Taking the UK by storm: Britain’s brightest businesses compete for national awards

An entrepreneurial duo using profits from a footwear company to raise money for charity, a pioneering British plastic manufacturer, and a firm that helps export famous UK goods all over the world, have all made it onto the 2013 shortlist for the Growing Business Awards.

Now in their 15th year, the prestigious Growing Business Awards highlight some of the country’s most exciting, innovative and high-growth business models and have previously celebrated leading UK companies such as Innocent, Fever-Tree and LOVEFiLM.

A remarkable group of businesses and entrepreneurs have been shortlisted for the awards, including, Rob and Paul Forkan, founders of leading footwear brand Gandys Flip Flops, for Young Entrepreneur of the Year.

Rob and Paul tragically lost their parents in the 2004 tsunami in Sri Lanka. Determined to overcome the atrocity and turn their unfortunate circumstances into a force for good, the pair established Gandys Flip Flops from their bedroom in Brixton.

The brothers founded the business in 2012 with the intention of using any profits made to build a children’s home in India. The business has since grown rapidly with their flip flops being stocked in most major retailers across the country. As a result of their success, the brothers now aim to build at least one children’s home on every continent using their firm’s profits.

Many talented businesses have been shortlisted for the Company of the Year – Mid-Sized Award including ECO Plastics, the largest plastic recycler in the UK.

ECO Plastics is running in the Company of the Year – Mid-Sized category for its role in environmental recycling. Operating the world’s largest processing plant, ECO Plastics produces 80 per cent of the material used to make soft drinks bottles in the UK. The facility also produces 25,000 tonnes of plastic each year with over 70 per cent of the waste collected being reprocessed into food grade plastic products.

Running for Export Champion of the Year is distributer, Sun Mark. Founded in 1995, Sun Mark helps famous UK brands such as Cadbury and McVitie’s export their products, by sea, land or air, usually to inaccessible locations. The company has subsidiaries in Dubai and Nigeria, and exports to over 100 countries.

Also featured on this year’s shortlist and competing for Young Company of the Year is discount holiday provider, Secret Escapes. Founded in 2011, London-based Secret Escapes offers its three million-plus members cut price deals to luxury travel destinations.

It has seen impressive growth, doubling its membership base, attracting venture capital funding, launching a partnership with the SkyScanner (global travel search site) and launching its own FlightFinder application. With strong domestic growth already under its belt, the company is now looking to expand internationally. It will open offices in Sweden and Germany this year, with plans to expand into the US in the next couple of years.

Running for the Innovator of the Year Award is Plan Bee, a company committed to helping to protect British bees across the country. As well as running a range of initiatives aimed at restoring habitats for bees and training beekeepers, the company allows businesses to hire or ‘adopt’ bee hives, brand them and keep them on their premises.

The hives are visited by an urban farmer who maintains them and collects the honey. The company’s innovative approach offers an effective way for businesses to have a positive impact on their local environment.

Other shortlisters include:

