2026 Finalists

About dns accountants

dns accountants is a UK based practice delivering accounting, tax planning, and corporate advisory services to thousands of clients nationwide. For more than 2 decades, dns has helped entrepreneurs, SMEs, landlords and growing companies stay compliant, unlock savings, and make smarter decisions. dns accountants has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year Award.

About Tulleys Farm

Tulleys Farm leads the way in UK farm-based family entertainment. Nine generations of the Beare family have worked in agriculture, and Tulleys is an SME that’s constantly growing and evolving. They run several innovative seasonal attractions, welcoming more than 1.96m visitors between 2022-2025, and growing 41% last year alone. Tulleys Farm has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year Award.

About ShuttersUp

For 20 years, ShuttersUp has combined craftsmanship and care to create bespoke hardwood shutters customers love. As a family business built on training and teamwork, they deliver exceptional service and lasting relationships—driven by a clear ambition to become the UK’s most loved service brand. ShuttersUp has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year Award.

About Doctorcall

Doctorcall is a private GP service providing 24/7 access to experienced doctors across the UK. Founded in London in 1989, Doctorcall offers home visits, video and telephone consultations, workplace healthcare services, and out-of-hours support for private practices, delivering timely medical care wherever patients need it. Doctorcall has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year Award.

About Island Delight

Cleone Foods is one of the UK’s leading Caribbean food manufacturers established in 1988. They have pioneered the growth of their category through innovation, nationwide distribution, and iconic brands such as Island Delight, helping to make authentic Caribbean cuisine a staple in British retail. Island Delight has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year Award.

About Bearded Kitten: Part of Havas Play

Bearded Kitten is a creative experience agency that designs, builds and delivers unforgettable brand experiences, immersive events and live activations. Combining creativity, production and technology under one roof, the agency partners with global brands to create meaningful audience connections, drive engagement and deliver measurable business impact. Bearded Kitten is a Finalist in the The Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year Award.

About MyOutreach

MyOutreach is a leading B2B SaaS lead generation company, specialising in providing high-quality, engaged leads and event attendees for global tech companies. Through a culture of "unreasonable hospitality", precision targeting and a 100% lead guarantee, they unite sales and marketing teams to drive measurable results above industry standards. MyOutreach has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year Award.

About Xpertnest

Xpertnest is a UK-headquartered AI and digital transformation company helping enterprises and public sector organisations accelerate innovation through artificial intelligence, automation, cloud and data solutions. Combining deep technical expertise with agile global delivery, Xpertnest enables organisations to modernise operations, improve efficiency and achieve measurable business outcomes at scale. Xpertnest has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year Award.

About Salt

SALT believe food and drink is the most powerful global language to create joy and share brand stories.
SALT is a full service marketing consultancy. Their lens on food and drink make them uniquely positioned to partner with your brand, delivering measurable results on your objectives. SALT has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year Award.

About Frenchic

Frenchic is the UK’s leading chalk paint brand. Self-priming, self-levelling and with a self-sealing finish, Frenchic brings furniture paint and a passion for upcycling to all. Now with a complementary range of 160 Wall and Trim Paint colours, Frenchic inspires and encourages room makeovers with confidence and pride. Frenchic Paint have been shortlisted for The Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year Award.

About Luxus Home & Garden

Luxus Home and Garden is a British-founded premium outdoor furniture business creating durable, responsibly sourced teak collections for luxury outdoor living. Since 2020, it has grown into a profitable international brand serving customers across 30+ countries, supported by regional logistics, direct customer service, dedicated production control and responsible global growth. Luxus Home and Garden has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Leading SME Business of the Year Award.

About Fortnum & Mason

Fortnum & Mason, the Piccadilly institution that has been selling food, drink and hospitality for more than 318 years, is a finalist in The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards. The business trades across luxury retail, hospitality, ecommerce, gifting and international wholesale, reaching customers through its flagship store, its hospitality venues and a growing set of digital channels.

Its place on the shortlist rests on a five-year transformation plan launched in 2021. Since then, the company reports, it has delivered strong growth while strengthening profitability and long-term resilience, with gross sales forecast to double between FY21 and FY26 and EBITDA forecast to increase more than fivefold. That growth, the business says, has come from investment in future capability and from protecting margin through brand strength and cost discipline, not volume alone.

Heritage put to work

What differentiates the retailer, in its own assessment, is an ability to combine heritage, craftsmanship and innovation. Where many competitors trade on products alone, Fortnum's says it has become an experience-led brand where customers shop, dine, discover, learn and celebrate, a position it argues is difficult to copy.

Customers, data and technology

Investment has gone into customer insight, data and technology. The business reports that its customer database has grown by 23 per cent to 4.26 million, that active shoppers are up 11 per cent to 568,000, and that members of its Friends of Fortnum's loyalty programme have delivered a six-fold increase in shopping frequency. AI-enabled customer service and improved digital capability have, it says, lifted customer experience, productivity and personalisation across channels.

That mix maps onto the criteria for the Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award, which is open to companies with revenues between £25m and £500m and scores engagement, innovation, financial performance and purpose equally.

Innovation on the shop floor

Product and format innovation remain central. The Food & Drink Studio has pioneered experience-led retail at the flagship, while the Biscuitorium and the Fortnum & Makers Open Call, which the company says attracted more than 200 applications from emerging UK producers in 2026, point to a continuing appetite for new products and new suppliers. Grocery Gazette reported that the Biscuitorium opened on the mezzanine of the Piccadilly ground floor in May 2026, and that the makers selected through this year's Open Call reached the store's shelves at the end of June.

Guided by a stated purpose of We Make Joy, the business argues that commercial success, sustainability and social impact reinforce one another. Its Future Matters programme covers investment in people, regenerative sourcing, community partnerships and the development of future talent, work it presents as evidence of a company that is both trusted and forward-looking.

The category will be decided at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026, at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony.

About Steer Automotive Group

Steer Automotive Group is a finalist in The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards. The group describes itself as the UK's largest automotive repair business, running a nationwide network of repair centres serving motorists, insurers, fleet operators, commercial partners and luxury vehicle manufacturers.

Its core work is accident repair, vehicle refurbishment and associated services, delivered, the company says, through skilled teams, advanced technology and strong manufacturer relationships. 

National scale, local culture

According to the business, what sets it apart is the pairing of national reach with local culture. Alongside its fleet and commercial work it has specialist capability in luxury and prestige vehicles, with the same standards applied across every repair type. Expansion has continued while the group focuses on workplaces where colleagues feel supported, developed and valued.

The market is shifting quickly. Steer points to the rise of electric vehicles, increasingly complex vehicle technology and growing expectations around sustainability, quality and service, and says it has responded by investing in modern facilities, technician development and environmentally responsible practices. The Institute of the Motor Industry reported in June 2026 that roughly 35 per cent of UK technicians hold an electric vehicle qualification, and forecast a shortfall of more than 43,000 by 2035.

Building the next generation of technicians

The group reports that its apprenticeship programme is the largest in its sector, opening routes into the trade for the next generation of automotive professionals. Continuing training, it says, keeps teams able to repair the latest vehicle technologies safely across every market it serves. That emphasis on skills maps onto the criteria judges apply in the Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award, which weighs employee engagement alongside commercial results.

Cutting the carbon in a repair

In the past year Steer says it has expanded its network, invested in new sites and deepened relationships across the insurer, manufacturer, fleet, commercial and luxury markets, while increasing its focus on sustainable repair methods. The company reports involvement in the ARIES programme, the use of 100 per cent green energy, a 97 per cent plastics recycling rate across the group and an 8.5 per cent year-on-year reduction in CO2 emissions.

ARIES, the Accident Repair Industry Environmental Standard, was drawn up as a sector-specific successor to PAS 2060, which stopped being a recognised standard at the end of 2025, as Bodyshop Magazine reported in March 2025. Steer's own newsroom records its place on the working group behind it.

The business says its focus on people, innovation and continuous improvement has made it a trusted partner across several parts of the automotive industry, and that combining scale with strong local teams is shaping a more skilled, more customer-focused future for UK vehicle repair. It is one of some 200 finalists at this year's Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

About Dovetail & Slate

Dovetail & Slate is the UK's fastest-growing public sector recruitment specialist (Sunday Times 2025), connecting talented professionals with the organisations that deliver education, local government and social housing services. We build resilient teams and tailored solutions because we're more than recruiters, we're trusted partners, empowering people, changing lives. Dovetail & Slate has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award.

About Glencar

Glencar is one of the UK's fastest-growing privately owned construction companies, delivering projects across industrial, logistics, life sciences, data centres, film studios, commercial and infrastructure sectors. Combining entrepreneurial agility with operational excellence, Glencar creates lasting value through innovation, trusted partnerships, sustainable growth and an unwavering commitment to its people. Glencar has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award.

About Mansfield Sand Company

Mansfield Sand Company is a pioneering, family-run business with over 180 years of history. Operating from their state-of-the-art facilities in Nottinghamshire, they have solidified their reputation as the UKs largest independent producer of premium silica sand products into sports venues, equestrian arenas, landscaping and both sand and bricks into construction. Mansfield Sand Company has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award.

About Panache Cruises

When James Cole founded Panache Cruises in 2020, he set out to create a luxury travel business that was uniquely personal, knowledgeable and customer-focused. Today, his founding philosophy – “nothing is too much trouble” – remains the driving force behind one of the world’s fastest-growing travel companies. Panache Cruises has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award.

About Alconex

Alconex is a leading UK Independent Connection Provider (ICP), renowned for installing electric, gas, and water infrastructure across industrial, commercial, and residential projects, including solar farms and EV charging stations. Based in Leeds, they are trusted by top UK house builders and market leaders like Keepmoat Homes and Zest Eco. Alconex has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award.

About MAMEDICA

MAMEDICA is digital healthcare platform which provides patients in the UK with access to cannabis based prescription medicines. By integrating clinic, pharmacy, and technology, it delivers safe, compliant, patient-first care. With rapid growth and strong clinical governance, MAMEDICA is redefining treatment pathways and improving outcomes for patients nationwide. MAMEDICA has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award.

About Infinity Fire Prevention

Infinity Fire Prevention is a specialist passive fire protection company, based in Rochester, Kent. We deliver passive fire safety solutions across the UK, serving commercial and residential clients. With a skilled, dedicated team, Infinity is committed to compliance, quality, and innovation, safeguarding people and properties with integrity and excellence. Infinity Fire Prevention has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award.

About Olive Dining

Olive Dining is a family-run education catering specialist for schools across London and the surrounding areas, providing bespoke and innovative menus that are prepared from scratch to support the physical and mental development of all students while creating an inclusive experience for every member of the school community. Olive Dining has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award.

About Carrington West

Carrington West is a specialist technical recruitment business operating across the UK's built environment. Founded 15 years ago with a simple ambition to be better, the business has grown to £85.1m turnover, placing permanent and contract professionals across the highways, infrastructure, water, nuclear, rail, town planning, property, buildings, and housing. Carrington West has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award and The Employer of the Year Award.

About Sirius Insight

Sirius Insight is the UK’s leading specialist in maritime surveillance, combining AI and sensor technology to autonomously detect and classify marine activity to strengthen safety and security at sea. Sirius’ technology alerts authorities to suspicious maritime activity in real-time to enhance efficiency, resilience and responsiveness against complex threats at sea. Sirius Insight has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award and The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award.

About Cera

Cera is Europe’s largest HealthTech, pioneering the use of technology, AI & robotics to shift care from hospital to home. Cera’s AI-powered model of care has saved the NHS & Government over £1bn to date – easing NHS pressures & empowering vulnerable & older people to live longer, better lives. Cera has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award. 

About Allica Bank

Allica Bank is a bank built solely to meet the needs of established businesses with 5-250 employees and transform how they manage their money. That means tech to make your life easier, not harder, bringing back relationship banking, and rewarding the businesses that bank with them. Allica Bank has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award.

About Aim

Aim (Data Solutions) is a UK-based software solution provider that has developed an innovative digital platform DataEstate® supporting data governance, automation, work management, portals and using latest technologies, applied in ethical and sustainable ways. This solution offers innovative AI technologies enabling customers in all sectors to become successful data-led organisations. Aim has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award.

About Aveni

Aveni builds financial-grade AI for regulated financial services. Founded in 2018 and headquartered in Edinburgh, it develops FinLLM, the UK's first small language model suite purpose-built for finance, plus an assurance platform that lets banks, wealth managers and advisers deploy AI with audit trails and regulatory oversight built in. Aveni has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award.

About Greyparrot

Greyparrot, the leader in AI waste analytics, applies AI to scale recycling globally and save millions of tonnes of resources from landfills. Its platform tracks material moving through recycling plants worldwide, helping professionals, plant builders, packaging producers and regulators make data-driven decisions to recover and reuse resources sustainably. Greyparrot has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award.

About Opply

Opply is the end-to-end agent for food and beverage manufacturers, running and controlling their entire backend through AI-powered workflows and intelligence. Operations stop being a cost line and become a profit engine. Brands grow, margins grow, and the network gets bigger and smarter with every transaction. Opply has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award.

About Kore Labs

Kore Labs provides product intelligence and governance infrastructure for regulated industries. Its cloud-based platform brings together product data, processes and controls, giving organisations the visibility to understand performance, identify risks, act on opportunities and improve customer outcomes, establishing product excellence as a foundation for governance, compliance and sustainable customer value. Kore Labs has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award.

About Cura Terrae

The Cura Terrae group works across government, local authorities, utilities, and industry, partnering with water companies and major infrastructure providers on some of the UK's most complex environmental challenges. They support businesses and organisations against a backdrop of accelerating climate impacts and rapidly evolving legislation. Cura Terrae has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award.

About Inicio AI

Inicio AI is transforming how financially vulnerable customers engage with affordability assessments. Founded by Rachel Curtis, the business has developed the UK's first FCA-authorised conversational AI platform for affordability. Supporting banks, lenders, utilities and debt advice providers, Inicio combines commercial success with measurable social impact and responsible innovation. Inicio AI has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award.

About bigspark

bigspark engineers the trusted data foundations that power AI across the UK’s leading financial institutions. From NatWest to the FCA, they help banks, insurers and regulators replace black-box systems with responsible, cloud-native AI they can own, govern and scale. bigspark ranked #48 in The Sunday Times Top 100. bigspark has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award.

About Corecom Tech Academy

Corecom Tech Academy has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, recognition for a specialist talent provider whose expansion has been among the most rapid in the UK digital skills market.

The company exists to solve a double problem for British employers: too few digital skills, and too little diversity among the people who hold them. Its answer is the Recruit Train Deploy model, under which Associates are hired into paid employment, given training aligned to industry needs and supported with ongoing development as they move into client teams. Recruitment deliberately reaches people underrepresented in technology, from women and global ethnic majority communities to career changers, neurodiverse individuals and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

From two people to seventy-six

The scale of growth is striking. The Academy set out to create 60 new tech opportunities by 2025 and beat that target, according to the business, expanding from a team of 2 to 76 and placing more than 150 people into roles spanning software, data, platform and cloud, cyber security and business analysis, all while holding staff turnover under 5 per cent. Prolific North reported that the firm passed its original 60-role milestone with a turnover forecast in excess of £2 million, and TheBusinessDesk.com has covered its publicly stated goal of creating 1,000 tech roles across the UK.

Repeat business built on outcomes

Commercial momentum comes from employers returning for more. Corecom Tech Academy co-designs bespoke academies with industry-leading organisations to tackle critical skills shortages, and the business reports that this delivers strong employer outcomes, repeat business and a growing reputation as one of the UK’s most inclusive and socially driven tech academies. Wraparound support underpins those results: every Associate receives two years of pastoral care covering coaching, skills development, recognised certifications and wellbeing.

A differentiated position in the market

Inclusion doubles as the firm’s commercial edge. Where the UK tech sector reports diversity of around 28 per cent, the Academy’s cohorts show 61 per cent female representation, 42 per cent from global ethnic majority communities, 17 per cent neurodiversity and over half of Associates from low socio-economic backgrounds, figures reported by the business and covered by the Yorkshire Post, The Business Desk and Prolific North. It also gives back to the wider ecosystem, mentoring more than 1,300 students nationwide and backing events such as the Leeds Digital Ball, Leeds Digital Festival and Manchester Tech Fest.

