patients’ hearing problems and to see their quality of life transformed.
“Above all we will listen to their concerns, explore treatment options and support them through every step of their hearing recovery.”
Services offered by The Hearing Centres include wax removal, hearing screening tests, full hearing assessments with speech audiometry, tympanometry, tinnitus assessments, hearing protection and hearing aid triage.
As the business is independent it has a full portfolio of hearing aids available to best suit the patient’s lifestyle, hearing and budget, all of which come with full after care service for the life of the hearing instruments.
Clare added: “Not only is there business growth but also within that we love to offer and support personal growth. An example of this is the first member of staff who was originally employed as a receptionist, then went on to train as a Hearing Care Assistant and then Wax Removal Specialist and is now Group Practice Manager.”
Clare has entered The Hearing Centres into the Small Business of the Year, Growth Award and Team of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Dr M Sha Clinic
Small Business of the Year entrant
Dr M Sha is a first generation immigrant woman determined to create an empire from scratch.
The 35-year-old has launched an aesthetics and wellness clinic alongside her work as a GP.
She opened her first aesthetics clinic within M Club in Stoke-on-Trent in August 2023 and has ambitions to open a clinic in the city centre.
“When people talk about aesthetics they think about overly filled cheeks and lips. It’s so much more than that,” she said. “I want to specialise in menopause-related skin and scalp problems and to introduce aesthetics treatments for men.
“A very important part of the process is talking to people about why they want a procedure and whether to go ahead with it. We talk about whether their health and self-esteem is being affected because treating that is more important.”
Dr Sha, who works as an out of hours GP and also as an aesthetics trainer for The Harley Institute in London, says that Stoke-on-Trent doesn’t currently have many doctor-led aesthetics clinics.
She is currently the only practitioner at her clinic but says her husband, a research scientist, researches the treatments and products she offers before they are introduced.
Dr Sha added: “My small clinic is in the massive MClub Spa and Fitness Centre and its owner, Mo Chaudry is an absolute inspiration. I wish I could be the next Mo for Stoke-on-Trent and my family.”
She has entered five categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards – Small Business of the Year, Young Business Person of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Business in the Community and High Street Impact.
Andrea Harrison
Small Business of the Year entrant
An award-winning couture designer who won Collection of the Year at Graduate Fashion Week is making her one-off, bespoke creations in the heart of Burslem.
Andrea Harrison has been commissioned by The British Council, styled a fashion shoot for a pop singer and had a fashion show in Hong Kong.
After working as a fashion designer in London the 45-year-old moved back to the Midlands to set up her own business in 2017.
From her base in Price Street, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, she designs and makes wedding and special occasion wear.
“What makes me different is that I’m a couture designer,” said Andrea, from Biddulph. “I make one off pieces for customers who often can’t find what they are looking for elsewhere.
“My customers are often women who don’t want to go to bridal stores and want something personal to them. A lot of the time they want something a bit different, sometimes in different colours. They come to me because they can’t find what they’re looking for or want something more luxurious.”
Andrea began by customising clothing for herself and friends when she was still at school then took a BTEC in fashion and textiles at Mid Cheshire College.
“I realised I absolutely loved fashion. I loved all the aspects of it. It kept my interest because it’s so broad based.”
After graduating from a fashion degree at Northampton the mum-of-one exhibited at Graduate Fashion Week and won the prize for Collection of the Year.
That led to her being commissioned by The British Council to travel to Egypt to style a fashion shoot for the singer Natacha Atllas.
The British Council also later commissioned her to put on a fashion show in Hong Kong, after earlier flying her out for a research trip.
When Andrea completed an MA in women’s wear at Central Saint Martins in London she thought she’d completed her university education. But at the end of 2022 she heard about Staffordshire University’s Peter Coates MSc in Entrepreneurship.
As part of the first cohort of the course she has been working on plans to scale her business.
Andrea currently designs and produces all of her own pieces but is now looking to recruit a team of pattern cutters and seamstresses to support her work.
She added: “I wasn’t planning on doing anything like this course at all but after I heard about it I couldn’t stop thinking about it. It’s given me the time and space to work on my business instead of in it.”
Andrea Harrison has entered the High Street Impact, Alumni Business Person of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Callidora
Small Business of the Year entrant
Homemade remedies that Maria Brown created for her own family are now helping other people with sensitive and eczema prone skin.
