Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce has revealed the finalists for the Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Business Awards.
Sponsored by the University of Staffordshire, the award recognises the achievement of an individual who has been instrumental to the success of a business, whether by exploiting an opportunity to develop a successful business from scratch or radically improving the performance of an existing one.
Now in its 11th year, the Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards is the largest business awards programme in the region. Winners will be crowned at a gala awards ceremony at Uttoxeter Racecourse on Thursday 9 July 2026.
The four finalists are:
Samuel J Shirley, Shirley Transport Solutions – Starting with a laptop in a spare bedroom in 2019, Sam built Shirley Transport Solutions into a business projecting £2m turnover in 2026, now sitting in the top 5% of UK freight forwarders by revenue and the top 2% by volume on the UK’s largest freight forwarding platform. Find out more, here.
Roger Wertheim-Aymes, Allicio Nutrition – When Ornua decided to exit its Leek manufacturing operation, Roger stepped in to complete a multi-million-pound corporate carve-out, saving 85 jobs and relaunching the business as Allicio Nutrition. It generated £22.7m turnover in its first full year, with 37 new products launched in Q1 2026 alone. Find out more, here.
Alexandra Powell, Powell Design & Construction – Founded on maternity leave in 2019, Powell Design & Construction has grown from £75k turnover in year one to over £930k by 2024, with Alexandra also lecturing at Staffordshire University, serving as Secretary of the North Staffordshire Society of Architects, and planning a strategic acquisition to strengthen the business’s supply chain. Find out more, here.
Nik Hardy, Hardy Signs – Three decades leading Burton-on-Trent signage specialist Hardy Signs has produced a £3.7m turnover business with clients including the FA’s St George’s Park and the NHS, an Honorary Fellowship from Burton and South Derbyshire College, and a workplace culture built on transparency, reduced hours and shared success. Find out more, here.
To find out more about the 2026 Staffordshire Chambers Business Awards, visit staffordshirechambers.co.uk/awards.