• Chase Distillery (The Made in Britain Award): William Chase, founder of Tyrrells Crisps, invested a percentage of his profits from the sale of the company into setting up Chase Distillery, the only single estate distillery in the UK. Chase is one of a growing number of successful food brands demonstrating that despite difficult economic times, people are still willing to part with their cash for quality food and drink.
• Forrest (Company of the Year – Larger Firms): Forrest is a building services business based in the North of England. It began in 1955 as a joinery firm founded by Herbert T Forrest. Now the business employs more than 550 people and has seen 11 consecutive years of sales growth.
• MPM Products (Export Champion of the Year): MPM is a global supplier of natural pet products which was founded in 2002. Its products are available in more than 33 countries and it has sales and administration offices in Atlanta and Sydney. The firm’s products, marketed under the Applaws and Encore brands, are distinctive in that they are only made from natural, human grade ingredients.
• Just Eat (Innovator of the Year): Just Eat was one of the first businesses to give local restaurants an online presence via a single portal from which customers could order. The firm became the UK’s most visited restaurant and catering website, with a staggering 55 per cent more visits than Dominos. They were also named Brand of the Year at the Tech Track 100 awards in 2012.
• WorldStores (Digital Champion of the Year): WorldStores is an online department store offering everything for homes and gardens, and has a network of more than 50 niche online stores, such as ShedsWorld, SofaBedsWorld and OutdoorToysWorld. WorldStores’ sites have averaged more than 3m visitors per month in 2013 and have now served over 1m customers.
• John Treharne -The Gym Group (Entrepreneur of the Year): Creator of the very first 24/7, low cost gyms in the UK, under John Treharne’s leadership The Gym Group has become one of the fastest growing companies in the country. A former accountant and England squash player, John started his first gym business, Dragons Health Clubs, in 1977, mortgaging his house to fund the venture. He founded The Gym Group in 2007 and in the last 12 months alone the company has opened 14 gyms, with plans to open a further 20 to 30 a year.
• Oliver Valves (The Made in Britain Award): Based in Knutsford, Cheshire, Oliver Valves manufactures high-performance oil and gas valves for the world’s biggest energy businesses. Founded by Michael Oliver in 1979, the company is now the largest privately owned valve maker in Europe, employing over 350 people to produce over 8,000 different products. Oliver Valves places a big emphasis on research and development in order to remain competitive, and employs ten full-time R&D engineers in a dedicated building.
• Gritit (Company of the Year – Mid-Sized): Gritit is the UK’s first nationwide gritting and snow clearing specialist, and has created the new “Winter Risk Management” sector. At the heart of Gritit’s operation is its exclusive weather forecasting and project management software, which monitors weather conditions and provides live tracking of vehicles and rescue teams.
• Field Candy (Young Company of the Year): Field Candy is an exciting design-led brand of tents, aiming to take on the outdoor retail giants head-to-head. Its eye-catching tents carry strong photographic and illustrative images that will stand out in any camp site or at any festival. The young company is already selling products through 28 different countries with the US accounting for almost a quarter of sales. The fabric used is UK manufactured, printed in-house and coated and protected by a UK supplier.
• Rishi Raichura – Yorkshire Gas and Power (Young Entrepreneur of the Year): Rishi Raichura launched the licensed commercial gas and electricity supplier Yorkshire Gas and Power in 2009, a year after creating energy consultancy business EE Solutions. Both businesses are run by Rishi with the support of just one part-time administrative employee. Rishi’s ambition with Yorkshire Gas and Power is to take on the big six energy providers at a time when soaring prices mean they are attracting increasing criticism.
• The Change Organisation (The Local Hero Award): IT distribution business, The Change Organisation, operates an apprenticeship scheme in partnership with the local government which seeks to give young people from the area fantastic career opportunities. The company also invests in a local 500 acre organic farm supporting sustainable agricultural practice. The Change Organisation has purchased a new minibus for the Whitstable Sea Cadets, fundraised for a local children’s hospice, funded Christmas dinners for the elderly and has supported a new rehabilitation centre. It has also donated over half a million pounds of computer equipment to a school in Tanzania.

Mark Stokes, managing director, Mid Markets, Lloyds Banking Group said: “This year’s shortlist is testament to the talent and determination of British entrepreneurs and it is fantastic to see businesses from such diverse sectors represented at these awards.

“The businesses have demonstrated hard work, dynamism and an ability to respond to changing market needs and we wish them all the best.

“We are supporting British enterprise and the UK economy and are eager to help more and more businesses achieve their full potential by providing expertise, support and the funding that they need.”

Dr Neil Bentley, CBI deputy-director general, said: “As the economy gathers encouraging momentum, the UK’s innovative small and medium-sized businesses will continue to play a critical role in getting us back to a sustainable footing, through exports, investment and job creation.

“The CBI is delighted to celebrate the achievements of these firms by supporting the Growing Business Awards.”

Amy Carroll, group editor of Real Business and Real Deals, said: “This year’s shortlist is jam-packed with the types of business that have driven this country out of recession and back onto the path to economic growth. From ambitious young entrepreneurs risking everything to pursue their dreams, to export champions driving the UK’s growth overseas, and innovative, cutting-edge digital triumphs, the Growing Business Awards 2013 celebrate the very best of British.”

The Growing Business Awards are attended by the UK’s most celebrated entrepreneurs and will take place at the London Marriott Hotel, Grosvenor Square on Wednesday 23 October 2013.

The awards are supported by Bdaily Business News, the CBI, Department for Business Innovation and Skills, Forum of Private Business, Chartered Quality Institute, Cass Business School, Professional Engineering, Land Rover, Spring Law, Vistage, Easyjet and the Financial Mail.

Looking to promote your product/service to SME businesses in your region? Find out how Bdaily can help →