Maria, who has just completed her third Staffordshire University degree, launched skincare brand Callidora in 2023 while studying for the Peter Coates MSc in Entrepreneurship, holding down a full-time job in project management and raising her family.
She still personally handmakes all her products at home using her own carefully formulated recipes but now sells them through a website and at events.
“I do everything myself, from the initial concept to the end product,” said the 40-year-old, who has an undergraduate degree in Product Design and an MA in Creative Futures.
“Everything I sell is homemade by me rather than being bought from another manufacturer. It’s made with care, with love and with good intentions.
“I’ve dedicated a lot of time to working on the right formulas, initially with my own family’s needs in mind. I’ve tried different natural ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter and mango butter and made sure that everything I make and sell is effective.”
It was only after joining the MSc course in January 2023 that Maria developed her skin products into a business and launched Callidora.
She’s now aiming to move production from her home to a commercial premises and to collaborate with other businesses.
Maria hopes to grow the business so that it can become her full-time job and she would like to recruit a team.
She has entered the Innovation Award, Alumni Business Person of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
Kirstie Ash and Pink Women Networking
Small Business of the Year entrant
Kirstie Ash’s Saturday night live streams regularly attracted more than 1,000 viewers during lockdown – which led her to launch a business to empower women and help them to network.
The 45-year-old Staffordshire University alumni, who graduated in fine art in 2001, runs Pink Women Networking and recently held the first of a series of events for women to empower other women.
It was weekly live streams, initially broadcast through the dating app Plenty of Fish, that gave the mum-of-one the confidence that she could hold an audience and had the ability to inspire and encourage others.
“I’ve met a lot of women who have encouraged me and have given me the confidence to pass that on to other women,” said Kirstie.
“This is not just a business for me. I am very much an empath. This is about giving out love and support. It’s about creativity and confidence. It’s about inspiring people.”
Kirstie, from Stoke-on-Trent, has a strong social media following including more than 20,000 followers on TikTok.
She has held women-only networking events at venues including Capella Lounge in Newcastle-under-Lyme and The Potbank at Spode.
Her first women empowering women event was held in the LRV at Staffordshire University and a second event, coinciding with International Women’s Day, will be held at Pathways in Burslem on March 8.
Kirstie added: “I work with women of all ages and from different backgrounds. I already have a global audience on TikTok and have thought about taking my events to different cities to empower different women.”
Kirstie is currently studying for the Peter Coates MSc in Entrepreneurship.
She has entered the Alumni Business Person of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
The Staffordshire Oatcake Company
Small Business of the Year entrant
Staffordshire Oatcakes have been a regional delicacy for centuries but entrepreneur Mark Adams has found an innovative way to turn them into a business.
The Baddeley Green businessman, who also owns leaflet distribution company Street Level Distribution, launched The Staffordshire Oatcake Company in December 2020.
Lockdown gave him the opportunity to work on his business model, which involves selling packets of dry oatcake mix for people to cook at home.
Mark, who has a marketing background, worked on the logos and packaging himself and bought a century-old oatcake recipe from the former owner of an oatcake shop.
He thought he’d have a viable business on his hands but hadn’t anticipated The Staffordshire Oatcake Company becoming so successful so quickly.
Mark’s oatcake mix is now stocked in around 20 shops including Trentham Garden Centre and bespoke branded packs have been created for the likes of Stoke City and Port Vale football clubs, Staffordshire University, Keele University, Titanic Brewery and as wedding favours.
Online sales see Mark posting across the globe including to the US, South America and Iceland. He even received an email from Australia saying how emotional the customer felt to eat oatcakes for the first time in 20 years.
“When I went to visit friends overseas they would always ask me to take oatcakes with me. I know people post fresh oatcakes but I thought there’s got to be a better way of doing it,” said Mark.
“Then I had the idea of selling packs of dry mix with a long shelf life. I tried a few recipes myself before buying a recipe from a guy I knew who used to run an oatcake shop.”
Mark took some sample packs to a coffee shop and deli in Leek. By the time he arrived home the shop had sold out and placed an order for more.
He believes The Staffordshire Oatcake Company is the first standalone oatcake mix company.
“I had a figure in mind for what I wanted the business to achieve. I thought of it as a side hustle. The first few months smashed that initial figure out of the park.
“People love the product and we get a lot of repeat buying. Christmas is really busy. The challenge is getting the message out to Stokies who no longer live in the area.