That combination of pace, purpose and employer demand secured its place among the finalists for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award. Winners will be revealed at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About FunnelFuel

Founded in 2022 and ranked #33 in The Sunday Times 100 in 2026, FunnelFuel delivers efficiency, effectiveness and ROI improvements in digital advertising for 69 B2B Companies on a global basis, having recently expanded to Singapore and the US from its UK base. FunnelFuel have been shortlisted for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award.

About Pip&Nut

Pip&Nut is the UK’s number one nut butter brand, founded by Pip Murray in 2015. A certified B-Corp, the business creates nut butters and snacks using simple ingredients, and has grown into a multi-million-pound brand - combining category leadership with responsible sourcing, community impact and commitment to people and planet. Pip&Nut has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award.

About Playstack

Playstack is a London-based games publisher that discovers, funds, markets and launches exceptional independent video games worldwide. Founded in 2016, the company has scaled rapidly by backing high-potential creative talent, delivering award-winning titles, and building a trusted publishing model focused on quality, partnership and sustainable commercial growth across international markets. Playstack has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award.

About Fastwarm

Fastwarm is one of the UK’s fastest-growing heating and renewables distributors, scaling from £900k revenue to an expected £15m+ in under five years. Combining innovation, exceptional customer service and a people-first culture, Fastwarm is transforming the industry through rapid growth, market disruption and award-winning workplace excellence across the UK. Fastwarm has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award.

About Spark Tutoring

Spark Tutoring is a fast-growing online tutoring provider delivering subscription-based tuition for students aged 4-18 following the British curriculum. Built on a model pairing students with high-achieving relatable undergraduate-age tutors, Spark has supported over 6,000 students since launching in 2023, and currently serves 3,200+ monthly learners. Spark Tutoring has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award.

About OneDome

OneDome is an AI-powered housing and fintech platform building the Operating System for Homeownership. Through proprietary technology, a network of 500+ advisers and integrated legal, mortgage, insurance and wealth services, OneDome simplifies the entire homeowner journey. The business processes over £1bn of mortgages monthly and is among Europe’s fastest-growing fintechs. OneDome has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award and The Technology Business of the Year.

About Potentia Insight

Potentia Insight is an award-winning, UK-based digital market research agency that provides high-quality data collection, online surveys, and strategic insights. Founded in 2022, the London-based company specialises in both B2B and B2C audiences across 100+ countries. Potentia Insight has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award.

About Fourteen Group

Fourteen Group is a founder-first investment and operational support platform transforming recruitment startups into scalable, industry-leading businesses. Combining 100% startup funding with expert support across finance, legal, marketing and operations, Fourteen empowers ambitious founders to retain ownership, accelerate growth, achieve profitability quickly and build sustainable businesses with lasting industry impact. Fourteen Group has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award.

About Plug In Stations

Plug In Stations is one of the UK's leading electric vehicle charger installation companies. Founded in 2020, they complete around 1,500 installations monthly nationwide, employing 70 people across six regions. NICEIC-approved and government-certified, they've channelled over £2 million in grants to customers — accelerating Britain's transition to cleaner, electric driving. Plug In Stations has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award.

About Somerce

Somerce is a leading TikTok Shop Partner agency operating across the UK, EU, and US, specialising in TikTok Shop management, affiliate marketing, LIVE strategy, paid media, and content. Since launch, Somerce has scaled to 50+ staff across four countries, delivering standout results for brands including L'Oréal, Unilever and P Louise. Somerce has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award.

About Sirius Insight

Sirius Insight is the UK’s leading specialist in maritime surveillance, combining AI and sensor technology to autonomously detect and classify marine activity to strengthen safety and security at sea. Sirius’ technology alerts authorities to suspicious maritime activity in real-time to enhance efficiency, resilience and responsiveness against complex threats at sea. Sirius Insight has been shortlisted for The Lloyds AI Game Changer of the Year Award and The Lloyds Scale Up Trailblazer Business of the Year Award.

About Lovetovisit

Lovetovisit has set out to reinvent how families and friends discover and book days out, experiences and adventures across the UK.

Rather than tweaking the existing model, the Cardiff company describes its aim as turning the whole category on its head, promising the best price every time, a wide choice that runs from hidden gems and local events to headline acts, and a personalised simplicity that makes finding and booking part of the fun. That proposition has earned it a place among the finalists for the ITV Growth Accelerator Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Founded in 2021 by twin sisters Georgia and Alice Aubrey alongside tourism specialist Fed Pereira, as reported by Business News Wales, Lovetovisit has moved quickly from start-up to national booking platform. In August 2024 it raised £3.2 million in venture funding in a round led by Venrex and Redrice Ventures, according to the same report, capital earmarked to widen its reach and product range.

Building the UK's largest inventory of things to do

In just over three years, the company reports that it has curated the largest inventory of things to do in the UK and sold close to £30 million worth of tickets. Its listings span zoos, theme parks, trampoline parks and museums, food and music festivals, steam fairs, crazy golf, aqua parks and even llama trekking. The business says 80 per cent of its inventory is unique to the platform, a differentiated supply base that competitors would find hard to replicate.

Technology that scales the business of fun

Lovetovisit says it takes the business of fun seriously, running on artificial intelligence processes that cover supply chain management and data insights, content and advert creation, personalised consumer content and customer satisfaction. According to the company, this scalable approach lets more than 400 new products go live each month, with new partners moving from onboarding to first ticket sale in under 24 hours. The result is a system designed to add supply at pace while keeping the consumer experience consistent.

Keeping consumers at the centre

For all its investment in technology, the business insists consumers remain at the heart of every decision. It launched LoveRewards to make days out more rewarding, personalises content to individual interests, and helps customers save money and share their experiences. The company points to an excellent 4.7 star Trustpilot rating as evidence the approach is landing.

As a finalist in the ITV Growth Accelerator Award, Lovetovisit joins a field of high-growth UK businesses recognised for commercial momentum and national ambition. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House in London.

About Borough Broth

Borough Broth, the British organic bone broth brand, has been named a finalist for the ITV Growth Accelerator Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, recognition of a business that has grown from a home kitchen into the UK's number one chilled stock brand.

The company was founded in 2015 by Ros Heathcote after a chance conversation with a butcher revealed that thousands of tonnes of organic British bones were being thrown away every year. At the same time, she was struck by how much supermarket food was being made with shortcuts, additives and ingredients not found in a home kitchen. She went home, started slow-cooking small batches of broth from scratch, and has not stopped since.

Real food, made the way it should be made

Today Borough Broth makes organic bone broths, soups and frozen broth cubes using British-sourced ingredients, slow-cooked in small batches for up to 24 hours with no shortcuts and no flavour enhancers. The company operates in the chilled stock and convenience food market and says it is now the UK's number one chilled stock brand, stocked in Waitrose, Tesco, Sainsbury's and Ocado as well as thousands of delis and independents across the country.

What sets the brand apart, it says, is simple: while most stock products on shelf rely on concentrates and additives to deliver taste at scale, every Borough Broth product is made from scratch using only the finest quality organic ingredients. The business also works with organic British farmers to reclaim bones that would otherwise be discarded, turning a by-product into something nourishing.

Investment to more than double capacity

The momentum behind the brand was underlined in late 2025, when Borough Broth secured a £7.5 million investment from consumer specialist investor Piper, a deal widely reported across the food and drink press. According to the business, the funding will support a brand-new 27,000 sq ft production facility in West London that will more than double manufacturing capacity. The company reports it is currently growing at 93 per cent year on year, with revenue approaching £10 million.

Certified credentials and a low-waste model

Borough Broth is Soil Association certified organic and has been a certified B Corporation since 2021, and it reports winning 14 Great Taste Awards. The company says it produces almost no food waste, and what little it generates is converted into renewable energy through its partnership with ReFood.

The brand has always argued that convenience and real food need not be a trade-off. As a finalist in the ITV Growth Accelerator Award, it joins a shortlist of high-growth UK businesses celebrated for commercial momentum. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House in London.

About Rocksteady Music School

Rocksteady Music School, described by the business as the UK's largest and fastest-growing music school, has been named a finalist for the ITV Growth Accelerator Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

The company teaches more than 135,000 children every week in over 4,500 primary schools across England and Wales, helping them experience the joy of making music together in a band during the school day.

That growth was independently recognised in 2026, when the Financial Times named Rocksteady one of Europe's fastest-growing businesses, up more than 800 places with 526 per cent growth over three years. The company reports it now holds 25 per cent of its market against 4 per cent for its nearest competitor.

Qualifications that reach further than GCSE

Rocksteady also won an EdTechX award for the technology behind its exam-free, Ofqual-regulated qualification, delivered in partnership with Trinity College London. This academic year alone, the company says, more than 48,000 children have been awarded its Music Performance in Bands qualification, more than passed music GCSE and A-Level combined. Since launching in 2022, it reports that 151,953 qualifications have been awarded and 6,760,711 skills completed.

An inclusive, child-centred method

The school's mission is to break down barriers to learning music and to boost children's self-belief in and out of the classroom. Over 19 years it has developed a curriculum covering up to 300 skills across instruments, songs, musicianship and band skills, designed to suit all children including those with special educational needs. Its team of more than 650 musicians, the company says, makes learning fun and improves children's enjoyment of school, attendance, attainment and engagement.

For profit, for good

As a self-described "for profit for good" business, Rocksteady says it is committed to social impact, providing £4.6 million of free music education this year through bursaries, match funding and Foundation workshops with charities and support groups. It reports being the UK's leading employer of full-time, permanent salaried musicians, all with full employment rights, and says it has offset 100 per cent of its carbon emissions since April 2024.

Recognition has extended to its people, with the company highly commended in the Wellbeing or Support of the Year category at the Education Today Awards and its chief executive, Scott Monks, named a UK finalist at the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. In 2026 the school launched in Australia, which it says proves its methodology works internationally.

As a finalist in the ITV Growth Accelerator Award, Rocksteady joins a shortlist of high-growth UK businesses recognised for scale and ambition. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House in London.

About Fussy

Fussy, the sustainable personal care brand on a mission to banish single-use plastic from the bathroom, has been named a finalist for the ITV Growth Accelerator Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards. The company designs simple, effective and attractively packaged products, led by a natural refillable deodorant that it says is the UK's highest rated on Trustpilot.

After proving its refillable model with natural deodorant, Fussy expanded into body and hand washes. By ensuring the refills work as well and look as good as conventional options, the business says it is showing how easy it can be to make a planet-friendly switch, rather than asking customers to compromise on performance or design for the sake of sustainability.

Relentlessly fussy about ingredients

What separates the brand from traditional rivals, it says, is being relentlessly fussy about what goes into its products and onto customers' skin. Its award-winning refillable designs pair durable outer cases with planet-friendly refills made from either waste sugarcane or infinitely recyclable aluminium. Inside, the company says it uses only clean, natural ingredients that guarantee 24-hour performance, including a unique probiotic in its deodorant that targets odour-causing bacteria. Fussy is certified as a B Corporation, by Leaping Bunny and by the Vegan Society, and says its products are toxin-free and never tested on animals. Those credentials, the company argues, are central to a brand that wants customers to trust what they are putting on their skin as much as they trust the environmental promise.

From Kickstarter to the Dragons' Den

Fussy launched via Kickstarter in 2020, and its growth accelerated after it secured investment from Deborah Meaden and Peter Jones on the BBC's Dragons' Den, an appearance broadcast in early 2022. That backing, the company says, has helped establish Fussy as the highest-ranking single product in UK retail, and the brand is now expanding internationally with 43,000 global distribution points across Germany, Australia and other new markets.

Commercial momentum and measurable impact

In commercial terms, the business reports that it reached £29.2 million in revenue in its 2026 financial year and is on track to deliver more than 60 per cent growth again this year, with forecast revenue of £50 million in FY27. It says it is prouder still of its environmental impact: over the past year, the company reports that its community of customers has prevented 221,000kg of single-use plastic from entering the environment.

The combination of rapid commercial growth and a clear environmental purpose sits at the heart of Fussy's case as a finalist in the ITV Growth Accelerator Award, a category that recognises high-growth UK businesses with national ambition. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House in London.

About Octopus Legacy

Octopus Legacy, which helps people plan for death and find support after loss, has been named a finalist for the ITV Growth Accelerator Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

The company brings together wills, trusts, lasting powers of attorney and life insurance, holistic planning options such as Legacy Films and Legacy Box, and probate and bereavement support, all in one place.

The UK estate planning market, the company argues, is fragmented, expensive and built around legal jargon rather than the families it serves. Around 1,600 people die every day in England and Wales, it notes, yet hardly anyone is prepared, with more than 60 per cent of UK adults lacking an up-to-date will. Octopus Legacy was founded to change that.

Putting the customer first

What sets Octopus Legacy apart, it says, is putting the customer first in every decision. It reports a Net Promoter Score of 77 against a legal industry average of 37, held through 159 per cent customer growth in a single year, alongside a Trustpilot score of 4.9. Every customer has a dedicated Legacy Adviser throughout their experience, and probate is priced on a fixed fee quoted upfront, based on the work required rather than the value of the estate, in a sector the company says still charges 4 to 5 per cent. Artificial intelligence is used to cut admin so the team can spend more time talking to people.

Rapid growth and regulated expertise

In three years, the business reports growing from 16 staff to 220, and from 270,000 customers to over a million. Revenue grew 402 per cent in the last financial year, it says, with 250 per cent growth forecast for FY27. Its probate practice has grown from 30 active cases to more than 500 in 18 months following authorisation by the Solicitors Regulation Authority in November 2024. The business is a certified B Corporation with a network of more than 300 charity partners.

Building an ecosystem

Through the acquisitions of WSL Will Writing and the National Bereavement Service, Octopus Legacy says it has brought decades of offline expertise and hundreds of thousands of additional customers into its ecosystem. Free will-writing campaigns with its charity partners have raised an estimated £287 million in future legacy income, a figure it says grows every year. The company reports that it already holds wills representing around £200 billion of UK assets, and its long-term ambition is to become the business families return to from their first will through to estate distribution.

As a finalist in the ITV Growth Accelerator Award, Octopus Legacy joins a shortlist of high-growth UK businesses. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House in London.

About Little Dish

Little Dish, the family-run brand that pioneered fresh food for children in the supermarket chilled aisle, has been named a finalist for the ITV Growth Accelerator Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards. The recognition marks two decades of a business that has grown from a trial in 20 stores into a national brand.

In 2006, founder Hillary Graves spotted a gap in the market for fresh, healthy meals for young children. At the time, shop-bought options for babies and toddlers were largely limited to ambient jars and pouches with a shelf life of up to two years. For 20 years, Little Dish has instead listened to parents and little ones to perfect a range of delicious, healthy and convenient meals designed for busy family life.

Recipes built around child nutrition

Little Dish meals are made with all-natural ingredients, provide at least one of a child's recommended five a day, contain a source of fibre and no added salt or sugar, and are nutritionally balanced for young children. The recipes were developed alongside baby and child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed and approved by a panel of 250 Tiny Tasters, and the company says they contain a wide variety of vegetables, herbs and spices. Unlike ultra-processed baby and toddler foods, it adds, Little Dish meals include exciting textures to help little ones develop a healthy palate.

Sustainability and social impact

The brand says it introduced the UK's first 100 per cent recyclable wood-fibre kids' meal tray, and since 2023 it has partnered with The Felix Project to donate more than 800,000 meals to children in need through its Buy One, Give One promise. The partnership has been recognised across the sector, and the company was awarded a Grocer Gold prize in 2025 for its consumer initiative work with the charity.

Growth across the family food aisle

Little Dish has continued to widen its range. In 2024, responding to parents asking for healthy meals for older children, it launched bigger portions, fresh after-school meals for bigger kids. In 2025 it reinvigorated the frozen aisle with Superstars chicken nuggets with hidden veg, a healthier take that parents could feel good about serving.

Since 2006, the company reports scaling from that first trial in 20 stores to a brand worth more than £30 million in national distribution, and says it is now the UK's fastest-growing adult and children's ready meal brand with 49 per cent year-on-year sales growth. Along the way, it says, it has brought stress-free mealtimes to hundreds of thousands of families and challenged industry norms about what healthy, convenient food can look like.

As a finalist in the ITV Growth Accelerator Award, Little Dish joins a shortlist of high-growth UK businesses. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House in London.

