Sustainable packaging firm Woolcool swapped green for gold as it picked up three top accolades at last night’s University of Staffordshire Business Awards 2025.
The Stone-based company, which uses natural materials to create insulated packaging products, took the titles of Business of the Year 2025 and Team of the Year 2025 whilst its founder and chair Angela Morris received a Lifetime Achievement Award.
More than 360 guests attended a black-tie awards ceremony in the university’s Catalyst building where accolades were presented in 14 categories.
As well as being treated to a three-course meal, those in attendance also heard an inspiring speech by Oscar-winning actress and University of Staffordshire honorary graduate Rachel Shenton and an impressive performance by Soprano Carrie-Ann Williams.
Another lifetime achievement award went to Valentine Clays Chairman and Co-founder Alan Ault.
Trentham Foods, in Tittensor, also had plenty to celebrate after being named winner of the Growth Award and company founder, former butcher Jacob Durkin, being crowned Young Business Person of the Year.
The Small Business of the Year category attracted more entries than any others in the awards and process automation technology and instrumentation company Promtek, headquartered in Stoke-on-Trent, came out top there.
The High Street Impact Award was presented to Longton Exchange, in Stoke-on-Trent, whilst Kiln at Number 12, based within the shopping centre, won Start-up Business of the Year.
Talke-based Reliance Medical were the victors in the Innovation category, Drayton Beaumont Group, in Newcastle-under-Lyme, took the Skills for the Future Award and Martin Barker of Qualsurv Marine Consulting, in Stoke-on-Trent, picked up the title of Alumni Business Person of the Year.
Alistair Trippett, Managing Director of Newcastle’s Heywoods Estate Agents, was named Entrepreneur of the Year and Squadron Sergeant Major Santanu Pradhan from the Brigade of Gurkhas received the Apprentice of the Year title.
Business in the Community winners were Alice Charity and Brown Recycling, both based in Stoke-on-Trent.
Speaking after taking to the stage three times in one evening, Angela told Daily Focus: “I feel very emotional. I had no idea I’d be walking away with a lifetime achievement award.
“Woolcool has had a very successful evening, which is great for the team. It is the strength of our team which has led us to where we are as a company and also the growth that we are experiencing.”
Professor Martin Jones, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive of University of Staffordshire, said: “Organising 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 awards are not a one-evening event, but a year-long celebration of business successes within our region. On the evening, we recognise and reward the skill, creativity and endeavour of the business community in Staffordshire and of alumni based around the world.
“This year, we have attracted an incredible 224 entries, with more than 90 outstanding Staffordshire companies within the Catalyst Building.
“I’d like to thank our generous sponsors, 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 | Angela Morris, Woolcool Alan Ault, Valentine Clays | |
| Business of the Year | Woolcool | Comp Door Reliance Medical |
| Small Business of the Year | Promtek | Next2IT Stafford Engineering Services |
| Entrepreneur of the Year | Alistair Trippett, Heywoods Estate Agents | Mark Pennington, EPX Technical Services Wes Wilkes, Net-Worth Ntwrk |
| Apprentice of the Year | Santanu Pradhan, Brigade of Gurkhas | Joshua Clewlow, KMF Millie Quick, Recruitment Robin |
| Start -up Business of the Year | Kiln at Number 12 | Chameleon Memory Box Flowers |
| Innovation Award | Reliance Medical | Comp Door Midlands Power Networks |
| Growth Award | Trentham Foods | Comp Door Woolcool |
| Young Business Person of the Year | Jacob Durkin, Trentham Foods | Jared Kove, Next2IT Alistair Trippett, Heywoods Estate Agents |
| Team of the Year | Woolcool | Stoke Creates PLAY@Lower Drayton Farm |
| Skills For The Future | Drayton Beaumont Group | Beeston Shenton Solicitors Vodafone UK’s Stoke Centre of Excellence |
| Business in the Community: Business | Brown Recycling | The Inspirational Learning Group Wavemaker |
| Alumni Business Person of the Year | Martin Barker, Qualsurv Marine Consulting | Mark Pennington, EPX Technical Services Ellina Pollitt, Ellina Pollitt Jewellery |
| Business in the Community: Charity | Alice Charity | British Ceramics Biennial Middleport Matters |
| High Street Impact Award | Longton Exchange | Keep It Local The QUARTER at Potbank |
The awards were sponsored by: Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce, KMF Group, Beswicks Legal, SG Fleet UK, Stoke on Trent College, Stoke City Football Club, Plinkfizz, RBC Brewin Dolphin, Rydale Roofing, Stoke-on-Trent City Centre BID, Staffordshire County Council, Capula, Plenary, Sabit, The Supply Register, Hochtief PPP Solutions, Port Vale Football Club, World of Wedgwood, FoodHub, and GivEnergy.
