Businesses of all sectors and sizes and businesspeople at every stage of their career are being encouraged to enter this year’s University of Staffordshire Business Awards.
The popular awards campaign launched yesterday has 13 categories up for grabs including Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Innovation Award, Growth Award and Young Business Person of the Year.
Is it the fourth year that University of Staffordshire has worked with partner organisations and businesses to celebrate the best of the business community and this year’s campaign will culminate in a black-tie dinner and awards ceremony in the University’s Catalyst building on 3 September.
Professor Martin Jones, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of University of Staffordshire, said: “The University of Staffordshire Business Awards are a powerful expression of our commitment to working alongside business to drive skills, innovation and economic growth across the region. They celebrate the organisations and individuals who are not only succeeding in their own right, but who are helping to shape Staffordshire’s future.
“As a university deeply embedded in its local economy, we work in close partnership with employers to develop talent, support innovation and create opportunities that benefit both businesses and local communities. These awards recognise that shared endeavour, and we encourage organisations of all sizes to come forward, be recognised and be part of that ongoing collaboration.”
At a breakfast launch event yesterday, guests were given an insight into Knowledge Transfer Partnerships with panel members including University of Staffordshire alumnus and Midlands Power Networks founder Steve Holmes.
The partnerships give businesses the chance to collaborate with a University of Staffordshire academic, and a recently qualified graduate on part-funded projects that support innovation through the development of new products, processes, and services.
Another speaker was University of Staffordshire alumna and Honorary Doctor Angela Morris, whose company Woolcool picked up two accolades at the 2025 event, where she was also presented with a lifetime achievement award.
She said: “I think that commerce and innovation is in my DNA and I believe that it is in a lot of people in Staffordshire, particularly Stoke-on-Trent.
“I would like to see more businesses, innovation in this area because that is what Stoke-on-Trent is about.”
The awards are free to enter and applications are being accepted until 1 June.
University of Staffordshire will be sharing nominations about entrants daily, Monday to Friday.
Sponsors include Drayton Beaumont, Hochtief, Willmott Dixon, Pinnacle FM, Sabit, Capula, Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, Beswicks, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, KMF, SG Fleet, Stoke-on-Trent College, Plinkfizz, Rydale Roofing, RBC Brewin Dolphin, Stoke City FC, Port Vale FC, Staffordshire County Council and World of Wedgwood.
To find out more about the University of Staffordshire Business Awards, including how to enter, visit this webpage or contact Jennifer Amphlett via jennifer.amphlett@staffs.ac.uk.