About The Handbag Clinic

The Handbag Clinic, which has turned pre-loved luxury from a fragmented, low-trust resale market into a data-driven circular business, has been named a finalist for the ITV Growth Accelerator Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

By combining buying, selling, restoration and authentication under one roof, the company says it has built the UK's most credible brand in luxury handbag recommerce.

That brand trust, backed by proprietary market intelligence and a strong customer experience, has accelerated commercial growth and positioned The Handbag Clinic as a partner for both consumers and global luxury brands.

Four services under one roof

What sets the business apart, it says, is not just what it does but how it does it. Most businesses in the space do one thing, whereas The Handbag Clinic does all four, supported by a proprietary technology platform that holds years of transaction data, tracks every bag end to end, and gives customers a level of confidence and transparency that no open marketplace can offer.

The brand has attracted some of the world's most prestigious clients. Gucci, Bulgari, Burberry, Jimmy Choo, Christie's, Bonhams and Sotheby's all trust it to handle their repairs, the company says, and celebrity advocates including Claudia Schiffer, Frankie Bridge and Caggie Dunlop have publicly endorsed the brand. In April 2024 it opened a permanent concession within RESELFRIDGES, the Selfridges circular accessories destination on Oxford Street. In 2025 and 2026, the company reports generating 12 per cent of Selfridges' total pre-loved revenue from a fourteen-bag space and five short events.

Strong financial performance

The business says it has delivered its strongest financial performance to date, with revenue growing 25.2 per cent in 2025/26 and gross profit up 77.4 per cent. Looking ahead, it reports a £250,000 investment in a customer-facing intelligence platform launching later this year that will allow any owner of a designer bag to see in real time what their piece is worth as an asset, whether its value is rising or falling, and how quickly it would sell. Women, it argues, have never had the data to treat their wardrobe the way investors treat a portfolio.

A recognised founder

Founder and chief executive Charlotte Staerck, who established the business in 2013, has been named on the Insider North East 42 Under 42 list, invited to 11 Downing Street by the Chancellor, and is regularly cited in Grazia, The Times and Metro as an authority on pre-loved luxury.

As a finalist in the ITV Growth Accelerator Award, The Handbag Clinic joins a shortlist of high-growth UK businesses. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House in London.

About Gretel

Gretel, the UK platform that helps people find lost money, has been named a finalist for the ITV Growth Accelerator Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Founded in 2022, the company operates at the intersection of technology, financial resilience and social impact, enabling consumers to reconnect with lost and forgotten savings, pensions, investments and insurance products through a single, free platform.

Designed to replace a fragmented and often frustrating process, Gretel allows individuals to search millions of records from leading financial providers in minutes rather than months. Unlike traditional tracing services, the company says, it is the only platform built to operate across every major sector of financial services, and it has been designed with accessibility at its core to support vulnerable consumers, bereaved families and those with low financial confidence. Its users range in age from 18 to 104.

Trusted partnerships across the industry

Since launch, Gretel says it has grown to serve hundreds of thousands of consumers and has established partnerships across banking, insurance, pensions, investments and the mutual sector. The business has twice been named Technology Partner of the Year at the British Bank Awards, which it presents as a reflection of its record on customer outcomes and industry trust. Those relationships, it says, allow records to be searched at scale while keeping the service free for the consumers who use it.

The power of trusted media

Gretel has also shown the value of trusted media in driving engagement. Appearances on ITV, BBC and national radio, including ITV's Martin Lewis Money Show Live, have helped hundreds of thousands of people search for lost assets, the company says, and have contributed to hundreds of millions of pounds being reunited with consumers.

A national initiative

In 2026, Gretel launched Billions 4 Millions, an industry-wide initiative bringing together firms across insurance, pensions, investments and mutuals to strengthen financial resilience by helping reconnect the public with billions of pounds in lost assets. The campaign, it reports, has attracted widespread support across the financial services sector and is becoming one of the largest collaborative consumer initiatives undertaken by the industry.

What differentiates the company, it argues, is not simply its technology but its ability to bring together consumers, financial institutions and industry bodies around a shared purpose. By combining innovation with collaboration, Gretel says it is helping transform the way the financial services industry reconnects people with money that is rightfully theirs, improving financial resilience and delivering measurable social impact at national scale.

As a finalist in the ITV Growth Accelerator Award, Gretel joins a shortlist of high-growth UK businesses recognised for commercial momentum and national ambition. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House in London.

About By Rotation

By Rotation, the peer-to-peer fashion rental marketplace, has been named a finalist for the ITV Growth Accelerator Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Operating at the intersection of fashion technology and the sharing economy, the company says it scales a highly sustainable marketplace without owning a single garment.

Where legacy rental platforms rely on heavy inventory investment and rapid depreciation, By Rotation has instead built an entirely asset-light infrastructure. Founded in the UK by Eshita Kabra-Davies and often described as a social rental app, the platform lets members rent and lend clothing directly to one another, an approach recognised by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation as a working example of the circular economy in fashion.

A trust engine and an organic community

The company's core differentiator, it says, is a proprietary trust engine paired with a deep, organic community of more than 700,000 users. By gamifying the social experience, the business reports fostering strong loyalty and user satisfaction across its network. Crucially, it says its growth is powered by genuine cultural relevance rather than expensive subsidies. Global tastemakers and celebrities, including Lady Amelia Windsor, Dame Helen Mirren and Candice Brathwaite, use the app natively to share their own wardrobes, which the company says gives it organic reach and lets it operate with negligible paid marketing spend.

Scale without wholesale risk

By Rotation points to several achievements over the last 18 months as evidence of its momentum. It says it has organically grown its dynamic wardrobe to more than 150,000 items, representing an estimated £80 million in shared asset value, all without carrying any wholesale risk. The business also reports landmark strategic partnerships with global lifestyle leaders including Uber and Airbnb, which it presents as proof of cultural relevance beyond pure fashion. It frames these tie-ups as validation that its highly engaged community and technology infrastructure can travel across sectors rather than remaining confined to clothing rental.

A model built for the long term

The company says it has optimised its platform for long-term commercial viability, decoupling top-line growth from operational burn to show that circular consumption can be a high-growth, self-sustaining enterprise. By Rotation argues that purpose-driven, peer-to-peer retail is not just the future of sustainable fashion but a blueprint for the next generation of culturally defining consumer brands.

That combination of an asset-light model, an engaged community and a clear sustainability purpose sits at the heart of the company's case as a finalist in the ITV Growth Accelerator Award, a category that recognises high-growth UK businesses with national ambition. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House in London.

SEO title: 

Slug: 

Meta description: 

About Loqbox

Loqbox, the fintech that describes its purpose simply as "building better borrowers", has been named a finalist for the ITV Growth Accelerator Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

The company sets out to tackle a problem it says affects 16 million UK adults, who struggle to access fair credit because lenders do not have enough information to assess them properly. Someone can manage money responsibly, the business notes, yet still be denied a mortgage or a loan because their credit file tells lenders an incomplete story.

Translating everyday behaviour into credit data

Positioned as the UK's first credit-building product, Loqbox has built a reporting infrastructure that translates everyday financial behaviours into structured credit data. Launched in 2017, it combines credit-building, saving and financial education in a single platform that, the company reports, has helped more than one million people save over £137 million since 2022 and earned more than 21,000 five-star Trustpilot reviews.

A mission that shapes the team and the product

Loqbox says its mission attracts people who want to solve one of the UK's biggest financial inclusion challenges while building an ambitious fintech. The team, it says, is united by a belief that financial responsibility should create opportunity, supported by people-first policies, a £500 annual learning fund and a culture that puts member outcomes at the heart of every decision.

The same purpose drives its product work. Recognising that there is no average consumer, Loqbox developed Finotypes®, a research-based psychometric model of money behaviours that captures how people actually think and feel about money. Developed in-house and not publicly available, the company says Finotypes® help it design products around real human behaviour.

Responsible growth and industry standards

The business is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and says it has combined innovation with responsible growth. It contributed to the FCA's Credit Information Market Study, implemented the regulator's recommendations, and continues to support industry standards through the Credit Information Governance Body.

Purpose has also become a commercial advantage. Partnerships with Credit Karma, MoneySuperMarket and Citizens Advice have expanded access to credit building at scale, the company says. During the 2025/26 financial year, it reports that Credit Karma generated 243 per cent more sign-ups than the previous year, while its Staircase to Adulting campaign with Citizens Advice brought conversations about money and financial resilience into the mainstream. Growing independently, the business reports revenue approaching £21 million in FY2025/26, up 4.1 per cent year on year.

As a finalist in the ITV Growth Accelerator Award, Loqbox joins a shortlist of high-growth UK businesses. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House in London.

About Wuka

WUKA is the UK's leading period health brand, pioneering reusable period care that replaces disposable pads and tampons. B Corp certified and Queen's Award-winning, WUKA combines innovation, sustainability and social impact to help over one million people manage periods with confidence while reducing plastic waste and breaking menstrual stigma. WUKA has been shortlisted for The ITV Growth Accelerator Award

About Anna Richey and Alla Ouvarova – Two Chicks

Anna Richey and Alla Ouvarova are the co-founders of Two Chicks, the pioneering food brand that transformed a simple idea into one of the UK's most recognisable healthy eating success stories. After identifying a gap in the market for convenient egg white products, they launched the business with little more than determination and a belief that healthier choices should be easier for consumers. Together, they have challenged convention, built a category-defining brand stocked by major retailers and become passionate advocates for female entrepreneurship, proving that resilience and innovation can turn an everyday product into an industry leader. Anna Richey and Alla Ouvarova have been shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year Award. 

About Helen Murphy – Opply

Helen Murphy founded Opply with a vision to make food and drink sourcing simpler, smarter and more transparent for growing businesses. Drawing on years of commercial experience, she recognised the challenges that independent brands faced when navigating fragmented supply chains and set out to build a platform that empowers businesses to grow with confidence. Helen's entrepreneurial journey is driven by innovation, collaboration and a passion for helping other founders succeed. Helen Murphy from Opply has been shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year Award. 

About Holly Brooke & Joely Walker Sanderson – We Are Regular

Holly Brooke and Joely Walker Sanderson founded WE ARE. REGULAR to challenge outdated conversations around gut health and create a wellness brand built on honesty, education and accessibility. Inspired by their own experiences and a desire to normalise an often-overlooked topic, they have created a business that combines science with community, helping thousands of people improve their wellbeing. Their journey reflects the power of building a brand with authenticity, purpose and a genuine desire to make a difference. Their goal: break taboos. Holly Brooke & Joely Walker Sanderson have been shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year Award.

About Helen Cannon – ISON Travel

Helen Cannon is the founder of ISON Travel, a business she has grown through an unwavering commitment to exceptional customer service and creating unforgettable travel experiences. With a passion for helping people explore the world, Helen has successfully navigated one of the travel industry's most challenging periods, demonstrating remarkable resilience, adaptability and leadership. Her entrepreneurial journey is defined by determination, long-term relationships and an uncompromising focus on delivering excellence. Helen Cannon has been shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year Award.

About Lucy Macnamara – Aspiga

Lucy Macnamara founded Aspiga with a vision to prove that fashion could be both beautiful and responsibly made. Long before sustainability became a mainstream conversation, she was championing ethical sourcing, artisan craftsmanship and fair partnerships with producers around the world. Through passion, perseverance and purpose-led leadership, Lucy has built an internationally respected fashion brand that continues to demonstrate how commercial success and positive impact can go hand in hand. Lucy Macnamara has been shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year Award.

About Katie Clark – Katie Barnes Tool Range

Katie Clark turned her reputation as one of the beauty industry's leading educators into a globally recognised professional brand. Passionate about raising standards across the nail industry, she founded the Katie Barnes Tool Range to provide professionals with innovative products backed by education and expertise. Today, Katie continues to inspire beauty entrepreneurs around the world through her commitment to excellence, innovation and empowering others to succeed. Katie Clark has been shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year Award.

About Amy Knight – Must Have Ideas

Amy Knight is the founder of Must Have Ideas, one of Britain's fastest-growing consumer brands. What began with a passion for identifying clever, everyday solutions has evolved into a business reaching millions of customers across the UK. Amy has built the company through bold decision-making, an exceptional understanding of consumer behaviour and an unwavering commitment to innovation. Her entrepreneurial journey is one of ambition, resilience and constantly challenging what is possible. Amy Knight has been shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year Award.

About Shavata Singh – Shavata

Shavata Singh is one of the UK's most respected beauty entrepreneurs and the founder of Shavata, the pioneering brow and beauty brand that helped redefine professional brow artistry in Britain. Building her business through expertise, passion and exceptional client care, she has earned the trust of thousands of customers, celebrities and leading retailers. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, craftsmanship and inspiring confidence through entrepreneurship. Shavata Singh has been shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year Award.

About Caroline Strawson – MW Legacy Group

Caroline Strawson's entrepreneurial story is one of remarkable resilience. Having overcome significant personal and financial adversity, she transformed her experiences into a mission to help others heal, grow and lead with confidence. As the founder of MW Legacy Group, Caroline combines trauma-informed coaching, leadership development and wellbeing to support individuals and organisations worldwide. Her journey demonstrates the extraordinary impact of turning life's greatest challenges into a force for positive change. Caroline Strawson has been shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year Award.

About Nyree Brough – Crystal Auras

Nyree Brough founded Crystal Auras with a passion for helping people reconnect with themselves through wellbeing, mindfulness and personal growth. What began as a vision to create meaningful products and experiences has grown into a respected luxury wellness brand with a loyal and engaged community. Nyree's entrepreneurial journey is driven by authenticity, purpose and a genuine desire to empower others to live happier, healthier lives. Nyree Brough has been shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year Award.

About Jennifer Davidson – Sleek Events

Jennifer Davidson is the founder of Sleek Events, an award-winning agency renowned for delivering exceptional experiences for some of the UK's leading brands. Building the business from the ground up, Jennifer has combined creativity with meticulous attention to detail and an unwavering commitment to client excellence. Her entrepreneurial journey reflects a passion for bringing ambitious ideas to life while building a business founded on trust, innovation and lasting relationships. Jennifer Davidson has been shortlisted for The Cazenove Capital Female Founder of the Year Award.

About Virtyt Pula, Founder of TOML Collective

Virtyt Pula founded TOML Collective in London in 2019 as a deliberate alternative to the traditional agency model. A creative lead by background, he built the company around a curated collective of independent designers, directors, animators, strategists and visual storytellers, brought together for each brief rather than kept on a permanent bench.

Growing that lean, people-led studio into a global creative business has made him a finalist for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

A different kind of creative company

TOML Collective helps ambitious brands, organisations and cultural movements build distinctive stories, identities and digital experiences across branding, marketing strategy, campaigns, content and digital products. Rather than relying on bloated processes or templated teams, Pula blends a senior core team with bespoke line-ups of specialists, production partners and independent talent for each project. The result, he argues, gives clients the focus and accountability of a boutique studio with the range of a global creative partner.

That work now spans the UK, Europe and North America. According to the business, TOML has supported organisations including UBS, Siebert Financial, UKRI, ETH Zürich, Save the Children and Ashoka Changemakers, while collaborating with production and innovation partners such as UNIT9, Waste Creative, Red Bull Media House and IDEO.

Growth on his own terms

Pula has scaled the company without external investment. The business reports that consolidated turnover has grown by more than 65 per cent over two years, alongside a fourfold increase in annual projects and significant expansion in direct client relationships, with the UK operation more than doubling in size over the past year while delivering consistent margins. 

A wider mission

What distinguishes Pula's approach is how the commercial model funds a broader creative mission. Alongside client work, he is building an ecosystem that includes TOML Journal, a creative and marketing platform; Children's Planet, a children's education platform the business says has passed eight million views; and an AI production vertical.

In June 2026 he opened House of TOML in Prishtina, a 500 square metre creative studio, co-working and learning hub designed to develop emerging talent and create a pathway for Kosovo-based creatives to reach international opportunities. That combination of lean commercial discipline and purpose is the kind of leadership the entrepreneur category recognises. Finalists across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will hear the outcome at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

About Ravi Agravat, Founder of Berkfield

Ravi Agravat did not take a conventional route into business. A self-taught entrepreneur from Leicester, he left formal education early and taught himself web development, ecommerce and digital systems, then used that knowledge to build Berkfield, a technology-led retail and ecommerce platform that is changing how large home and lifestyle products are bought online.

