Young Business Person of the Year 2025

 

Category criteria

  • Entrants for this category must be aged 40 or under on January 1, 2025.
  • Entrants could be employed or self-employed but should be directly responsible for the success of their enterprise.
  • The judges will be looking for evidence of the entrants’ determination to make the most of new opportunities to help fuel their company’s success.

Vanessa Fuller

Young Business Person of the Year entrant

University of Staffordshire alumna Vanessa Fuller has overcome significant life challenges to launch and run a series of businesses.
She is currently a partner in successful chartered tax advisor firm, Premier Tax Solutions, and the owner of a fledgling coaching business specialising in coaching women who also face challenges and barriers to their career aspirations.
Vanessa attended Birches Head High School and went on to study law and business at University of Staffordshire with aspirations to become a lawyer. However, after discovering there were very few legal training contracts in North Staffordshire, she changed to studying accountancy and business.
After graduation she got a contract with a top 10 accountancy firm and was given experience in the tax department. She loved the work which was a mix of law and accountancy and decided that she had found her vocation.
Vanessa switched from the chartered accountant exams to the taxation technician exams. After a few years in practice, she moved into industry as a nuclear safety advisor at Sellafield nuclear plant in Cumbria.
Difficult personal circumstances meant Vanessa returned to Stoke-on-Trent in 2014 with her four-year-old daughter, no job and no home.
She got a job in retail to pay the bills and at the same time set up a tax specialist business, Premier Tax Solutions, which had to fit around school hours.
Not content with just one business challenge, Vanessa set up a used car business with her new partner in 2016. This business grew year on year to a seven-figure turnover. However, by her own admission, Vanessa did not have the same passion for selling cars as she did for tax, so she exited in 2022.
Premier Tax Solutions was continuing to grow until 2023 which Vanessa calls a ‘pivotal year’ which changed her life.
In the January, her business partner, Emily, was hospitalised with a heart condition which led to immediate surgery and a long period of recovery. In the February Vanessa fell pregnant and was classed as ‘high risk’.
Premier Tax Solutions made a loss that year as neither Vanessa or Emily were able to spend much time working.
Vanessa gave birth to a healthy boy in October 2023 and while on maternity leave she had time to think about everything that had happened over the past decade and how this had impacted on the decisions she had taken. She wanted to be able to help other women business owners to make a success of their business whilst coping with hurdles such as relationship problems, childcare, caring for relatives and bereavement.
In February 2024 she set up a brand-new business, Coaching by Vanessa. Her model was to work with clients for six months after which time they can retain Vanessa’s coaching on a month-by-month basis.
Her first client was a young businesswoman who had just set up a marketing agency. With Vanessa’s guidance and coaching she has gone from zero to a six-figure turnover, employing five staff, in the first 12 months.
Another client was an accountant whose husband was ill which meant she was having to work long hours whilst juggling caring duties. Vanessa worked with the client for six months and helped her to re-focus the business to fit around her caring requirements and continues to coach her over 12 months later.
Vanessa has always been an active networker both in person and on social media.
Her latest career milestone was being asked to speak at the Festival of Accountancy and Bookkeeping, organised by Accounting Web, at the NEC in March. There Vanessa spoke about running a successful accountancy practice whilst also prioritising family and personal wellbeing.
Vanessa is now firmly back in control with her two business interests flourishing. Premier Tax Solutions is back to where it was before 2023. She now has a supportive partner and can spend lots of time with her two children.
Vanessa said: “My entrepreneurial story is evolving but my can do attitude and determination to come back stronger from some very dark places put me in a great place whilst giving other women the belief and the tools to do the same.”
Vanessa Fuller has entered the Young Business Person of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year of the Year and Alumni Business Person of the Year categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards and has entered Coaching By Vanessa into the Start-up Business of the Year category.

