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 a black tie dinner and awards ceremony in the Catalyst building 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, pictured above.
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 full list of winners and those highly commended are:
| Category | Winner | Highly commended |
| Lifetime achievement Award | David Brown, Browns Distribution | |
| Business of the Year | Reliance Medical | Browns Distribution Comp Door |
| Small Business of the Year | SYTECH Consultants | Ask the Chameleon Play@Lower Drayton Farm |
| Entrepreneur of the Year | Cris Cohen of Feasted | Dave Williams Rachel Hayward |
| Apprentice of the Year | Nathan Heron | William Lather Jasmine Pugh |
| Innovation Award | Lucideon | Therser UK Bri-Stor Systems Ltd |
| Growth Award | Reliance Medical | DJH Trentham Foods |
| Young Business Person of the Year | Jake Burgess | Natalie Jenkinson Bradley Brookes |
| Team of the Year | SYTECH Consultants | Ten Count Boxing Gym Art UK |
| Skills For The Future | Carson Powell Construction | TMT First Fifteen Group |
| Business in the Community: Business | KMF | Cabability Little Athletes |
| Alumni Business Person of the Year | Wes Wilkes | Daniel Hatton Bridge Allport |
| Business in the Community: Charity | Emmaus North Staffs | YMCA North Staffs Saltbox |
| High Street Impact Award | Castle Artisan Events | Ads Truck Parking Chris Ward of Longton Exchange |
Headline sponsor of this year’s event is Stoke-on-Trent City Council. The sponsors are Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, Stoke City, Foodhub, GivEnergy, Plinkfizz, KMF, Beswicks Legal, Stoke on Trent College, Brewin Dolphin, Rydale Roofing, World of Wedgwood, Synectics Solutions, Regent Theatre Victoria Hall, The Supply Register, Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, SG Fleet and Staffordshire County Council.