It is that personal contribution, rather than the company alone, that has made him a finalist for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Rather than following the traditional retail model of owning large warehouses, holding extensive stock and carrying heavy fixed overheads, Agravat built the business around a digital-first, asset-light idea.

A different model for bulky ecommerce

Berkfield connects customers, suppliers, logistics partners and retail channels through automation, deep system integration and data-led decision-making. The approach is designed to make complex products, including furniture and other bulky items, easier and more reliable to buy online, while giving customers greater choice, stronger availability and more responsive support. It is a structural answer to a problem Agravat identified in the market: shoppers want confidence and range, while retailers wrestle with delivery complexity, returns and high fixed costs.

Under his leadership the platform now manages a catalogue of more than 165,000 products across over 200 brands, selling both directly to consumers and through national retailers and marketplaces including B&Q, Tesco, Debenhams, The Range, Wilko, Rackhams and Argos. Because the model does not depend on duplicating physical infrastructure, it can move into new products and sales channels quickly.

Recognition and reach

The business Agravat has built has drawn external recognition for both its growth and its execution. According to the company, Berkfield ranked 14th in The Sunday Times 100 Class of 2026, was named Innovation of the Year by the East Midlands Chamber, and won the HSBC Service Excellence Award. As a British Indian founder who started without a university route or outside capital, Agravat presents Berkfield as evidence that a non-traditional starting point need not limit what an entrepreneur can build.

Ambition

His stated ambition is to develop Berkfield into a trusted, technology-enabled retail platform for home, lifestyle and consumer products, expanding into new categories and international markets while keeping customer experience, operational discipline and long-term value at the centre.

That focus on the individual philosophy behind a scaling company sits at the heart of the entrepreneur category he is shortlisted in, which recognises enterprising leaders who pair strong commercial performance with inspirational leadership. Finalists across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will learn the outcome at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

About Babek Ismayil, Founder and CEO of OneDome

Babek Ismayil spent more than a decade in high-yield and distressed debt trading at J.P. Morgan before a broken home purchase of his own convinced him that the way Britain buys property needed rebuilding from the ground up. In 2016 he left banking to found OneDome, and as its chief executive he has spent the years since turning a single frustration into one of the UK's fastest-growing housing and fintech businesses.

That leadership has made him a finalist for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, and, as reported by industry title The Negotiator, a London finalist for the EY Entrepreneur Of The Year 2026 programme.

Reinventing how people buy a home

Ismayil's insight was simple. People want to buy a home, not to navigate mortgages, legal services, surveys and insurance as separate, disconnected transactions. OneDome was built to bring the entire home-buying process into one integrated ecosystem spanning proptech, fintech, legaltech and insurtech. Its flagship HomeBuyer Service reframes buying a property as a retail-style product, bundling the essentials into one transparent, fixed-price service supported by a dedicated Property Moving Assistant and the company's proprietary platform, DealRoom.

Where competitors operate in silos as mortgage brokers, portals, legal providers or comparison sites, Ismayil has pursued a vertically integrated model that orchestrates the entire home-buying experience. He describes the goal as building the operating system for homeownership.

Growth under his leadership

The scale of that ambition is matched by the numbers the business reports. OneDome says it has grown revenue by more than 15,000 per cent since 2022, reaching a 100 million dollar revenue run-rate by March 2026 while arranging over 1.4 billion dollars of mortgages a month through a network of more than 500 brokers. According to the company, that growth has been recognised externally, including a ranking as the fourth fastest-growing fintech and 17th fastest-growing technology company in the UK in the Deloitte Fast 50 for 2025, and the sixth fastest-growing tech company in the Sunday Times Tech 100 for 2026.

What the award recognises

Ismayil's candidacy speaks directly to what the entrepreneur category rewards: a visionary founder who has identified an untapped opportunity and scaled a genuinely new model. His stated aim is for OneDome to power every major housing and financial decision across the homeowner lifecycle, from first purchase through to long-term wealth creation. Finalists across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will hear the results at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

About Raju Gajurel, Founder and CEO of UK Property Accountants

Most accountants treat property as one service line among many. Raju Gajurel built a firm that does nothing else. Founded in London in 2016 with no clients, no inherited book of business and no outside funding, UK Property Accountants has become the practice he leads at the technically demanding intersection of tax and property, and that achievement has made him a finalist for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Depth, not breadth

A qualified chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser, Gajurel chose to specialise where others hesitate. His firm handles the work generalist accountants tend to avoid: stamp duty refunds on uninhabitable properties, capital gains for non-residents, complex group structures and multi-country consolidations. According to the business, UK Property Accountants now looks after around 4,000 landlords, investors, developers and funds across 57 countries, clients who rarely find one firm able to do all of this and still answer the phone. Closing that gap, Gajurel says, is the business.

An entrepreneur who builds his own tools

What sets the firm apart is technology Gajurel built himself. Rather than stitching together off-the-shelf software, he created a practice management platform so the firm's service standards are embedded in the system rather than left to individual diligence. He took the same approach with RentalBux, HMRC-recognised software covering UK property, foreign property and self-employment income, a breadth most general platforms do not yet offer. Both were designed to solve the firm's own problems first, then opened to the wider market.

The results, in the firm's own account, speak plainly: revenue grown from nothing to a projected 2.9 million pounds in 2026, a 4.8 Trustpilot rating from more than 400 verified reviews, over 97 per cent client retention and roughly 150 new clients a month won almost entirely through reputation and referral. 

A voice in the sector

Gajurel is also the author of a practical handbook on Making Tax Digital and speaks regularly across the property and accountancy sectors, extending his influence beyond his own client base. That combination of deep specialism, self-built technology and steady, referral-led growth is the kind of personal leadership the entrepreneur category is designed to celebrate. Finalists across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will learn the outcome at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

About Dr Ben Maruthappu, Founder and CEO of Cera

When Dr Ben Maruthappu struggled to organise reliable care for his mother, the experience did more than frustrate him. It set the course for a company. A former NHS doctor, he founded Cera in 2016 to move healthcare out of hospitals and into people's homes, and in under a decade he has built it into one of Europe's fastest-growing healthcare companies.

That personal record of scaling an ambitious business has made him a finalist for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Care reimagined around technology

Maruthappu leads Cera as an AI-powered home healthcare company that delivers care on behalf of governments, the NHS and insurers. The company reports that its 12,000 carers and nurses carry out three million home visits a month across the country, greater in scale, it says, than all NHS accident and emergency attendances combined. At each visit, staff log patients' symptoms digitally, building what the business describes as a world-leading healthcare dataset exceeding 300 billion data points.

That data underpins the innovation at the heart of Maruthappu's model. According to Cera, its AI tools predict health risks up to seven days in advance with over 80 per cent accuracy, cutting falls by 20 per cent and hospitalisations by up to 70 per cent. The company says its preventative approach has saved the NHS and government more than one billion pounds to date, now around two million pounds a day, in a model it describes as far more affordable and more carbon-friendly than hospital care.

Building a workforce and a research engine

Under Maruthappu's leadership Cera has also set out to grow the care workforce, reporting one million frontline applicants over two years and one million hours of training delivered, supported by productivity tools for staff. The company says it has secured more than 350 NHS and local government contracts with a 98 per cent renewal rate, and that it is the only care provider globally with its own robotics division. He has also launched what Cera calls the world's first AI Lab for care and is drawing on the firm's dataset to advance research for an ageing population with global life sciences partners.

A doctor turned entrepreneur

Maruthappu's shift from medicine to entrepreneurship, taken despite no prior business experience, embodies what the entrepreneur category sets out to reward: visionary leadership applied to a market in urgent need of change. Finalists across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will hear the results at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

About Segun Akinwoleola, Founder of The Gym Kitchen

Segun Akinwoleola founded The Gym Kitchen in 2018 on a simple but powerful conviction: healthier eating should not force consumers to compromise on taste, convenience or affordability. Recognising the opportunity long before high-protein food became mainstream, he set out to make healthier meals accessible to everyday shoppers rather than a niche fitness audience.

Building that idea into one of the UK's fastest-growing challenger brands has made him a finalist for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

From a single insight to a multi-category brand

Under Akinwoleola's leadership, The Gym Kitchen has grown from a challenger chilled meals brand into a multi-category FMCG business spanning chilled meals, frozen meals, food-to-go, yogurts, snacks and ambient products. According to the business, its 42 products are now stocked in more than 6,000 stores nationwide across Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury's, Morrisons, Co-op and Ocado. By pairing genuine nutritional credentials with enjoyable flavours and accessible pricing, he has widened the appeal of healthier eating well beyond its traditional base.

Growth and recognition

The company's performance has been striking. The Gym Kitchen reports that it now generates 62 million pounds in annual Retail Sales Value and was ranked the UK's fourth highest-performing FMCG challenger brand in the Challenger 50 report, with 75.7 per cent year-on-year growth and 206.3 per cent growth over two years. In the last 18 months alone, according to the business, it has launched 25 new products, expanded into new categories and strengthened its retail footprint through initiatives including a dedicated branded bay within Asda stores.

That momentum has been matched by industry recognition. The Gym Kitchen was named Food and Drink Federation SME of the Year, reflecting both its commercial success and its growing influence in the sector. The company's registration is recorded at Companies House.

An influential voice

Beyond the numbers, Akinwoleola has built a reputation for agility and consumer-led thinking, with the business developing products from concept to shelf in as little as three months and becoming an active voice within FMCG through industry initiatives, community partnerships and advocacy for healthier eating. That blend of vision, speed and market impact is precisely what the entrepreneur category sets out to recognise. Finalists across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will learn the outcome at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

About Hugh Viney, Founder and CEO of Minerva Virtual Academy

Hugh Viney set out to prove that academic rigour and genuine pastoral care do not have to be a trade-off. As founder and chief executive of Minerva Virtual Academy, he has grown a Department for Education accredited, non-selective independent school from 10 students in January 2021 into what the school describes as the UK's fastest-growing, now teaching more than 1,500 young people aged 11 to 18 across over 60 countries.

That record has made him a finalist for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

A school built around the student

Viney's model, delivered through Minerva Virtual Academy, takes a flexible, happiness-first approach aimed at students who, for many reasons, struggle in the mainstream: unsupported special educational needs or mental health difficulties, a demanding sporting schedule, a need to travel, and much more. A significant proportion of those who join, the school says, are former school refusers who had been persistently absent, sometimes for months or years.

Results that counter national trends

The outcomes Viney reports run against the grain of national data. According to the school, students who join often return to an average of 98 per cent attendance, at a time when around 1.4 million children in England are persistently absent. The happiness-first approach, the business says, also lifts academic performance, with GCSE students outperforming the national average in key subjects, more than doubling it in English Language, while the special educational needs attainment gap has narrowed to 0.1 points against a national gap of 14.6. 

Purpose-driven growth

Viney frames the academy as a school for any child who does not suit the mainstream, offering a bespoke, flexible system designed to help them fall back in love with learning. He attributes its rapid expansion to a sustained, purpose-driven strategy, one that has also kept teacher retention high even as the profession sees record numbers leaving. That expansion now includes the launch of a first autonomous regional hub, MVA Middle East, centred in Dubai with its own leadership, timetable and events.

His focus on building a genuinely different institution around an underserved group of learners speaks directly to what the entrepreneur category rewards. Finalists across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will learn the outcome at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

About Nic Taylor, Founder and CEO of 47 Skin

Nic Taylor started 47 Skin from a family kitchen in Yorkshire in 2018, determined to challenge a skincare industry he felt was driven more by marketing claims than by genuine results. As founder and chief executive, he has since grown the self-funded brand into an international business operating in one of beauty's most competitive segments, the global acne and problem-skin market.

That achievement has made him a finalist for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Science at the core

At the heart of the brand Taylor built is its proprietary Silver Chitoderm technology, a clinically developed antimicrobial compound designed to target the bacteria responsible for acne while remaining gentle on the skin barrier. That innovation, 47 Skin says, has allowed it to carve out a differentiated position and a new category of high-performance, science-led skincare focused on real results.

Disciplined, profitable growth

Taylor has scaled the company without external investment, and it reports having been profitable since launch. According to the business, 47 Skin has grown into a 15 million pound international business, with 25 million pounds forecast for its 2027 financial year, now serving over 600,000 customers worldwide alongside more than 25,000 active subscribers and over 20,000 five-star reviews. The brand operates an omnichannel model spanning direct-to-consumer ecommerce, Amazon and retail partnerships including Boots and Harrods. The company says Boots has identified it as one of the fastest-growing brands in its premium skincare category, with around 40 per cent year-on-year growth against category growth of roughly 1 per cent. International expansion, particularly in the United States, is now a central growth driver.

Changing how skincare speaks to customers

Beyond commercial success, Taylor has set out to change how skincare brands communicate with consumers, using real customers, unedited imagery and clinically credible claims to challenge industry norms and build trust at scale. That mix of scientific innovation, disciplined execution and customer focus is the kind of personal leadership the entrepreneur category is designed to celebrate. Finalists across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will hear the outcome at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

About Guy Walker, Founder and CEO of Dovetail & Slate

Guy Walker founded Dovetail & Slate in 2018 on a belief that recruitment could be done differently. Focused on the public sector, he set out to connect talented professionals with the organisations that deliver education, local government and social housing services.

Building that idea, without external investment, into what the business calls the UK's fastest-growing public sector recruitment specialist has made him a finalist for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

From start-up to national specialist

Under Walker's leadership, Dovetail & Slate has grown from a start-up into a nearly 100-strong business operating from Manchester, Leeds and Bristol. The company reports serving more than 900 clients and delivering over 15,000 placements to date. It began in Further Education, where, it says, it is the largest single recruitment team in the UK by headcount, and is now extending that sector-specialist model into local government and social housing, markets that share governance structures, transferable talent pools and procurement processes.

A partnership model, not a transactional one

What Walker emphasises is a model built on relationships rather than transactions. The firm places professionals at every level, from senior leaders to operational staff, on temporary, permanent or project bases, while its Client Services Team works alongside clients to build resilient teams and future talent pipelines. That work is backed by ISO9001 and ISO27001 accreditation, and extended through Talentia Talent Services, a consultancy on applicant-tracking technology and employer brand, alongside the group's own technology stack.

Recognition for culture and growth

The company Walker leads has earned recognition for both how it treats its people and how fast it has grown. According to the business, it holds Platinum accreditation from Investors in People, a status it says is shared by only 5 per cent of organisations globally, and has been named among the UK's Best Companies to Work For by The Sunday Times, alongside a Sunday Times Hundred 2025 listing as a fastest-growing company. Guided by a founding purpose of empowering people and changing lives, Walker's record of scaling a values-led business is exactly what the entrepreneur category sets out to reward. Finalists across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will learn the outcome at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

About Carlo Weaver, Founder and CEO of Apprentago

Carlo Weaver was diagnosed autistic when he was a child, left school with no GCSEs, spent eight months homeless, and rebuilt his life through an investment banking apprenticeship. He now runs a company designed to create the same opportunity for other young people.

As founder and chief executive of Apprentago, he has built a platform that helps teenagers discover apprenticeships and work experience they might otherwise never hear about, an achievement that has made him a finalist for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Reaching young people first

Weaver's insight is that careers websites only reach students who already know what to search for. Apprentago reaches them earlier, on TikTok, where the business says creator-led content has drawn more than 35 million views, and in the classroom, where over 150 schools run a dedicated Apprentago careers lesson each week. A young person uses the platform free to discover opportunities, build a CV, prepare for interviews and track applications with an AI-agent coach.

A model that serves four audiences

Around each student, Weaver has built a model serving employers, schools and colleges, and regional government. Employers, from SMEs to the likes of KPMG, DHL, Deutsche Bank and NatWest, pay not to post jobs, which is free, but to reach an audience no other channel can, through TikTok campaigns, co-branded lessons and sponsored sector categories. Schools and colleges pay to track work experience requirements and evidence outcomes to Ofsted, while regional government funds Apprentago to identify in real time which young people risk becoming NEET and intervene early. Apprentago was awarded lead technology partner to the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority on the UK Youth Guarantee through public tender. Their platform is in every school and college across the region, every employer gets access too and all 900,000 residents in CPCA.