Jacob Durkin

Young Business Person of the Year entrant

At just 33 years old, Jacob Durkin has established himself as a standout young leader in the UK food industry. Since joining Trentham Foods in 2013 - soon after graduating from Keele University with a degree in International Business and Finance - Jacob has transformed the family-run operation into one of the fastest-growing, most respected businesses in its sector.
Under his leadership, the company has achieved consistent financial growth, a national footprint, international sourcing capability and an outstanding reputation for service, culture and corporate responsibility.
Trentham Foods, founded by Jacob’s father Daren in 2006, started as a regional poultry supplier. When Jacob joined he saw the potential to scale the business through strategic diversification, market agility and operational excellence. He has delivered on that vision, with turnover increasing from £27.5 million in 2022 to £32 million in 2024 and a projected £45 million in 2025.
Jacob’s commercial success stems from his ability to spot and act on emerging opportunities. He expanded the product portfolio from poultry to a multi-protein range, incorporating responsibly sourced goods from new international markets including Australia, New Zealand, and Ukraine.
He joined key trade organisationsincluding the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF), International Meat Trade Association (IMTA) and Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce to strengthen Trentham’s industry presence, build strategic partnerships and stay ahead of market trends. He is a regular attendee and advocate at events hosted by all three organisations, ensuring the business remains actively engaged at the highest levels of industry dialogue.
Looking ahead, Jacob plans to grow export sales to account for 20% of total revenue by 2027 by expanding trade routes into the EU, leveraging new trade agreements with countries like Australia and building a stronger presence at international trade shows.
His long-term ambition is to position Trentham Foods as one of the most respected, trusted foodservice suppliers in the UK and Europe - driven by quality, innovation and responsible leadership.
Jacob Durkin has entered the Young Business Person of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

Claire Kerry

Young Business Person of the Year entrant

The Neurodiversity Network is dedicated to improving the lives of neurodivergent adults. Founded by University of Staffordshire alumna Claire Kerry in response to the lack of support she experienced after being diagnosed with dyslexia and dyspraxia, the business has quickly grown from a personal mission into a scalable, income-generating enterprise that is changing how organisations and individuals understand and support neurodiversity.
Claire’s entrepreneurial journey began following her diagnosis during her university studies in 2011. While she received funded support through the Disabled Students Allowance, that support stopped when she graduated.
Like many neurodivergent adults, she entered the workplace without guidance or adjustments, leading to burnout, anxiety and a deep sense of isolation.
Claire channelled her frustration into action. She began researching the Equality Act, her conditions and neurodiversity more broadly,and the systemic gaps in adult support.
This journey ultimately led her to found The Neurodiversity Network — a start-up business designed to educate, empower and connect neurodivergent adults and the organisations they work within.
Since launching, the business has grown rapidly. By January 2024 The Neurodiversity Network’s online membership community had more than 100 engaged members, quickly becoming one of the UK’s fastest-growing digital communities for neurodivergent adults.
The business now operates across three integrated streams – an online membership platform, training and consultancy services for employers plus partnerships with public sector and education institutions.
Claire has already delivered training and consultancy to staff from a wide range of organisations including Michelin, Caudwell Children, Stoke-on-Trent City Council, New Vic Theatre, University Hospitals of North Midlands and University of Staffordshire. Topics include neuroinclusive recruitment, reasonable adjustments and Access to Work - providing vital insight and practical strategies to support the wellbeing and productivity of neurodivergent staff.
Claire Kerry has entered the Young Business Person of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards and has entered The Neurodiversity Network into the Start-up Business of the Year category.

Lauren Tobin

Young Business Person of the Year nominee

Lauren Tobin joined Reels in Motion in June 2024 as Marketing Manager, a newly created position to drive the Tunstall-based company’s next phase of growth.
Despite having no prior experience in the video production industry, she quickly immersed herself in the business, demonstrating strategic insight and determination to elevate the company’s marketing efforts.
Lauren’s strategic marketing overhaul has delivered substantial results. She initiated the company’s first-ever pay-per-click campaign, generating thousands of new website sessions and a significant number of project opportunities.
Her overhauled SEO strategy led to top-page rankings, driving organic traffic and significant new business opportunities.
Lauren transformed the company’s social media strategy, including supporting a client collaboration with Olympian Bradley Wiggins which resulted in viral Instagram videos with more than 50,000 views.
Under Lauren’s leadership website sessions have grown by 723% year on year, with organic traffic up 934% and direct traffic up 300%.
Alongside her marketing successes Lauren spearheaded Reels in Motion’s charity partnership programme, launching a 12-month initiative to support clients with pro bono video coverage and fundraising.
Lauren launched the company’s 20K for 20 Years charity giveaway which resulted in more than 700 submissions from UK charities and widespread media coverage.
Reels in Motion was founded in 2004 by University of Staffordshire alumni.
Lauren Tobin has been nominated in the Young Business Person category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