“Once you have a brand that’s recognised you never quite know what might happen next. I see Staffordshire oatcakes as the last undiscovered regional delicacy.”
He added: “The business wouldn’t have happened without lockdown because it gave me the time to sit down and drive it.”
The Staffordshire Oatcake Company has been entered into the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and Mark has entered the Entrepreneur of the Year category.
Footprints
Small Business of the Year entrant
Emma Priestman’s shoe shop is based in the Staffordshire Moorlands but its reputation is international.
Footprints, in Derby Street, Leek, regularly attracts customers from as far afield as the US and Denmark who make the most of the sort of service they tell Emma they simply can’t find back home.
A former children’s day nursery manager, Emma opened her specialist children’s shoe shop in 2006.
18 years later the business that was originally designed to fit around her young family is still going strong and Emma is diversifying.
After nearly two decades of focussing on children’s feet she’s now branching out into adult footwear too with a particular focus on ‘good shoes for the elderly’ and shoes for medical staff, hairdressers and others who spend their working life on their feet.
Emma is also working on a community element to her business where she takes her expertise into the likes of retirement villages, GP surgeries and mother and toddler groups to ensure people understand the importance of wearing correctly-fitting shoes.
“I’m really proud about what I do and the service I offer. I like to think our customer service is second to none,” said Emma, who currently has one member of staff but is looking to recruit a team to work for her expanded business.
“We have a lot of customers from Leek and the surrounding areas but people also travel to us from Cheshire and Derbyshire.
“We also have repeat customers from overseas who buy from us when they’re visiting family in the UK and say there isn’t a shop like ours where they live.”
Emma is currently studying on the Peter Coates MSc in Entrepreneurship, where she is honing the expansion plans for Footprints.
“It’s a fantastic course. It’s been like a breath of fresh air for me to be exposed to other entrepreneurs and so many inspirational speakers,” she said.
Footprints has been entered into the High Street Impact and Small Business of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and Emma has entered the Alumni Business Person of the Year category.
DB Security
Small Business of the Year entrant
Darren Mood started his security business with a CCTV van and now has a team of staff and an ongoing relationship with Staffordshire Police including offering real-world scenarios for police dog training.
He launched DB security in 2000 to provide a CCTV security service for events. It’s evolved into a comprehensive service provider for voided properties and community safety.
The Hanley-based company, which doubled in size over the last year to a team of five employees, is set to move into new premises in Fenton.
Darren, who was recently named Entrepreneur of the Month by business support group Entrepreneurs Circle, is passionate about creating employment opportunities in the local area.
He said: “Bringing work into the local area means a lot to me and the city. Why work elsewhere when we can offer services here?”
From CCTV installations to 24/7 monitoring and response, DB Security covers all security needs. "We're available anytime a customer needs support," said Darren.
DB Security works with many Staffordshire businesses but Darren is particularly proud of his company’s relationship with Staffordshire Police.
"We provide police and their dogs with real-life scenario experience through use of our empty spaces," he said.
Darren has entered the Entrepreneur of the Year and Small Business of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
The Career Owl
Small Business of the Year entrant
When specialist careers counsellor Kathryn Hall launched a podcast she had no idea it would be listened to around the globe including in the US, Canada, UAE, Spain and Vietnam.
“I launched a weekly Your Path To Career Success podcast in December 2023 as a way of giving information in a different format,” said Kathryn. “Podcasts have become so popular – I just hadn’t anticipated mine going global.”
Kathryn, based in Tamworth, founded The Career Owl in 2019 to work as a career transformation consultant.
After a 20-year career in retail and HR she now uses her skills to help people build their own unique personal brand to share with recruiters.
A generalist who works across all sectors, Kathryn has found that she works mainly with more senior clients who are at management level and above.
“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.”
Kathryn 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.
Stoke Chiro Spinal Health Centre
Small Business of the Year entrant
Since opening in 2009 Stoke Chiro Spinal Health Centre has grown from two employees to a diverse team of 16 staff delivering world class spinal health care.
The Basford-based centre offers chiropractic care and osteopathy as well as massage therapy. There is also an onsite wellness studio for yoga and pilates classes.
Centre manager Melissa Cain said: “We are a team of 16 passionate and skilled professionals who are committed to delivering world class spinal health care to Stoke-on-Trent.