Built by ex-apprentices

Weaver has built Apprentago with a team of ex-apprentices who all code, and the company reports revenue growth from around 30,000 pounds in its first year to roughly 100,000 pounds in its second, with about 350,000 pounds targeted this year, and it has been featured on Channel 4. His personal story and the mission it powers speak directly to what the entrepreneur category rewards: a founder who has turned lived experience into an inclusive, scalable business. Finalists across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will hear the outcome at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

About Charlotte Melia, Co-founder of D&F Creative

Charlotte Melia started D&F Creative with 48.50 pounds, a state education and no little black book of contacts. Today she co-leads a multi-award-winning, women-owned live experience studio that designs and delivers events across culture, sport and the workplace. That climb from a standing start to an internationally recognised business has made her a finalist for The Cazenove Capital Entrepreneur of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Engineering live experiences around impact

Melia's studio operates in the global live marketing and brand experience market from offices in Surrey, Riyadh and New York, and is founder-led from strategy through to delivery. What sets it apart, the business says, is its proprietary Human Impact Method, which engineers live work around a measurable behavioural objective rather than spectacle. According to D&F Creative, that rigour has helped win a client roster since its 2022 pivot to corporate events that includes Meta, Disney, Instagram, Spotify, Wise, LSEG, White & Case, Gillette, McDonald's and Greggs, sustained by what the company reports as 98 per cent client retention.

An entrepreneur across continents and disciplines

Melia's achievements extend well beyond a single market. She led D&F, the business says, to become the first double women-founded UK team to open an agency in Saudi Arabia, then scaled the studio into New York. According to the company, she closed 800,000 pounds in angel investment and 1 million pounds in debt finance to fund that growth, and reinvested by funding a three-year PhD with Imperial College London. That research produced what the business describes as the world's first biodegradable latex formula, now spun out as Bioloon, a university spin-out it says has raised over 1 million pounds pre-seed and was reported by The Times in June 2026.

Purpose alongside performance

That blend of commercial growth and deep-tech innovation has drawn national recognition, including, according to the business, Creative Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards, a Micebook award for best DEI initiative, a Business Growth Award at The Dynamic Awards and EY Winning Women 2025. Melia represents UK business internationally as a government trade delegate and, as a founding member of the 93% Club, launched the MadeInStateSchool campaign to widen access to the creative industries. Pairing purpose, diversity and commercial performance in this way is exactly what the entrepreneur category sets out to celebrate. Finalists across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will learn the outcome at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

About Tulleys Farm

Tulleys Farm, the family-run visitor attraction in West Sussex, has been named a finalist for The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, the UK's largest business awards programme.

The farm has been the Beare family's home since 1937, and the family has worked in agriculture for nine generations. Under Stuart Beare and his son Sam, the business has evolved from a crop and dairy farm into one of the UK's leading agricultural tourism destinations, according to its awards entry, with a national and international profile built on immersive seasonal events that have featured widely in the media and on national television.

From working farm to events destination

Constant diversification has driven that growth. The business says it was the first venue to offer a tulip festival, a format that has since spawned a host of imitators, and it now brings springtime colour to two further sites, in St Albans and Warwick. The farm is also home to Shocktober Fest, described by the business as Europe's largest Halloween Scream Park, alongside its long-running Pumpkin Festival, a Christmas Lights festival and year-round attractions including escape rooms and corporate events, all detailed on the Tulleys Farm website.

A record year for visitors

The company reports strong momentum across the board. Shocktober Fest attendance rose from 97,892 to 113,565 in 2025, while the Pumpkin Festival grew year on year from 145,365 to 158,056 visitors. Across the business as a whole, total visitor numbers climbed 41 per cent to 687,520 and turnover rose 43 per cent to £20.8m, according to the entry.

Innovation remains a stated priority, with the business constantly seeking to offer new experiences. In 2025 it unveiled Feastwick, an indoor recreation of a Tudor street, at both Shocktober Fest and its Christmas events.

Customer experience sits behind the numbers. The business points to a 4.7 out of 5 rating on Tripadvisor from 8,400 reviews, and its entry quotes one 2026 reviewer: "I just wish we lived nearer to visit more often as I left there full of smiles."

Family values behind the growth

Despite its scale, Tulleys says it maintains a strong focus on its family values. A dedicated welfare team supports full-time colleagues and the hundreds of seasonal workers who staff its events, the business reports, with measures in place to support neurodivergent and disabled employees and visitors. The company also says it works to minimise its environmental impact.

Tulleys Farm now takes its place on the Family Business of the Year shortlist alongside fellow finalists from across the country. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced on 10 November 2026 at the Grosvenor House Hotel on London's Park Lane.

About Little Foxes

Little Foxes Childcare, the family-owned early years education provider that has served children and families across the North West for more than 30 years, has been shortlisted for The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The nursery group, owned by Little Foxes Ltd, earns its place among the finalists for combining three decades of sustainable growth with what it describes as genuine family values, all within a highly regulated and increasingly challenging childcare sector. The business says its premium childcare and early education enable children to thrive while supporting working families and local economic growth.

From three colleagues to a team of 106

Founded on the belief that every child deserves exceptional care and opportunities to flourish, Little Foxes has grown from a team of just three colleagues into an organisation employing 106 people across multiple settings, according to its awards entry. The company's website describes a family-run nursery operating since 1996, with settings in Garston, Maghull, Newton-le-Willows and Wigan across Merseyside and Greater Manchester.

Despite that growth, the business reports that it has stayed true to its family roots, building a culture in which children, families and colleagues feel valued, supported and inspired. Its values of Caring, Dedicated, Proactive, Growth and Fun guide every aspect of the operation, the company says.

Three promises to families

The group's approach is built around three commitments. Play to Progress is its bespoke curriculum, focused on confidence, purposeful play and school readiness. Outside to Thrive gives children regular outdoor adventures and environmental learning. Built to Belong creates strong partnerships with families and communities.

The business also reports heavy investment in its people, with clear career pathways, leadership opportunities and a supportive culture that helps colleagues build long-term careers in early years education. That people-first approach, it says, has produced a loyal and engaged workforce alongside exceptional experiences for families.

Growth with social impact

Among the achievements cited in its entry are sustainable growth over three decades, the creation of more than 100 local jobs, innovative recruitment, onboarding and family engagement systems, a bespoke curriculum and a positive impact on thousands of children and families. The company says it has successfully combined commercial growth with social impact, proving that purpose and profitability can work hand in hand.

Little Foxes describes itself today as more than a childcare provider, a family business built on legacy, integrity and care, creating opportunities for children, colleagues and communities for generations to come. Following the announcement of finalists in July 2026, it now joins the Family Business of the Year shortlist at the UK's largest business awards programme, with winners revealed on 10 November 2026 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London.

About Champions Speakers

Champions Speakers, the keynote speaker and consultancy agency that describes itself as the leading bureau in the UK, Europe and EMEA, has been named a finalist for The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Founded in 2003 as a family business, and set up by father and son John and Matthew Hayes according to the history pages of its own website, the agency connects organisations with keynote speakers, industry experts, celebrities, influencers and content creators, supporting more than 5,000 events and campaigns a year for blue-chip corporations, government institutions and trade associations, according to its awards entry. Its head office is near Loughborough in Leicestershire, with a second office in Mayfair, London, as listed on the company's website.

From a team of two to a global operation

The business has grown from a team of two into an organisation of more than 100 agents and support staff, and the company reports that it manages the industry's most extensive talent network, representing and sourcing over 8,000 speakers, advisors and celebrities across business, leadership, technology, sport, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, economics and artificial intelligence.

Clients are served through 21 dedicated business centres offering sector-specific knowledge and tailored recommendations, while continued investment in technology, research and proprietary AI tools helps the agency respond quickly to market trends, the entry states. International growth has been striking: the company has scaled its trading operations from 45 to 66 countries and says it is on track to reach 75 countries by the end of 2026.

A founding member of the European Association of Speakers Bureaux, Champions Speakers says it has helped shape standards across the international speaking industry.

A record of recognition

The shortlisting adds to a strong record of recognition elsewhere. The company was ranked 57th in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100, recognised in the London Stock Exchange's 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain and named among JP Morgan's Top 200 Female-Powered Businesses. It was also named Entertainment Agents' Association Booking Agency of the Year in both 2025 and 2026, took the Department for Business and Trade's Made in the UK, Sold to the World Award for Consultancy and Professional Services in 2025, and was named SME of the Year at the 2026 British Business Awards, a separate programme, securing a place on The Times and Sunday Times British Business Leaders List.

The road to Grosvenor House

Champions Speakers now competes on the Family Business of the Year shortlist at the UK's largest business awards programme. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be revealed at a ceremony at the Grosvenor House Hotel, London, on 10 November 2026.

About Nyton House

Nyton House, an independent, family-owned residential care home in West Sussex, has been named a finalist for The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The business has delivered adult social care for more than 45 years and, according to the company, stands among the earliest examples of private social care in the UK.

The award forms part of the UK's largest business awards programme and recognises family firms that combine commercial discipline with long-term stewardship. Nyton House joins the shortlist announced in July 2026, with winners to be revealed at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026. The full list of contenders is published on the awards category page.

Outstanding in a pressured market

Independent care homes face intense competition, tighter regulation and sustained workforce pressure, and many have struggled under the strain. Nyton House reports that it has responded with foresight and discipline, expanding from 22 beds in 1999 to 44 beds in 2023 to build the scale needed for financial resilience.

The regulator's verdict supports that account. The home holds an Outstanding rating from the Care Quality Commission, an achievement the business notes is held by fewer than 5 per cent of care homes nationally. In its assessment published in January 2025, the CQC rated Nyton House Outstanding overall, finding that residents received an exceptionally caring service from a highly motivated and responsive staff team, supported by an outstanding leadership team.

A home style model of dementia care

In recent years the family business has strengthened its focus on high-quality dementia care, drawing on international insight to develop a distinctive Home Style approach. Carefully designed facilities create a safe, calm and enabling environment that supports both independence and reablement. On its website, Nyton House describes small, dedicated dementia households set within three and a half acres of gardens at Westergate, near Chichester.

The company builds its competitive strength on four clear areas of focus: attracting, retaining and developing outstanding care professionals; creating an environment that feels genuinely homely, safe and dignified; delivering exceptional catering; and enriching daily life through meaningful activities, engagement and human connection.

Governance with foresight

Behind the front of house sits a governance framework the business describes as strong, built on robust audit cycles, digital care planning and proactive risk management. Nyton House points to its record during COVID as a demonstration of foresight, infection control and leadership under exceptional circumstances, and reports sustained investment in workforce development, leadership and quality improvement.

For the judges, the case rests on a combination that remains rare in adult social care: compassionate, deeply personal support delivered alongside disciplined leadership and strategic clarity. According to the business, the result is a care experience that is highly trusted and operationally exceptional, from a family firm with a proven ability to evolve across more than four decades.

About Rock Fall UK

Rock Fall UK, a second-generation, family-owned safety footwear business based in Alfreton, Derbyshire, has been named a finalist for The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Founded in 1997, the company supplies safety boots and shoes to high-risk industries and reached an all-time high turnover of £21.6 million in 2025, according to the business.

The family's trading story began on local Derbyshire markets in the 1980s, selling high quality leather slippers, and the first Rock Fall range was based on formal leather shoes. The company then moved into safety footwear with a vision of offering the UK a wide variety of practical, safe and comfortable options. Rock Fall now joins the shortlist for the UK's largest business awards programme, confirmed in July 2026, with winners to be announced at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026. The full line-up of finalists is published on the awards category page.

Two decades of continuous growth

Rock Fall reports continuous year-on-year growth over the past two decades. The business attributes this to product innovation built on new material and component technology, diversification into new overseas territories and a deliberately disruptive approach to product development, using curiosity-led research to generate new and niche market opportunities. A close-knit team of 49 employees, drawn from a diverse range of backgrounds and including highly experienced functional experts in key roles, supplies a constant flow of new ideas, while in-house laboratory testing and quality control protect assured quality.

Guided by what it calls a 'customer-first always' mentality, the brand works exclusively through Authorised Distribution Partners and collaborates with major end-user customers and industry bodies to raise workplace safety standards. On its website, Rock Fall states that its footwear meets or exceeds the EN ISO 20345 standard, that it is a registered safety supplier with the British Safety Industry Federation, and that its record of product firsts includes internal metatarsal protection and footwear engineered for extreme temperatures.

Responsibility to people and planet

Alongside commercial performance, the company makes a significant commitment to sustainability and ethics, aiming to reduce its environmental footprint and improve transparency in sourcing. Its actions include working only with responsible, traceable suppliers, using recyclable packaging printed with soy-based inks and reducing reliance on virgin plastic. The company also states that parts of its range have been Verified by the Vegan Society, a step it describes as an industry first.

For the judges of this family business category, Rock Fall presents a clear purpose: to engineer advanced footwear that is trusted to perform. From a market stall in Derbyshire to a brand competing in overseas territories, the second generation of the family describes a business that is never standing still, obsessed with quality and constantly pushing to create ever safer, more comfortable and functional footwear.

About Kendamil

Kendamil, the infant formula brand created by family-owned British business Kendal Nutricare, has been named a finalist for The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The Cumbrian company is the UK's only manufacturer of infant formula and describes Kendamil as one of the UK's fastest-growing infant formula brands.

Built on family values and a commitment to doing things differently, the business combines British farming, carefully selected ingredients and nutritional expertise to produce premium infant formula from its manufacturing base in the Lake District. Kendamil products are now sold in more than 45 countries, according to the company, with growth continuing across domestic and international markets. Winners of the UK's largest business awards programme will be announced at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026, and the shortlist is published on the awards category page.

Backing British farming and manufacturing

As a family business, Kendal Nutricare says it takes a long-term approach to growth, reinvesting in its people, manufacturing capabilities and supply chain. It works in partnership with UK dairy farmers, including more than 35 organic family farms, helping to support rural communities while maintaining a secure supply of high-quality milk. Continued investment in its facilities is expanding production capacity to meet growing global demand, creating skilled jobs and, in the company's words, strengthening the UK's infant nutrition industry.

The published company history on the Kendal Nutricare website records that its factory was built in Kendal in 1962 and that Kendal Nutricare acquired the site from HJ Heinz in June 2015, giving the family firm a manufacturing heritage of more than 60 years in infant milk.

A whole milk recipe without compromise

What sets Kendamil apart, the business says, is its unique whole milk recipe and uncompromising approach to quality. Unlike many competitors, its recipes contain no palm oil or fish oil, an approach the company frames as carefully selected ingredients without unnecessary compromises. Combined with British manufacturing, transparency and continuous innovation, this has built exceptional consumer trust and driven significant growth across retail and international markets, according to the business. The full range is set out on the Kendamil website.

Recognition at home and abroad

Over the last 18 months the company reports continued investment in manufacturing capability, the launch of innovative new products, stronger relationships with UK dairy farmers and expansion into new international markets, alongside multiple industry awards recognising product quality and innovation.

Public recognition has followed a similar path. The company's published timeline notes a Queen's Award for Enterprise in 2020, shipments of formula to the United States from May 2022 in response to Operation Fly Formula during the American formula shortage, and the appointment of co-founder Ross McMahon as MBE in January 2024 for services to the local community and international trade. The business says its continued investment supports British agriculture, delivers exceptional products and creates sustainable long-term value for families.

About RCP Parking

RCP Parking, the family-owned parking management company founded in 1994 by Shapoor Naghshineh and his brother, has been named a finalist in The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Managing more than 60 sites across the UK, the business describes itself as an ethical disruptor, intent on proving that parking can be run with fairness and common sense.

The shortlisting recognises a company now in second-generation hands. Managing Director Sarah Naghshineh, Shapoor's daughter, has professionalised the firm's founding principles into a scalable corporate strategy, and the business says the accountability of having the family name above the door remains its defining difference. Finalists were announced in July 2026, with winners revealed at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026, at the ceremony staged by the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Treating car parks as high-value assets

RCP acts as a strategic partner to commercial landowners and major Real Estate Investment Trusts, protecting their brand reputation and driving destination footfall through entrepreneurial marketing. Its central argument is that car parks deserve to be managed as high-value assets, while motorists are treated with clarity, respect and common sense.

The company has embedded its BAAR values, Bold, Agile, Authentic and Respectful, throughout its operations. According to the business, these values underpin an industry-first charitable diversion scheme, which allows motorists to redirect penalty payments to local causes, and a self-funded urban rewilding project in Manchester.

