The UK’s leading trade supplier and manufacturer of first aid and medical supplies, a charity that supports people in furniture poverty and a digital forensics and cyber security company were among the winners at the Staffordshire University Business Awards 2024.
More than 350 guests attended the event at Staffordshire University where accolades were presented in 13 categories including Business of the Year, Small Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Growth and Innovation.
A lifetime achievement award was also presented to David Brown of Staffordshire transport firm Browns Distribution.
Reliance Medical was one of the evening’s big winners, winning both Business of the Year and the Growth Award, SYTECH Consultants was named Small Business of the Year and Team of the Year.
Jake Burgess and his business, Castle Artisan Events, were also double award winners, picking up both Young Business Person of the Year and the High Street Impact Award.
The charity Emmaus North Staffs was presented with the Business in the Community – Charity accolade in recognition of its work to ensure every child in North Staffordshire has a bed to sleep in.
Other winners included Nathan Heron of Unitas Stoke-on-Trent receiving Apprentice of the Year, KMF receiving the Business in the Community – Business Award, Carson Powell Construction receiving the Skills For The Future Award, Lucideon receiving the Innovation Award, Wes Wilkes of Net-Worth Ntwrk being named Alumni Business Person of the Year and Cris Cohen of Feasted being named Entrepreneur of the Year.
Professor Martin Jones, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of Staffordshire University, said: “Running a business awards campaign reinforces our commitment to being a Civic University and a Catalyst for change, not only for our own students but for the communities within which we are based.
“The campaign has shone a light on wealth-creators, entrepreneurs and innovators. It attracted an incredible number of entries that told stories about exciting new products and services and the stand-out individuals and companies behind them.
“I’d like to thank our generous sponsors and our extremely diligent and hard-working judges and of course congratulate all of the winners.”
The Staffordshire University Business Awards is sponsored by: Stoke-on-Trent City Council, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, KMF Group, Beswicks Legal, SG Fleet UK, Stoke-on-Trent College, Stoke City Football Club, PlinkFizz, RBC Brewin Dolphin, Rydale Roofing, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, Synectics Solutions, Staffordshire County Council, The Ambassador Theatre Group, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, The Supply Register, World of Wedgwood, FoodHub and GivEnergy.
The full list of winners is:
Lifetime achievement Award
David Brown of Browns Distribution
Business of the Year
Winner: Reliance Medical
Highly commended: Browns Distribution
Highly commended: Comp Door
Small Business of the Year
Winner: SYTECH Consultants
Highly commended: Play@ Lower Drayton Farm
Highly commended: Ask The Chameleon
Entrepreneur of the Year
Winner: Cris Cohen
Highly commended: Dave Williams
Highly commended: Rachel Hayward
Apprentice of the Year
Winner: Nathan Heron, Unitas Stoke-on-Trent
Highly commended: William Latham, Leoni Witing Systems UK Ltd
Highly commended: Jasmine Pugh, Jonathan Cornes Associates
Innovation Award
Winner: Lucideon
Highly commended: Therser UK
Highly commended: Bri-Stor Systems Ltd
Growth Award
Winner: Reliance Medical
Highly commended: DJH
Highly commended: Trentham Foods
Young Business Person of the Year
Winner: Jake Burgess
Highly commended: Natalie Jenkinson
Highly commended: Bradley Brookes
Team of the Year
Winner: SYTECH Consultants
Highly commended: Art UK
Highly commended: Ten Count Boxing Gym
Skills For The Future
Winner: Carson Powell Construction
Highly commended: Fifteen Group
Highly commended: TMT First
Business in the Community: Business
Winner: KMF
Winner: CabAbility
Highly commended: Little Athletes
Business in the Community: Charity
Winner: Emmaus North Staffs
Winner: Saltbox
Highly commended: YMCA North Staffs
Alumni Business Person of the Year
Winner: Wes Wilkes
Highly commended: Birgit Allport
Highly commended: Daniel Hatton
High Street Impact Award
Winner: Castle Artisan Events
Highly commended: ADS Truck Parking
Highly commended: Chris Ward of Longton Exchange