“Since opening in 2009, the centre has grown significantly from just Andy and Hannah to a diverse team of seven chiropractors, two osteopaths, five massage therapists, a centre manager and our chiropractic assistants, as well as yoga and pilates instructors.
“We are proud of the knowledge and expertise of our team. We aim to give our patients a wow experience in a state-of-the-art centre. We are not just ordinary chiropractors. We have been told many times how we stand out from the crowd, which is wonderful.”
The centre works with a diverse mix of clients ranging from office workers to elite athletes and from newborn babies to the elderly. It has set up a wellbeing community which currently has more than 620 members.
Stoke Chiro Spinal Health Centre has won a number of awards over the years including massage therapist of the year, chiropractor of the year and business owners of the year. Two of its chiropractic assistants were both finalists for chiropractic assistant of the year. The centre’s staff were named high performing team of the year at The Sentinel Business Awards two years in a row.
The centre has now entered the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards 2024.
The Fitness Collab
Small Business of the Year entrant
A mum and daughter have opened a boutique gym-alternative studio with the aim of bringing fun back to fitness.
Josie McLean and her 26-year-old daughter, Frankie Hurst, ran fitness classes in church and community halls around North Staffordshire before finding their perfect premises in Station Road, Kidsgrove in 2023.
Their diverse classes include aerial yoga, pound (with drumsticks), boogie bounce and they are the only studio within a 25-mile radius to offer bungee fitness.
Facilities include a main studio, a Zen Den social space, a private therapy room, a private personal training room, a second spin studio and now a small crystal shop.
The Fitness Collab began with just Josie and Frankie but now has a team of seven instructors working with more than 60 members.
Frankie said: “We believe that you don’t need to just go to the gym to keep fit. In fact there’s a lack in the community for those who want to look after their health but don’t feel comfortable in a gym environment.
“We work with all different age groups ranging from three to 83 years to empower, give confidence and help people who may not be your regular gym-goers to manifest their health.
“We provide a senior fitness class at the studio and I also visit St Thomas’s Church every Monday to deliver a seated fitness class for more than 20 seniors. They enjoy 45 mins of exercise and then stay for a coffee and biscuit to encourage socialisation, which is especially important after covid. Many friendships have been formed in this class and it’s so lovely to see the community come together.”
The Fitness Collab works with other small businesses to host the likes of retreat days, business empowerment events and charity fundraisers.
Last year the team staged a fitathon and raised £600 for the charity Aura. In 2022, before opening the studio, Josie and Frankie held a fitathon in a park and raised more than £400 to support relief efforts in Ukraine.
Frankie added: “We believe that The Fitness Collab has given the community a safe space to exercise, improve their mental and physical health and make amazing new relationships.”
The Fitness Collab has entered the Small Business of the Year and Business in the Community categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and Frankie Hurst has entered the Young Business Person of the Year category.
Maze Counselling Services
Small Business of the Year entrant
Qualified psychotherapeutic counsellor Leanne Stanley works with a diverse range of clients in all corners of the UK.
She is a Police Firearm Officer Association approved counsellor and a panel member for GamblHERS which works with female gambling but her personal specialism is the impact of narcissism.
Cheadle-based Leanne has entered her business, Maze Counselling Services, into the Small Business of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
The business, which Leanne set up in September 2023, works with clients online and over the telephone as well as in person in Cheadle, Uttoxeter and at This Girl in Newcastle-under-Lyme.
Leanne worked in banking then media sales before finding her true vocation in life.
She said: “I’ve found my calling. I just wish I’d found it sooner.
“There are a lot of counsellors out there but I think what marks me out is my dedication and empathetic nature towards clients. I go above and beyond to empower them on their journey.
“Some people have never felt valued. Some people have had traumatic childhood experiences. Because I’m so personable I have a great connection with my clients.
“I specialise in the effects of narcissism, which is very prevalent at the moment. Having that niche allows me to concentrate on clients who are struggling with that.”
Leanne has worked within the NHS but says that offering counselling through her own business allows her to offer more bespoke services and to offer as many sessions as a client needs.
Alongside her core business Leanne founded and hosts EMPOWER—a platform for counsellors, therapists, coaches, students and trainees to connect, collaborate and empower one other.
PCT Coaching
Small Business of the Year entrant
A football coaching company that began as a one-man-band in 2017 has grown to have 16 employees, including a current professional footballer.