A culture built on people

RCP employs 50 people and reports a 97 per cent Great Place to Work rating alongside a British Parking Association Wellbeing award. Its certification was renewed in February 2026, according to its listing with Great Place to Work UK. The company says it builds careers through structured training and mentorship rather than simply filling roles, developing talent internally from the ground up.

That commitment extends into the community. Through its collaboration with Smart Works, the business says it has contributed to helping thousands of women gain employment, evidence, it argues, that commercial scale and social purpose are not mutually exclusive.

Second-generation leadership

Sarah Naghshineh's rise has been noted beyond the company. Family Business UK profiled her as one of its Ones to Watch in November 2024, recording that she joined the Norfolk-based firm in 2009 as a car park attendant before becoming a director in 2019. More on the company's approach is set out on the RCP Parking website.

As the generational transition continues, RCP says its focus is on preserving a legacy of fairness and integrity while pursuing sustainable, future-focused growth, so that the principles which built the business continue to shape how it operates. The company now awaits the judges' decision alongside its fellow finalists in the Family Business of the Year category.

About Resolve Care

Resolve Care, the family-run provider of specialist residential care for men with learning disabilities and autism who have a forensic history, has been named a finalist in The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The business was founded in 2008 by Anne Graham, a qualified social worker, and David King, a learning disability nurse, and today operates three care homes in the North East of England. Companies House records show the company, Resolve (Care Northern) Limited, was incorporated on 8 October 2008. Finalists were announced in July 2026, with winners revealed at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

Care where almost none exists

The market Resolve serves is small and highly specialist. Men with learning disabilities and autism who have committed serious offences have almost no access to community-based residential care with the forensic expertise to support them safely, and for most, according to the business, the only alternative is a secure hospital bed, often for years and sometimes indefinitely. Resolve was established to change that.

Graham and King lead from the front, present in the homes and guiding employees through decisions on Mental Health Act restrictions, safeguarding and forensic risk that most care providers never face. The provider is registered with the Care Quality Commission, and the sector title Learning Disability Today has reported that its established homes hold Outstanding ratings, a distinction few learning disability services have achieved under the regulator's more recent inspection approach.

A published evidence base

What sets the business apart, the company says, is the combination of clinical expertise, a published evidence base and a family-run ethos. Its peer-reviewed Model of Care, co-authored with Dr Celia Harbottle and published in the Journal of Intellectual Disabilities and Offending Behaviour, is described by the business as the only model of its kind in community-based forensic learning disability provision.

The approach has drawn interest from overseas. According to the company, researchers conducting a worldwide search to inform Australian federal policy found nothing comparable and have since worked with Resolve to develop their own approach.

Purpose-built for the people it supports

A significant milestone came in 2025 with the opening of Roseville House, a £2 million investment that took two years to deliver. Purpose-built for the men Resolve supports, the home features soundproofed rooms to meet sensory needs, a dedicated training facility and an environment designed around residents' specific therapeutic requirements. Further information is available on the Resolve Care website.

Graham and King's stated aim is to shape how the sector thinks about forensic learning disability care and to influence the policy and commissioning decisions that determine how this group of men are supported. The company now awaits the judges' verdict alongside its fellow finalists in the Family Business of the Year category.

About Sandwich Sandwich

Sandwich Sandwich, the Bristol food business founded in 2012 by husband-and-wife team Nick and Anita Kleiner, has been shortlisted for The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The founding ambition was simple: to make the humble sandwich Britain's favourite lunchtime choice again.

What began as a tiny neighbourhood sandwich shop has grown, the company says, into one of the UK's most exciting food brands, with multiple locations across Bristol and London, more than 230,000 social media followers and a growing corporate catering operation. According to the business, it has also signed its first international franchise agreement, in Dubai. Winners in this year's programme, run by the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, will be announced at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

A family affair

Nick Kleiner continues to lead the business as chief executive, while Anita remains central to product development and culture. The couple's sons, Josh and Izzy, now play key roles in marketing and finance, and Nick's brother Richard supports the company as Non-Executive Head of Finance. Working alongside an experienced leadership team, the family says it has created a business where commercial ambition and family values work hand in hand. That combination of close family ownership and professional management sits at the heart of its awards entry.

Making the sandwich a destination

The company's philosophy is that a sandwich should never be ordinary. Taking inspiration from cuisines around the world, it produces generous, handcrafted sandwiches that combine bold flavours, texture and quality ingredients, each designed to surprise customers and exceed their expectations. The business reports exceptional customer loyalty and credits a strong social media presence with transforming a traditional food category into a destination brand.

That approach has brought recognition from outside the family too. Sandwich Sandwich was named Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year, a title its corporate website records as being won in 2023 along with a £100,000 prize, and the business has featured in the FEBE Growth 100 for two consecutive years. In the British Business Excellence Awards, however, the verdict is still to come: the company is one of a strong field of contenders in the Family Business of the Year category.

Beyond Bristol

Looking ahead, the family's stated ambition reaches well past opening more shops. Sandwich Sandwich aims to build a modern British food brand capable of national and international recognition, while staying true to the family values, craftsmanship and genuine hospitality it says have defined it from day one. The company continues to invest in its people, its culture and its communities as it grows, and a place on the shortlist announced in July 2026 puts that formula in front of the judges once more.

About Arthur C Towner

Arthur C Towner, the sixth-generation funeral director that has served the Hastings and Rother area of East Sussex for more than 150 years, has been named a finalist in The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026. According to the business, it is the last firm of its kind from the 19th century still in local independent hands.

The company was established in 1875 by Frederick Edward Towner, a cabinet maker and undertaker in St Leonards-on-Sea, as recorded on the company's history pages, and was incorporated in 1938. Today it operates branches in St Leonards, Bexhill and Battle. Managing Director Oliver Towner took charge in 2021, succeeding his father Edward after his 46 years with the firm, the company's website notes.

Modernising a conservative trade

Under Oliver Towner's leadership, the business reports a deliberate transformation from a traditional, reactive model to an innovation-led organisation that challenges the norms of its sector. Over the past 18 months it has introduced a formal HR function headed by a CIPD-qualified manager, with recruitment refocused on emotional intelligence and values alignment. The result, according to the entry, is stronger onboarding, improved team cohesion and a workplace built on trust, flexibility and wellbeing support.

Innovation extends to the tools of the trade. Oliver has developed STYX, a proprietary funeral management system, and the business says he is pioneering a first-of-its-kind low-carbon cremation shroud with global potential.

Leading on sustainability

Elected to the SAIF National Executive Committee in 2024, Oliver was quickly appointed to chair its new Environmental Group, helping to shape sustainability standards across the independent funeral sector. Environmental responsibility runs through the firm itself, from renewable energy, electric vehicles and paperless operations to a long-term goal of carbon-neutral funerals, and the company is a founder member of the Association of Green Funeral Directors.

That commitment has brought recognition in other programmes, including back-to-back Funeral Service Awards for Sustainability in 2024 and 2025 and a Good Funeral Awards 2024 Green Company of the Year nomination, alongside annual listing in The Good Funeral Guide as one of the best in the country.

Steady through change

The company reports that it navigated COVID-19, regulatory change and a leadership transition without raising prices, and now sits in a stable, growth-oriented position, with a separate NAMM-accredited stonemasonry operation adding further resilience. Quiet, consistent support for local charities, youth programmes and environmental projects reflects a purpose beyond profit built over generations.

Arthur C Towner now joins its fellow finalists on the Family Business of the Year shortlist. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be revealed at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About Shaker Wholesale

Shaker Wholesale, the kitchen company on a mission to put premium handmade Shaker kitchens within reach of ordinary homeowners, has been named a finalist in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

High-quality in-frame kitchens have traditionally been sold through expensive retail networks, producing prices that put them beyond many households. Shaker Wholesale has challenged that model by vertically integrating design, manufacturing and retail, allowing customers to buy exceptional handmade kitchens at a significantly lower price than many established competitors.

Controlling every stage

The business owns and operates its own manufacturing facility in Vietnam, giving it complete control over quality, production, lead times and innovation. That direct-to-consumer model strips out unnecessary layers of cost while preserving the craftsmanship and attention to detail expected of a premium British kitchen brand. By managing the whole customer experience, from design through production to installation, the company says it has built a scalable platform for long-term growth. Its range and approach are set out on the Shaker Wholesale website, which describes fully assembled, factory-finished kitchens supplied directly to homeowners across the UK.

From start-up to multi-million-pound business

Growth since launch has been rapid. According to the business, it has expanded from a start-up operation into a multi-million-pound company serving customers throughout the UK, selling more than 400 kitchens, building a social media audience of over 60,000 followers and growing its team to more than 130 employees across the UK and Vietnam.

Following the successful launch of its flagship showroom in Cirencester, the company has secured a second showroom in Bristol, with further sites planned across the UK. It forecasts turnover of approximately £7.5 million this year, rising to £15 million next year, driven by growing brand awareness, operational efficiency and rising consumer demand.

What differentiates Shaker Wholesale, the entry argues, is the combination of British design, international manufacturing expertise and a highly efficient business model. With ambitious expansion plans, continued investment in technology and manufacturing capacity, and a commitment to delivering outstanding value without compromising on quality, the company believes it is well positioned to become one of the UK’s leading kitchen brands.

A place at the top table

Shaker Wholesale now joins the shortlist for The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award, a category recognising businesses with revenues up to £25m that are achieving growth across a range of metrics with a robust plan for sustained success. Judges in the category assess entrants on financial performance, leadership and innovation, employee and customer engagement, and purpose beyond profit. The winner will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, where the Cirencester firm will learn whether its recipe for affordable craftsmanship takes the prize.

About ramarketing

ramarketing, the specialist agency that helps life science companies around the world turn marketing into measurable commercial growth, has been named a finalist in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

From offices in the UK, US and Canada, the full-service agency partners with contract development and manufacturing organisations, contract research organisations, biotech firms and healthcare communications businesses to build pipeline, strengthen positioning and deliver impact on revenue and investor confidence. What differentiates the firm, it says, is the clarity of its commercial philosophy: marketing exists to drive business growth, not to be a cost centre, a belief that shapes how strategy is constructed, how performance is reported and how the agency itself is structured.

Outpacing a cautious market

Over the past two years the agency has delivered sustained growth despite reduced discretionary marketing spend across the life sciences sector. According to the business, core revenue grew from £7.5m in FY23 to £8.9m in FY25, a compound annual growth rate of approximately 8.9 per cent, ahead of the pharma services market average of around 4.7 per cent. It enters FY26 with forecast revenue of £9.2m, representing projected year-on-year growth of approximately 3.4 per cent, supported by a growing team and a strengthened global leadership structure.

The company reports gross margins of around 60 per cent, a consistent EBITDA margin of around 25 per cent and a client retainer retention rate of approximately 74 per cent year on year, metrics it attributes to the quality of delivery and the strength of long-term partnerships. Backed by NorthEdge Capital since 2022, the agency combines the financial rigour of a private equity backed growth business with the agility of a sector specialist.

A defining acquisition

A milestone in the firm’s recent history is its acquisition of ISR Market Research in February 2026, which adds deep primary and syndicated research capability to its integrated offering, enabling insight-led, data-driven strategies that connect marketing investment directly to commercial outcomes. The deal, announced on the ramarketing newsroom, strengthens the agency’s North American presence: ISR is based in North Carolina’s Research Triangle Park, one of the largest pharmaceutical and biopharma hubs in North America, and retains its brand and leadership under the agreement. Further detail on the business is available on the ramarketing website.

Redefining marketing’s role

ramarketing now joins the shortlist for The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award, which recognises businesses with revenues up to £25m achieving growth across a range of metrics. The winner will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, where the agency will learn whether its argument, that marketing deeply integrated with commercial strategy is one of the most powerful drivers of sustainable growth, has won over the judges.

About PitPat

PitPat, the Cambridge company behind subscription-free fitness and GPS trackers for dogs, has been named a finalist in the The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award in the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Pitpatpet Ltd designs, manufactures and sells wearable devices that attach to a dog’s collar or harness. Paired with a companion mobile app, the waterproof hardware continuously monitors a dog’s activity, from walking and running to playing and resting, while calculating calories burned and steps taken. A satellite-enabled GPS model adds real-time location tracking to help owners recover lost pets quickly.

A growing market with a serious purpose

The company operates where consumer electronics, pet technology and digital pet health meet, a fast-growing global market driven by the trend of pet humanisation, in which owners invest in health monitoring and wellness products for their animals. The stakes are real: according to the business, more than half the world’s dogs are overweight or obese and one in three will go missing during their lifetime, meaning its products can benefit hundreds of millions of dogs and their owners worldwide.

Ripping up the subscription model

PitPat’s central point of difference is pricing. Where its main competitors require ongoing monthly or annual fees to use cellular tracking networks, PitPat provides lifetime connectivity with no subscription charges, sharply reducing the total cost of ownership. The company also reports industry-leading battery life, with the GPS tracker lasting months rather than days and the activity monitor running for over a year, which it describes as the longest battery life of any wearable on the market, human or animal. The company’s website describes the GPS device as the first tracker to combine the latest LTE-M and NB-IoT network technologies for improved power performance and coverage, and the Cambridge Independent has previously reported on the product’s launch from the firm’s base in the city’s technology cluster.

British-made, sold to the world

The products are designed in Cambridge and manufactured in the UK, and the firm holds Made in Britain accreditation, a combination that underpins its second shortlisting, in the category recognising British businesses achieving sustainable international growth through exporting their products, services and solutions. Alongside sales through the PitPat website, the business exports through Amazon in Europe and Australasia, taking its British-made hardware to owners in markets far beyond the UK.

Partnerships reinforce that reach. The company’s devices are Vet Approved, and it has built relationships across the pet sector, working with vet group CVS, insurers including Waggel, Pet Protect, John Lewis and Argos, pet food manufacturer Purina and supplement maker Lintbells, selling through these channels as well as directly to consumers.

Two chances on 10 November

PitPat now competes in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award, which recognises businesses with revenues up to £25m growing across a range of metrics, and in The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award, where judges look for significant overseas growth, in-depth knowledge of international markets and a plan for sustained export success.

The winners of both categories will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, where the pet technology firm will learn whether its disruptive, British-made model has fetched a national title, or two.

About OneDome

OneDome, the London-based housing and fintech company working to bring every stage of buying a home into a single service, has been named a finalist in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The company describes its ambition as building the operating system for homeownership, a platform intended to simplify life’s biggest financial decisions, from a first purchase through to long-term wealth planning. Its flagship HomeBuyer Service bundles mortgage advice, conveyancing, surveys and insurance into one fixed-price product, supported by a dedicated Property Moving Assistant and the firm’s proprietary DealRoom platform.

A fix for a fragmented market

Homebuyers in the UK have traditionally been left to coordinate separate providers for mortgages, legal work, insurance and surveys, an experience OneDome regards as fragmented, stressful and inefficient. Its response is a vertically integrated model that sits across proptech, fintech, legaltech and insurtech, combining mortgages, secured lending, conveyancing, insurance and wealth management in one ecosystem. Where competitors operate in silos as brokers, portals, legal providers or comparison sites, OneDome manages the whole transaction end to end, an approach the company says produces a far simpler customer experience, greater transparency and stronger long-term relationships. According to the OneDome website, the service is designed to halve the UK average of around 20 weeks from offer to completion, with each buyer assigned a single point of contact and access to a panel of more than 100 mortgage lenders.

Growth at exceptional speed

The numbers behind the entry are striking. According to the business, revenue has grown by more than 15,000 per cent since 2022, reaching a $100M revenue run-rate by March 2026, while the platform now arranges over $1.4Bn of mortgages per month through a network of more than 500 brokers, making OneDome one of the UK’s fastest-growing fintech businesses.

That trajectory has been independently recognised. OneDome ranked as the 4th fastest-growing fintech and 17th fastest-growing technology company in the UK in the Deloitte Fast 50 2025, a placing also reported by mortgage trade title The Intermediary in November 2025, and the company cites a ranking as the 6th fastest-growing tech company in the UK in the Sunday Times Tech 100 in 2026.

On the shortlist for 10 November

OneDome now competes in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award, a category that recognises businesses achieving growth across a range of metrics with a robust plan for sustained financial success. Judges assess entrants on financial performance, leadership and innovation, employee and customer engagement, and purpose beyond profit.

The winner will be revealed at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House, London. Whatever the outcome on the night, OneDome’s place among the finalists reflects one of the more remarkable growth stories in UK fintech, and a business intent on changing how the country buys its homes.

