Finalists for the South West in a new Ƶ-wide awards initiative championing the best in start-ups and entrepreneurial activity can been revealed.
The has been launched to recognise the booming startup scene across the Ƶ which has accelerated since the pandemic began. In 2020, when most of the world was shutting down, more than 400,000 startups were set up in Britain, with similar increases seen in other European countries.
This marked boost in nascent entrepreneurship is mirrored by a huge 2,500 applications which have been received in response to the Startup Awards National Series’ first ever call for entries.
The South West startups that made the shortlist are a true snapshot of the future economy, with a collective turnover of over £19m and employing 397 people between them.
One finalist said: “The South West region has an attitude of no fear; the region is buzzing with creativity, technology and a real pride in collaboration.
“The rich culture and dynamic art scene here helps with inspiring the work that it does, and it is great that we are starting to see other areas of the Ƶ outside of the capital grow with new business ventures.”
The cohort of finalists will be considered for the regional prizes by a panel of seasoned judges with experience founding or supporting entrepreneurial ventures. This includes South West-based Tom Ball, founder of DeskLodge, Jon Simon, co-founder and CEO of Pieminister, and Ellie Webb, founder of non-alcoholic beverage company Caleno.
Supported nationally by BT, EY, Dell & Intel, the programme will celebrate the achievements of the amazing individuals across the Ƶ who have turned an idea into an opportunity and taken the risk to launch a new product or service.
Co-founded by the team behind the , the new series follows the success of the Wales StartUp Awards, after organisers recognised the exceptional potential in the startup scene across the other British regions.
Professor Dylan Jones-Evans, the creator of the StartUp Awards National Series, said: “New firms are important for generating economic prosperity, employment opportunities and innovation. Since 2016, the Wales StartUp Awards have celebrated this amazing annual contribution to our economy by entrepreneurs and the impact they have on communities across the nation.
“Given the sheer volume of phenomenal startups we’ve heard from since then, as well as the huge post-pandemic shift in people’s desires to take their career in a new direction and set up a business against the odds, we felt it was the right time to take the programme nationwide. We’ve been blown away by the standard of entries from the South West in this first year and truly look forward to crowning the winners.”
The South West final will take place at Propyard in Bristol on 28th June 2022.
This year’s StartUp Awards National Series finalists from the South West are:
B2B Services StartUp
Founded by Allen & Rosemary Wooding
Founded by Louise McCabe & Tara Luckman
Founded by Andrew Silcock
Founded by Wayne Britton & James Lawrence
Founded by William Glossop & Liam Dixon
B2C Services StartUp
Founded by Paul & Louise O'Connell
Founded by Helen Cross
Founded by Laura & Tom Filer
Founded by Hannah Thomson
Construction & Building Services StartUp
Founded by Alice Macaskie, Adam James & Peter James
Founded by Henry Crosby
Founded by Andre Crawford
Creative StartUp
Founded by Claire Hovey
Founded by Candela Martos, Matthew Christey & Hayden Brown
Founded by Chris Cranshaw
Founded by Channon Wallace & Natasha Mortimer
Founded by Martha Murray & Chantelle Oriani
Digital StartUp
Founded by Alice & Kieran Fitzsimons
Founded by Adam Tindall & Natalia Tegos
Founded by Steve McCormick
Founded by Justine Pocock
Founded by Lily Veale
Food and Drink StartUp
Founded by Rob Buchinger-Jones & Dave Brown
Founded by Vishal Patel
Founded by Jess Higgins
Founded by Flora Richardson
Global StartUp
Founded by Laura Ward-Ongley
Founded by Jordan Tuck
Founded by Daniel Waite
Graduate StartUp
Founded by Brent Oldfield
Founded by Millie Flemington-Clare
, Founded by Maya Raichoora, Ben Wainwright
Green StartUp
Founded by Angela Mead
Founded by Nick Torday
Founded by Kia Brooker
Founded by Amelia Gammon
Founded by Sam Mabley
Innovative StartUp
Founded by Laura Botha
Founded by Mihai Caleap
, Founded by Helen Tanner
, Founded by Marcel Fowler, Josh Palmer, Lucas Lobmeyer & Robert Wood
Founded by Hazel McShane & Amber Probyn
Manufacturing & Engineering StartUp
Founded by Giovanna Laudisio
Founded by Harry Kimberley-Bowen & Ronan Finnegan
Founded by Christian Morris & Millie Pratley
, Founded by Siân Burton
Mobile & Emerging Technologies StartUp
, Founded by Silas Adekunle
Founded by Mathew Neville
Founded by Kelli Fairbrother & Mark Chaplin
Founded by Emily Devonald, Natalie Campion & Corin Mynett
Online Retail StartUp
Founded by Casey & Dan Gregory
Founded by Camilla Chapman & Matthew Skinner
Founded by Ben Stevens
Founded by Tom Wallace
Professional Services StartUp
Founded by Marc Linley & Dan Ware
Founded by Giles Male, Myles Arnott & Kenny Whitelaw Jones
Founded by Gavin Emmerson & Simon J Perks
Founded by Pete Edwards
Social StartUp
Founded by James Mapstone
Founded by Jon Hope & Meg Abernethy Hope
Founded by Melanie Vaxevanakis
Tourism & Leisure StartUp
Founded by Anthony Rawlins
Founded by Julie & Charlie Pickup
Founded by Mike Robinson
Founded by Louise Matthews
Rising Star Award
Founded by Phil Brown & Neil Fincham-Dukes
Founded by Jessica Wicks
, Founded by Jonjo Chester
Founded by Catherine Coward, Leanne Olivier & Natalie Hartley
, Founded by Georgia Gadsby
Founded by Maria Loria
Founded by Olly Reid & Darrell Irwin
Founded by Millie Flemington- Clare
Founded by Kelly Smallcombe
Founded by Matt Wilkinson, Sam Holland, Anna Raphael & Renwar Karim
, Founded by Cherelle Beckitt
, Founded by Noah Abbott & Ant Johnson
Founded by Jan Jordyn
Founded by Sean Larsen, Kyle Wilks & Rhys Wilks
Rural StartUp
Founded by Jason Knights
Founded by Oddný Edwards
Founded by Suzanne Smith & Louise Gilbert
Founded by Mathew & Chrissie Crossman
Young Entrepreneur
Founded by Finlay Williams
Founded by Ronan Finnegan & Harry Kimberley-Bowen
Founded by Christian Morris & Millie Pratley
Founded by Tom Wallace
Founded by Hazel McShane & Amber Probyn
Bristol StartUp
, Founded by William Glossop & Liam Dixon
Founded by Channon Wallace & Natasha Mortimer
Founded by Helen Tanner
Founded by Lily Veale
For the full list of national finalist click