Chris Ward

Young Business Person of the Year nomination

Chris Ward has played a transformational role in breathing new life into Longton Exchange and the wider town centre of Longton, Stoke-on-Trent.
As Centre Manager, Chris has been personally responsible for repositioning the shopping centre as a thriving, community-focused destination, driving footfall, tenant retention and social value through sheer determination, creativity and strategic vision.
Taking the reins during a time of high vacancy and post-pandemic uncertainty, Chris identified opportunities to turn around the shopping centre’s performance by embracing a people-first, place-making approach.
He has introduced local partnerships, supported independent traders and championed initiatives that put Longton back at the heart of the community.
Rather than focusing solely on tenancy and footfall, he sees Longton Exchange as a platform for transformation economically, socially and emotionally.
One of Chris’s most impactful and community-driven achievements has been his role in founding and supporting Longton and Proud CIC, a volunteer-led Community Interest Company based directly within Longton Exchange.
While Chris is a director of the CIC it is the grassroots, volunteer-powered nature of the organisation that makes it truly special and Chris plays a vital, hands-on role in facilitating its growth and community impact.
Recognising that the high street should serve as more than just a place for retail transactions, Chris envisioned a space where social value, inclusion and community resilience were prioritised alongside commercial activity. By establishing a CIC within the centre itself, Chris has helped embed that vision at the very heart of Longton Exchange.
In addition to his work with the CIC, Chris also supports free half-term breakfast initiatives and has championed inclusive use of public spaces within the centre. His ethical and inclusive approach helps Longton Exchange serve as a lifeline for many residents, particularly those who may feel excluded from traditional retail environments.
Chris Ward has been nominated for the Young Business Person of the Year category of University of Staffordshire Business Awards.

Tim Howarth

Young Business Person of the Year entrant

Just a year after launching a one-man business from home Tim Howarth has moved to office premises and is about to become a team of three.
His business, Astro Education, specialises in recruitment and retention for the education sector including connecting schools with high-quality teaching and support staff.
In its first year of trading the Cheadle-based business has provided recruitment support to 30 schools across primary, secondary and SEN settings including working with Staffordshire University Academies Trust.
Tim and his team, which will soon include a compliance director, have successfully supported 65 individuals in securing employment opportunities.
They are also working with University of Staffordshire to help secure employment for education graduates.
Tim, who worked in the insurance industry before moving into recruitment, has ambitious growth plans for his business. He’s aiming for a team of up to 10 staff within the next three years to allow expansion from Staffordshire into neighbouring counties.
The 36-year-old said: “I’m quite ambitious and have always wanted to start my own business. It was a risk because we have two young children who just started school in September but I thought that if I don’t do it now I’ll look back and regret not doing it.
“Everything is self-funded by me directly with no loans, grants or investors.”
The business is growing so quickly that Tim’s wife left her job to become the second member of the team, something they hadn’t anticipated happening so early in the life of Astro Education.
Tim added: “While we are committed to growth, we will ensure our expansion remains controlled and sustainable, allowing us to maintain the quality and integrity that define Astro Education.”
Astro Education has entered the Start-up Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year and Growth categories of University of Staffordshire Business Awards and Tim Howarth has entered the Young Business Person of the Year category.

James Cooper

Young Business Person of the Year entrant

The videography and animation company that University of Staffordshire alumnus James Cooper launched just as the UK was going into its first lockdown is now working with national brands.
JCFX Media, based in Burntwood in Staffordshire, quickly found an early niche helping businesses and organisations with their pandemic messaging and has gone on to work for the likes of Goodyear Tyres, QE Hospital in Birmingham and the Resuscitation Council UK.
James graduated from University of Staffordshire in Film and TV Production Technology in 2012 and became the in-house videographer at the Walsall HQ of One Stop before leaving to set up his own business in February 2020.
He has expanded his portfolio from videography to animation, aerial filming, green screen work and time lapse photography.
His work has now been shown in cinemas and even on Sky TV.
James’s commitment to the communities within which he is based has included visiting local schools such as Ridgeway and Chase Terrace Academy during National Careers Week to talk to students about his experiences running a small limited company.
The 35-year-old has entered the Alumni Business Person of the Year and Young Business Person of the Year categories of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
He said: “I’m proud of JCFX Media’s growth and that it has gone from being a community-based business to one that is competing with larger established production companies that are usually based outside the region.
“I hope that the company’s impressive year-on-year developments and the quality and diversity of the clients I’ve worked with showcases why JCFX Media and I should be a prime candidate for this prestigious award.”