About Infinity Fire Prevention

Infinity Fire Prevention, the Kent-based specialist whose work helps keep buildings and their occupants safe from fire, has been named a finalist in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Based in Rochester, the company, known as IFP, delivers expert installation, inspection and repair services nationwide within the UK’s fire safety and construction sector, a critically regulated industry where the quality of workmanship has a direct bearing on the safety of people and property.

End-to-end fire protection

IFP’s core services span firestopping, penetration sealing, fire door inspection, renewal and maintenance, and compartmentation. It works across a broad portfolio of sectors including residential housing, commercial property, healthcare, education and local government, partnering with leading main contractors, housing associations and local authorities to help buildings meet the highest fire safety standards.

What sets the business apart, it says, is its end-to-end capability, taking clients from initial surveys and reporting through to full remediation, installation and certification. That turnkey approach gives clients a single, reliable partner across the entire passive fire protection lifecycle, reducing risk, simplifying procurement and maintaining consistency of quality throughout. Every installation and inspection is carried out by trained, competent operatives and backed by rigorous quality assurance sign-off, a discipline the company regards as non-negotiable in an industry where cutting corners can have life-threatening consequences. The Infinity Fire Prevention website details the firm’s services and its FIRAS certification, held since its founding as a fire prevention specialist in 2012, and states that the company now employs more than 50 skilled operatives led by a management team with backgrounds in fire safety.

From regional roots to national reach

According to the business, IFP has expanded from a regional base into a truly national operation, delivering projects from London to Scotland. It has built long-term relationships with some of the UK’s most recognised housing associations and local authorities, consistently delivering complex, large-scale programmes to demanding timescales.

The company is also positioning itself at the forefront of the industry’s response to regulatory change. As compliance requirements continue to evolve following Grenfell and the Building Safety Act 2022, IFP is helping clients meet new obligations with confidence, and it frames its growth as more than commercial success: a contribution to making the built environment safer for everyone.

Recognition on a national stage

IFP now joins the shortlist for The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award, which recognises businesses with revenues up to £25m achieving growth across a range of metrics. The winner will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, where the Rochester firm will discover whether its growth story earns the top honour.

About Hybrid Resi

Hybrid Resi, the London serviced apartment operator that has grown from a single unit to 75 apartments in three years, has been named a finalist in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Founded in 2022, the tech-enabled, human-led business operates at the intersection of hospitality, real estate and technology, delivering fully furnished, design-led apartments across Greater London with a growing presence in Dubai. Its model combines the space and flexibility of residential living with the service standards and consistency of a hotel, targeting corporate travellers, relocations, families and professionals who need high-quality, work-ready accommodation for short and extended stays.

The hotelisation of residential property

A core differentiator is what the company calls the hotelisation of residential real estate. Unlike many competitors that rely on third-party supply, Hybrid Resi owns and operates its inventory end to end, giving it control over quality, pricing, guest experience and brand consistency while supporting stronger margins. The business sits between traditional hotels and fragmented short-let providers, offering larger, residential-style accommodation delivered to hotel standards, with high-speed Wi-Fi, dedicated workspaces, weekly housekeeping and infrastructure for longer stays. Technology underpins the operation: a fully integrated digital ecosystem streamlines the guest experience from booking to check-out, including automated check-in, smart access and centralised operational controls. Locations and apartments are listed on the Hybrid Resi website, which features properties in areas including Battersea, Canary Wharf, Greenwich, Fulham, Wandsworth and New Malden.

Controlled growth, improving margins

The company reports strong, disciplined growth since launch, scaling from one unit in 2022 to 75 apartments across 10 London locations, primarily in Zone 2 and outer London markets. Turnover has risen from £678.9K in FY2023 to £3.664million, growth of 439 per cent, while management EBITDA, calculated before rent, finance costs, depreciation and exceptional items, rose from £291.2K to £2.018million, growth of over 590 per cent. Management EBITDA margins improved from 52.33 per cent to 55.08 per cent, and occupancy climbed from 52 per cent in 2022 to 72 per cent in 2025, according to the entry.

Sustainability is built into daily operations, with 100 per cent of electricity sourced from renewable energy and digital systems used to cut resource consumption and enable measurable carbon tracking.

A new benchmark on the shortlist

Hybrid Resi now competes in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award, which recognises businesses with revenues up to £25m achieving growth across a range of metrics, from financial performance to employee and customer engagement. The winner will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, where the operator will learn whether its bid to set a new benchmark for serviced apartments has paid off.

About Europlaz Technologies

Europlaz Technologies, the Essex-based medical device manufacturer whose products help clinicians treat patients and keep newborn babies alive, has been shortlisted for The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The company describes itself as one of the UK’s fastest growing medical device manufacturers, supporting a global client base to develop and launch new devices that improve treatments and save lives. According to the business, turnover has risen from £6m in 2021 to £16m this year, with a plan in place to reach £20m by the end of 2027, and nearly 30 new jobs have been created over the last twelve months.

Investment through turbulent times

That expansion has been delivered against a backdrop of the pandemic and a series of macroeconomic shocks that produced one of the most volatile trading environments in a generation. The company reports £4m of sustained investment since 2023 alone, alongside new process development and a commitment to sustainable production designed to deliver quality performance while limiting environmental impact. The Europlaz website sets out its ISO 13485 and FDA accredited manufacturing operation in Southminster, where the firm has been producing injection moulded medical components and finished devices for more than four decades. According to the company, its site includes more than 15,000 sq ft of cleanroom manufacturing space, and over half of its customers have partnered with the business for more than ten years.

A family firm with fresh momentum

The recent surge in sales has coincided with Rory and Katy O’Keeffe, son and daughter of founder Eddie, taking more prominent roles in the family business. Their commercial focus has reinforced a close-knit culture while sharpening the company’s growth plans, helping it target new markets that value its outsourced manufacturing, new product development expertise and regulatory knowledge.

All of the firm’s £16.1m revenue now comes from the medical, pharma and life science sectors, according to the entry, with more than 30 long-term clients across the UK, Europe, the US and Far East, including the NHS and blue-chip names such as Johnson & Johnson, Sartorius, Fresenius Kabi and Maquet Getinge Group. Its production credentials include an easy-to-use breath operated inhaler, a single-use plastic speculum and a neonatal flow sensor, and it has worked with Cyted on scaling up manufacturing of Endosign, a capsule sponge used to help detect Barrett’s disease and oesophageal cancer.

In the running on 10 November

Europlaz now joins the shortlist for The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award, which recognises businesses with revenues up to £25m achieving growth across a range of metrics. The winner will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, where the family firm from Essex will learn whether its life-saving growth story takes the top prize.

About Carnegie Group

Carnegie Group, the South East construction company that has grown its turnover eleven-fold in four years while championing sustainability and gender balance, has been named a finalist in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The Crawley-based business specialises in sustainable steel frame projects for commercial and industrial clients, operating in the competitive construction sector as an agile, rapidly scaling firm focused on high-value industrial developments. Its core mission, which it calls The Carnegie Way, puts a people-first culture at the centre of the business, directly linking individual professional growth to commercial success.

Eleven-fold growth, built organically

The company’s headline achievement is its organic financial growth. Since 2021, turnover has scaled eleven-fold, according to the business, while the team has grown from 4 to 20 employees and counting, a loyal workforce skilled and empowered to take on ever more ambitious projects.

A key differentiator is its one-stop shop solution, created by launching a RIBA-certified architectural division offering an end-to-end service from concept to completion. The company credits that capability with strengthening client loyalty, reflected in a 40 per cent repeat business rate. Full details of its steel frame construction services are available on the Carnegie Steel Buildings website, which records that the business was established by long-standing friends David Mindham and Simon Barren and moved to larger premises in Crawley in 2024 to accommodate its expansion.

Sustainability and people first

Carnegie describes itself as a pioneer in sustainable construction, harnessing steel’s recyclability and durability and implementing measures such as rainwater harvesting to achieve water neutrality. The firm points to its completion of the ambitious Palindrome development for GEW, which reduced emissions by 20 per cent and prevented 103 tonnes of CO2e from entering landfill.

The business also challenges the male-dominated profile of its industry, maintaining a near-equal gender balance and running NeuroNinja workshops to support employee engagement and wellbeing. It actively nurtures talent, citing the example of Danny Campbell, who progressed from digger operator to qualified site leader in just over a year, and extends its purpose into the community through a partnership with homelessness charity Crawley Open House. Looking ahead, the company has set an ambition to grow turnover by 500 per cent over the next ten years.

The next milestone

Carnegie Group now joins the shortlist for The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award, which recognises businesses with revenues up to £25m achieving growth across financial, customer and people metrics. The winner will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, where the steel frame specialist will learn whether The Carnegie Way has carried it to a national title.

About Arvag

Arvag, the Kent company that has grown from a local pest control business into one of the UK’s fastest-growing compliance and building safety specialists, has been named a finalist in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Founded in 2012, Arvag Limited now operates nationally across the social housing, defence, public and commercial property sectors, helping clients meet increasingly complex regulatory, safety and environmental requirements. Its integrated offering spans fire safety, passive fire protection, fire door manufacture and installation, electrical compliance, damp and mould remediation, disrepair works, pest control and property maintenance. Clients include housing associations, local authorities, defence estates and major commercial property owners, all facing growing obligations around building safety, resident wellbeing and asset compliance.

One business, end to end

What differentiates Arvag, the company says, is its ability to provide a true end-to-end solution. Unlike many competitors, it combines consultancy, survey, manufacture, installation, maintenance and compliance management within a single business, giving clients greater accountability, improved quality assurance, shorter lead times and complete traceability across the lifecycle of their assets. The company’s history, from its origins under the Apest name through to the Arvag brand, is set out on the Arvag website, which also reports recent delivery of a £3.1 million fire safety programme for the Ministry of Defence at RAF Leeming, completed in 2025.

A manufacturing milestone

A key moment in the company’s growth has been the opening of its new manufacturing facility at Merlin House in Kent. The investment has increased fire door production capacity from approximately 10 doorsets per day to up to 100, creating what the business describes as one of the region’s most advanced integrated fire door manufacturing and compliance operations, supporting its commitment to innovation, sustainability and safer buildings.

The financial results are striking. According to the business, turnover has risen from £5.6 million in 2022 to £13.2 million in 2024, with forecast turnover of £18.5 million in 2026, achieved while continuing to invest in people, technology, manufacturing capability and community impact. Arvag attributes its success to anticipating industry change, responding to emerging legislation and helping clients create safer, healthier and more compliant environments for the communities they serve.

Recognition for a national partner

Today Arvag positions itself as a trusted partner in building safety, compliance and property improvement, protecting people, properties and communities across the UK. It now joins the shortlist for The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award, which recognises businesses with revenues up to £25m achieving growth across a range of metrics. The winner will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, where the Kent firm will learn whether its transformation story has secured a national title.

About 1st Formations

1st Formations, the company formation agent that has helped entrepreneurs start their businesses for more than 15 years, has been named a finalist in The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Describing itself as the UK’s leading company formation agent, the firm supports every kind of business, from first-time founders to seasoned entrepreneurs and growing SMEs, with fast, reliable, expert-backed formation services, always-on support, accessible pricing and exclusive resources for every stage of building a company. It operates in a competitive market where trust, speed and quality of support determine who founders choose when starting out. Its services are detailed on the 1st Formations website, which states that the firm is an Authorised Corporate Service Provider, approved to carry out identity verification and submit filings on behalf of clients in compliance with Companies House regulations.

Market leadership with social impact

What differentiates the business, it says, is its conviction that market leadership and positive social impact go hand in hand. It is the first company formation agent to achieve certified B Corporation status, meeting rigorous, independently verified standards of social and environmental performance, accountability and transparency. The firm has been certified carbon neutral for five consecutive years and donates more than 3,000 square feet of its office space free of charge to seven charities, enabling them to pursue their missions without the burden of overheads.

Inclusivity is central to its purpose. The company partners with charities and programmes that champion entrepreneurs from underrepresented backgrounds, including a six-year, six-figure charitable partnership with WONDER Foundation and sponsorship of the neurodiversity and race equality clusters at LSE Generate, the London School of Economics’ entrepreneurship hub, helping to build a startup ecosystem that is open to all.

Customers at the heart

The firm reports that it is the most rated company in its industry, with more than 27,000 verified reviews across Google and Trustpilot, and it treats that feedback as fuel: structured feedback loops directly shape its product roadmap, ensuring services evolve around genuine customer needs.

Taken together, the business argues, an industry-first B Corp certification, sustained carbon neutrality, charitable giving, customer trust and a deep commitment to inclusive entrepreneurship define who it is: not simply a formation agent, but proof that commercial excellence and doing good belong together.

A finalist among Britain’s best

1st Formations now joins the shortlist for The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award, which recognises businesses with revenues up to £25m achieving growth across financial, customer and people metrics. The winner will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, where the formation agent will learn whether its blend of scale and purpose has earned the national title.

About Pop Specs

Pop Specs aims to change the way people buy eyewear. What used to be a long, daunting experience, we make buying glasses fun, affordable, and fast. We pride ourselves on providing great customer service, transparent pricing, and being ready within 20 minutes. Pop Specs has been shortlisted for The Vistage Growth Business of the Year Award.

About Aviramp

Aviramp is the global leader in the manufacture of step-free aircraft boarding ramps. Some 50 million+ passengers use its ramps every year, with more than 950 in service around the world. The ramps greatly improve safety and dignity for those with reduced mobility while significantly improving turnaround times for operators. Aviramp has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award.

About D&F Creative

D&F Creative is a multi-award-winning, women-owned British live experience studio, co-founded by Charlotte Melia and Christie-Lee Molgaard. Built to "land and expand", D&F follows global clients across borders; scaling from the UK into the Middle East and the US. Global outlook, local service. D&F Creative has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award.

About emc3

emc3 is a global strategic events agency creating brand experiences that connect audiences, drive commercial impact and make every moment count. Working across strategy, creative, content, production and sustainability, the team partners with ambitious brands to design experiences that feel purposeful, seamless and memorable, from flagship conferences to cultural activations. emc3 has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award.

About Final Rentals

Final Rentals is a Cardiff born car rental tech business operating across 65+ countries. Powered by their own booking engine, BLADE Ai, they help independent local rental companies compete with the global giants. Smarter, faster, and closer to the traveller in every market they touch. Final Rentals has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award.

About Kendamil

Kendamil has been proudly manufactured in the English Lake District by Kendal Nutricare since 2015. Founded as a British challenger brand, it has become one of the UK’s leading infant formula names, serving families nationwide and across more than 45 international markets while championing British manufacturing, quality and innovation globally. Kendamil has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award.

About Lionel Hitchen

Lionel Hitchen is an independent, family-owned manufacturer of natural flavours and flavour ingredients for the food and beverage industries. Products include speciality citrus, herb and spice extracts and natural global flavours. They operate from two sites in Hampshire and supply their products globally and export 80% of their products. Lionel Hitchen has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award.

About Ozone API

Ozone API was founded by the original architects of the UK's open banking standards. We provide the world's most advanced open finance platform, helping banks, financial institutions, and central banks across 18 countries meet regulatory requirements and build new commercial revenue from open APIs. UK-built. Globally deployed. Ozone API has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award.

About PitPat

PitPat® is a rapidly growing pet wellness company based in Cambridge, UK. Their Dog Care Platform® helps pet parents keep their dogs happy, healthy and safe with subscription-free wearables (activity monitor / GPS tracker), nutrition (weighing bowl / portioned food), insurance (linked to activity) and treatments (data-driven recommendations). PitPat has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award.

About Seda Pharma Development Services

Seda Pharma Development Services is a fast-growing UK CRDMO, helping global pharmaceutical and biotech companies bring new medicines to patients faster. Through scientific excellence, innovation, operational agility and trusted partnerships, we deliver commercial value, sustainable growth and world-class development and manufacturing solutions that support healthcare advancement worldwide. Seda Pharma Development Services has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award.

About Newby Teas

Newby Teas revives fine tea craftsmanship by selecting prime season leaves of exceptional quality. Its Chitra Collection celebrates historic teaware, while the N. Sethia Foundation supports education, healthcare and culture. As the world’s most awarded luxury tea brand, Newby is served in prestigious venues globally. Newby Teas has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award.