PCT Coaching was set up by former Army mechanic Martyn Irvine in 2017 after an aspiring player asked him to help with training ahead of trials with football clubs.
The business now has Stoke-on-Trent’s largest indoor, private training facility at its base in Longton.
Its team of 16 coaches, including a current Oldham Athletic player, deliver tailored sessions to more than 200 children each week. PCT is also home to six junior football teams.
“If you’d told me my career would be coaching football I wouldn’t have believed you,” said Martyn, who served in the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers for 12 years.
“I began by helping one person, coaching them in a park, and then more and more people asked me to help them.
“We support and love every single person that comes through the doors. Most of them are children. They’re not footballers, they’re young people who want to be footballers. We want to help them to be young people who can go out into society and be the best they can be.”
After starting off using a park for training, in 2021 PCT moved into part of the former ceramic factory at Sylvan Works in Longton so that training could continue regardless of the weather.
Martyn’s team of coaches support individuals in developing their social, physical, technical and psychological traits within the world of football.
They often work with children who have been turned down by football teams. So far 62 children have been placed into football teams after being told they weren’t good enough elsewhere and are now thriving under the guidance of the team of coaching experts at PCT.
Martyn added: “We just want to help as many people as we can. The biggest thing for us is that we’ve got experts who have played and coached at a high level or who are still involved in playing football professionally.”
PCT Coaching has entered the Small Business of the Year and Team of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards.
The Nook at Milton
Small Business of the Year entrant
Counsellor and psychotherapist Paige Harrison felt she couldn’t give clients enough time when she worked in the NHS and schools, so she set up her own private practice.
Paige, from Stoke-on-Trent, set up The Nook at Milton where she offers one-to-one counselling and psychotherapy sessions as well as group therapy.
She also holds retreat days and women’s circles including the likes of holistic therapies, yoga, nutritious food and walking.
“I’ve mainly worked in education settings, specialist provisions and within the NHS offering counselling and therapy work,” said Paige, who studied Integrative Counselling and Psychotherapy at Derby University.
“I was only able to offer people six sessions. I wanted to give people the choice and control to have as many sessions as they needed.
“I went part-time to open a private practice then left my job completely, found the perfect premises and just went with it.”
The Nook opened in March 2023 and is designed to look and feel different to a traditional clinical setting. There are comfortable armchairs and soft blankets. Clients are welcomed by Copper, a therapy dog.
“I’m very much not clinical,” she said. “I’m trying to break stigmas about mental health and seeking support. It’s about trying to move out of the box.
“The Nook is a cosy, warm, welcoming, safe space.”
Paige is currently the only member of staff at The Nook but brings in collaborators to help facilitate retreats.
She added: “My business is small but unique. I can see myself expanding the brand over time and maybe having other therapists but I don’t want to lose what makes The Nook unique.”
Paige has entered the Young Business Person of the Year category of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and The Nook at Milton has been entered for Small Business of the Year.
Msheldon Designs
Small Business of the Year entrant
Surface pattern design graduate and former youth worker Melanie Sheldon has combined her two callings in a new business.
Melanie, who is currently on the Peter Coates MSc in Entrepreneurship course at Staffordshire University, has set up MsheldonDesigns to deliver workshops where people can design their own customised cups.
She uses digital software to create personalised vinyl stickers which she then applies by hand to cups, bags and T-shirts.
Melanie, from Leek, worked at YMCA North Staffordshire for seven years before stepping away from her youth work role to concentrate full-time on launching her business.
She said: “Last year I decided to take the plunge and focus on what had been my side hustle. I make custom cups which are personalised for people and also personalise T-shirts and bags.
“I do pop-up events and workshops, had a pop-up shop in Hanley and have had my products at a fashion show.
“I did a marketing apprenticeship so have a strong social media presence for the business and do a lot of social media creation.”
She said the MSc course is giving her a good grounding in how to run and grow a business.
“It’s really inspiring being around likeminded people. I particularly enjoy the group work where we bounce ideas off each other and just work together.
“It’s a really good network of people and I’m learning so much. It’s giving me a good grounding into how to run a business.
“I currently work from home but one day I would love to have my own shop and I’d like to deliver workshops around the UK. My dream is having my products in a vending machine.”
Melanie has entered the Young Business Person of the Year and Alumni Person of the Year categories of the Staffordshire University Business Awards and has entered MsheldonDesigns for Small Business of the Year.