Alistair Trippett

Young Business Person of the Year entrant

In October 2022, at the age of just 26, Alistair Trippett bought an estate and lettings agency that had gone into administration. Two years later he has transformed the fortunes of Heywoods Estate Agents and doubled the team from nine to 18 staff.
The Newcastle-under-Lyme based business, which was founded more than a century ago, is now thriving in an industry where many estate and lettings agencies have faced insolvency.
Heywoods’ lettings portfolio has grown by 33% in managed properties over two years, solidifying its position as a leading agency in the region. This growth has complemented its dominance in the ST5 sales market where it has nearly 15% of the market share compared to its nearest competitor’s 9% share.
The lettings team was presented with a Gold Award at the British Property Awards, a national accolade that celebrates outstanding customer service in the property sector.
The Heywoods team was also recognised with a Gold Award for Sales at the EA Masters and has been included in the Best Estate Agent Guide for 2025.
Alistair said: “In 2024, we were proud to help a total of 283 families and individuals in finding their perfect homes, marking our busiest year on record. This milestone reflects our unwavering commitment to our clients and our ability to deliver results even in a competitive market.
“Despite operating in an industry fraught with challenges, our strategic vision, innovative practices and community-focused initiatives position us as a leading example of sustainable growth and excellence in the property sector. We remain committed to continuous improvement, client satisfaction and contributing positively to our community.”
New operating procedures have been introduced to streamline processes and to increase efficiency and client satisfaction.
Heywoods Maintenance has been launched to offer property care for homeowners and landlords. Led by Phil Harrison, who joined in a newly-formed maintenance operative role, this initiative ensures property issues are addressed swiftly.
Community engagement is a cornerstone of the company’s ethos. In 2024 it donated £10,000 to various charitable causes including donating £25 to the Peter Pan Centre for every house completion and tenant move-in during December 2024 and February 2025.
Alistair Trippett has entered the Entrepreneur of the Year and Young Business Person of the Year categories of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards and Heywoods Estate Agents has been entered into the Growth Award category.

Jared Kove

Young Business Person of the Year nominee

Jared Kove was working at the London Stock Exchange as a director running a large technical team – but decided to step away to join a Staffordshire tech company.
He is now Chief Technology Officer at Next2IT and Next Level Software, based at Stafford Technology Park, where he is helping to drive growth.
Just eight months into the role he has already has a transformational impact and is shaping the company’s technical direction.
His remit includes building a world-class team of highly-skilled engineers.
Deklan van de Laarschot, the company’s founder and CEO, says Jared has been instrumental in Next2IT’s rapid expansion.
“Jared was working at the London Stock Exchange but decided there could be more growth with Next2IT,” he said.
“Jared’s influence extends far beyond technical expertise - he is a true leader who inspires those around him. He fosters a workplace culture that values innovation, collaboration and continuous improvement, making Next2IT not only a leading IT provider but also a great place to work.
“His ability to mentor, empower and support his team ensures that Next2IT continues to attract and retain top-tier talent. His leadership style is one that puts people first, creating an environment where individuals can grow, thrive and contribute to the company’s ongoing success.
“Jared is destined for great things. His vision, technical expertise and dedication to excellence have already positioned him as a rising star in the industry. As CTO of both Next2IT and Next Level Software, he is not only shaping the future of enterprise IT but also driving innovation in the software sector.”
Jared has been nominated in the Young Business Person of the Year category of the University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
Deklan added: “Recognising Jared as Young Business Person of the Year would honour his exceptional achievements, leadership and contributions to the Staffordshire business community, highlighting his role as one of the region’s most promising young business leaders.”

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