About fulfilmentcrowd

fulfilmentcrowd is a tech-first, global fulfilment provider helping brands scale via a one partner, one platform approach to worldwide logistics. Combining powerful, in-house technology with long-term investment in people, fulfilmentcrowd has built an engaged, high-performing workforce that continuously delivers exceptional service, innovation and sustainable growth to over 250 brands worldwide. fulfilmentcrowd has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award and The Employer of the Year Award.

About BrightHR

BrightHR, a Manchester-based software company that helps employers manage people, pay and workplace compliance, has been named a finalist in two categories at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards: The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award and The Technology Business of the Year.

The business provides a single platform bringing together HR, payroll, health and safety and employment law support for small and mid-market employers, and reports supporting more than 120,000 businesses, primarily in the UK, Ireland, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Its place on the mid-market growth shortlist was confirmed when finalists were announced in July 2026, with winners to be revealed on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House on Park Lane in London.

Growth on every line

The numbers behind the entry tell a story of rapid scaling. According to the business, revenue grew from £17.8m to £41.0m in the three years to 2025, profit before tax climbed from £1.5m to £8.3m, and average employee numbers rose from 213 to 353. In the last two years alone, the company reports, revenue has increased by 64% and profit before tax by nearly 200%, a performance it attributes to strong client acquisition, high retention and growing uptake of its premium advisory services and payroll solutions.

Backing the product

That expansion has been supported by consistent product investment, which the company says rose from £2.4m in 2022 to £4.1m in 2025. The spend has funded an online staff perks marketplace, employee recognition and performance management tools, compliance features built for hospitality operators, fully integrated enhanced payroll services and an e-learning system through which more than 600,000 HR and health and safety courses have been completed, according to the entry.

The company’s website sets out the wider offer, including round-the-clock advice from employment law and health and safety specialists alongside the core software, and publishes its ISO/IEC 27001 information security certification. Incorporated on 28 October 2014, Bright HR Limited is registered at The Peninsula in Manchester, as its Companies House record shows.

A second shortlist for the technology behind the growth

The same product investment has earned BrightHR a second nomination, as a finalist in The Technology Business of the Year at the 2026 awards. The double shortlisting puts the company’s software at the centre of its story. According to the business, it is the pace of innovation, the diversity of its offering and the strength of its recurring revenue model that separate it from competitors in a market where employers often juggle fragmented tools or software-only products. One accessible platform combining scalable technology with expert human support is the case BrightHR will put to the judges in both categories.

The road to Grosvenor House

BrightHR argues that its growth reflects the pressures now facing employers, who are contending with rising costs, increasing legislative complexity and demand for simpler workforce management. In a category where many businesses still rely on fragmented tools or software-only products, the company believes its combination of scalable technology and expert human support sets it apart. Recent recognition cited in its entry includes SaaS Company of the Year at the Prolific North West Tech Awards and North-West Fast Growth Business of the Year at the Business Desk Awards.

BrightHR now joins fellow finalists across the programme run by the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, with the outcome of both categories to be decided when the ceremony takes place in London on 10 November 2026.

About Champions Speakers

Champions Speakers, the Loughborough-headquartered keynote speaker and consultancy agency, has been named a finalist in two categories at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards (BBEA): The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award and The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award. Finalists were confirmed in July 2026, with category winners to be revealed at a ceremony at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

The firm describes itself as the leading keynote speaker and consultancy agency across the UK, Europe and EMEA, operating in the global events and business communications sector, and reports supporting more than 5,000 events and campaigns each year for blue-chip corporations, government institutions and trade associations.

Growth built on international demand

The shortlisting in the mid-market growth category reflects a period of rapid international expansion. The company reports that it has scaled its trading operations from 45 countries to 66 worldwide and is on track to reach 75 by the end of 2026, a trajectory it attributes to increasing global demand and a successful international growth strategy. According to the business, it manages the industry’s most extensive talent network, representing and sourcing more than 8,000 speakers, advisors and celebrities across business, leadership, technology, sport, sustainability, diversity and inclusion, economics and artificial intelligence. Clients are served through 21 dedicated business centres, a structure the agency says gives organisers sector-specific knowledge and tailored recommendations, while continuous investment in technology, research and proprietary AI tools helps it respond quickly to market trends and supply relevant talent for events of all sizes and budgets.

Family roots on a second shortlist

The second nomination, in The Gerald Edelman Family Business of the Year Award, reaches back to the firm’s origins. Champions Speakers was founded in 2003 as a family business run by a team of two, and has since grown into an organisation of more than 100 agents and support staff, according to the business. The pairing of the two shortlists tells the company’s story in miniature: a family firm at its foundation, an international growth business in its results.

Recognition from government and industry

The agency’s export record has already drawn official recognition. The Department for Business and Trade named Champions Speakers winner of the Consultancy & Professional Services category at the 2025 Made in the UK, Sold to the World Awards, one of twelve SMEs honoured in the results published on gov.uk on 24 June 2025. A founding member of the European Association of Speakers Bureaux, which the company says has helped shape standards across the international speaking industry, the business has also been ranked 57th in The Sunday Times Fast Track 100, included in the London Stock Exchange’s 1,000 Companies to Inspire Britain and named among JP Morgan’s Top 200 Female-Powered Businesses. It was the Entertainment Agents’ Association Booking Agency of the Year in both 2025 and 2026, and in 2026 was crowned SME of the Year at the British Business Awards, a separate programme from the BBEA, a win that also secured its place on The Times and Sunday Times British Business Leaders List.

All eyes on Grosvenor House

For now, Champions Speakers remains a finalist in both categories, with nothing yet decided. It will discover whether its growth record or its family story converts into a first BBEA trophy when the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards announces its 2026 winners in London on 10 November.

About Everflow

Business utilities provider Everflow has been named a finalist in two categories at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award and The Customer Loyalty Award, with the winners to be revealed at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

Founded in 2015, Everflow supplies water, waste management and connectivity services to businesses, and now supports more than 120,000 customers across over 200,000 supply points, according to its awards entry. Its place on the shortlist for the mid-market growth category follows a period of rapid expansion, with the company reporting a 62% rise in turnover between 2023 and 2025.

Simplifying a crowded market

Everflow competes in Britain’s open business water market. According to Ofwat, the water regulator, more than 1.2 million businesses, charities and public sector bodies in England and Wales have been able to choose their supplier of water and wastewater retail services since the market opened in April 2017, making it the largest competitive water retail market in the world.

It is a sector many customers associate with complexity and frustrating service, and Everflow’s stated mission is to “make utilities simple” by pairing intuitive digital tools with proactive support and transparent value. The approach appears to have resonated. Over the past three years, the company reports, more than 25% of all business water switches have gone to Everflow, almost double the share of its nearest competitor, giving it 8% of the UK water retail market.

Betting on automation and AI

Technology sits at the centre of the growth story, with heavy investment in automation, AI and customer self-service. In 2025 Everflow launched Project Merlin, an AI-enabled knowledge platform that gives customer service teams instant access to operational information. According to the business, Merlin has cut case resolution times by 35% and significantly improved response times.

Customers manage their utilities through an online Customer Portal, while automated monitoring tools alert more than 2,000 customers each month to potential water leaks. In 2025 alone, the company says, the small businesses it supplies saved an average of 30% on their water bills.

A second shortlist for keeping customers

The strength of those relationships has earned Everflow a second nomination, as a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Awardat the 2026 programme. The figures at the heart of that entry are the same ones underpinning its growth case: the business cites a 97% customer retention rate and a 4.7-star “Excellent” Trustpilot rating drawn from more than 6,000 reviews. In a sector where switching is easy and loyalty is hard won, Everflow argues that proactive service, from leak alerts to transparent pricing, is what persuades customers to stay year after year.

Growth with a green pledge

Commercial momentum has been matched by environmental commitments. Everflow says it was the first water retailer to pledge Net Zero by 2040, and it continues to invest in water efficiency, renewable energy and carbon reduction initiatives. In its entry, the business argues that this blend of innovation, sustainability and customer service has reset expectations of what a utilities provider can be.

Finalists for the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards were announced in July 2026. Everflow will discover whether either of its shortlistings converts into a win when the ceremony takes place in November.

About The Housing Network

The Housing Network, a Luton-headquartered specialist that houses and supports some of the country’s most vulnerable people, those who are homeless, leaving prison, or living with mental ill health and addiction, has been named a finalist in The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

The shortlisting, announced in July 2026, recognises a business whose revenue rose from £51.9m to £63.3m in the last year, according to its entry. The company reports that it works with local councils and central government across more than 150 local authority areas, housing more than 5,500 residents every night in safe, compliant, fully furnished homes with trauma-informed, person-centred support, and describes itself as one of very few providers in its field operating at national scale. Winners across the awards programme will be announced at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

A national response to a national need

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government statistics show that 134,210 households were living in temporary accommodation in England on 31 December 2025. The Housing Network operates where the pressure is sharpest: residents with complex needs, stretched public budgets and a high regulatory bar on safety. Its answer, according to the business, is to pair private sector pace and discipline with genuine attention to the person behind every placement.

The company’s Active Opportunities Pathway is designed to move people from crisis into stable, independent living, at a lower direct cost to councils than the emergency accommodation they would otherwise rely on. According to the business, the model has been cited in government guidance as emerging best practice.

Housing people leaving prison

The Housing Network also reports that it is the UK’s largest provider of non-custodial accommodation for people leaving prison, holding almost 1,500 bedspaces in partnership with the Ministry of Justice. Someone released with nowhere to live is far more likely to reoffend, so a settled address and support in the first days after release carry real weight. The scale of this work, the company says, led to an invitation to give oral evidence to a House of Commons Justice select committee on rehabilitation.

Purpose written into governance

B Lab’s directory confirms that Centennial Property Limited, trading as The Housing Network, has held B Corp certification since July 2025, and the business is a Real Living Wage employer, with social purpose built into its governance and people practices. Details of its services are published on the company’s website. Its growth has also drawn external recognition; the company reports placing 23rd in The Sunday Times Fast Growth List 2026 and 200th in the FT1000, the Financial Times ranking of Europe’s fastest-growing companies.

The Housing Network now stands alongside the other contenders in the mid-market growth category, with the result to be revealed in November. Win or not, the company says the goal is unchanged: more people with a safe home and a real chance to move forward.

About Lionel Hitchen

Lionel Hitchen, an independent, family-owned manufacturer of natural flavours and flavour ingredients for the food and beverage industry, has been named a finalist in The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The Hampshire company, which employs 160 people across two sites, earned its place on the category shortlist after refreshing its sales strategy and committing to an ambitious programme of international expansion. According to the business, 80% of its sales are now exported to more than 60 countries, either directly or through its 13 distributors and its USA subsidiary.

Six decades of flavour manufacturing

The firm’s history stretches back to 1965, and Companies House records confirm it was incorporated on 19 February 1965, trading as Lionel Hitchen (Essential Oils) Limited until 2017, with its registered office now at Virginia Works in Andover. Its Barton Stacey site houses production facilities and support services, while its Andover base is home to an innovation centre alongside customer excellence, sales, logistics and warehousing operations.

A business-to-business supplier, Lionel Hitchen produces citrus specialities, including distilled, extracted or concentrated essential oils, together with herb and spice extracts made from the dried botanical or the essential oil, and natural flavourings. It also develops bespoke products for customers. On its website, the company showcases branded ranges such as its HiFruit fruit flavourings and Hifloral botanical flavours for beverages, and states that it is an accredited Living Wage Employer and a member of the UK Flavour Association and the Food and Drink Federation.

An exporter since 1965

Lionel Hitchen has sold overseas since it was founded, and the company reports that its recent international push has already delivered growth, together with ongoing engagement with significant global manufacturing brands and the new business opportunities that have followed. Nature is its inspiration, the business says, and its enthusiasm for creating innovative flavour ingredients is matched by a dedication to outstanding quality and authentic taste.

Growth plans and the Hitchen Way

The company has set itself an ambitious growth target, to be met by increasing sales of flavours to food and drink manufacturers and of flavour ingredients to flavour houses and seasonings manufacturers. It is also expanding geographically by partnering with new distributors around the world, tracking global food trends to develop products suited to different regions and tastes, and will make acquisitions where appropriate.

Underpinning those plans, according to the business, are investment in plant, equipment and resource, a World Class Manufacturing continuous improvement programme, its ‘Hitchen Way’ values and a leadership approach built on looking after and valuing all employees and partners. The business adds that it is proud of the growth achieved so far and is looking forward to further sales growth in the years ahead.

Finalists were announced in July 2026, and Lionel Hitchen will discover whether it has taken the title when the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony is held at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

SEO title:  Slug:  Meta description: 

About Middledale Foods

Middledale Foods, a specialist ingredients supplier to the food manufacturing sector, has been shortlisted for The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards. The Wiltshire firm was among the finalists announced in July 2026, with winners to be revealed at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

For 30 years the business has worked as an ingredients partner to food manufacturers, sourcing dairy, egg, organic and plant-based ingredients and backing that up with technical expertise and supply chain support. Trading in a volatile commodities market, it helps customers keep supply moving, control costs and respond to shifting consumer demand without compromising quality or service, and a rapid growth record has earned it a place among the mid-market growth finalists.

Growth well ahead of plan

The company reports record turnover of £31.2m in its latest financial year, against a plan of £24.8m, together with 12% volume growth and EBITDA of around £1.034m. Over the last three years, it says, turnover rose from £14.5m to £31.2m and profit before tax climbed from £444k to £1.065m, with margins strengthening while the business invested in people, systems and infrastructure.

Customer measures point the same way. According to the business, its customer satisfaction score reached 88% in 2025, customer numbers grew from 108 to 137, and retained customers rose from 85 to 99, results it presents as proof it can win new accounts while keeping hold of existing ones.

Partnership rather than transactions

Middledale attributes this performance to a partnership-led model. Instead of behaving as a transactional supplier, the company positions itself as an extension of its customers’ and manufacturing partners’ operations, blending market insight with technical and commercial know-how to shape tailored solutions. By lining up with customers and suppliers on values, strategy and long-term goals, it aims to add value across the supply chain and help businesses cope with increasingly complex market conditions. Innovation runs through the approach, the business says, helping customers take new concepts to market quickly while opening up opportunities for manufacturing partners, and pairing firm governance and commercial discipline with the agility to react to supply disruption.

Accreditation and ambition

Middledale reports that it has held BRC Grade A accreditation since 2015, recorded zero non-conformances across its last two BRC audits, and regained Organic accreditation in 2026, again with zero non-conformances. Its website lists BRCGS and Organic Food Federation accreditation alongside Sedex membership, with a range spanning dairy, egg, organic, plant-based and functional powder ingredients. Companies House records show the company was incorporated on 22 April 1996 and remains active, registered in Chippenham, Wiltshire.

Under Managing Director Sarah Summers, the business is targeting £52m turnover within five years through continued investment in innovation, partnerships and people. Whether that trajectory carries off the trophy will be settled when the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards winners are named in November.

About Must Have Ideas

Must Have Ideas, the Kent-based online retailer of home, kitchen, cleaning and storage products, has been named a finalist in The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

The family-run firm, which grew from a dining-table start-up into what it describes as one of the UK’s fastest growing and most disruptive online retailers in just eight years, reports that it has now served 12 million customers and that one in six UK households owns at least one of its products. 

Everything under one roof

Unlike many large e-commerce operators, which tend to outsource as they expand, Must Have Ideas says it has kept its whole operation in-house from day one. A 200-strong team works under one roof at a 250,000 square-foot headquarters in Kent, covering everything from filming content for a social media audience of almost 900,000 to logistics, fulfilment and customer service. According to the business, it launches at least six new products every month and dispatches more than 13,000 orders a day, while its 50-strong customer service team, which it describes as award-winning, is fully equipped to make decisions that put the customer first. The company points to more than 219,000 Trustpilot and Google reviews, averaging 4.7 stars, as evidence of a loyal customer base that keeps coming back.

A workplace built around real life

In a sector notorious for high staff churn, the company reports a 77 per cent employee retention rate, with more than 80 per cent of employees describing Must Have Ideas as a great place to work. As a family business whose co-founders are raising young children themselves, it offers 18 weeks of fully paid parental leave to mothers and fathers alike. This year the retailer was named one of the UK’s Top 50 Inspiring Workplaces, while Amy, one of the founders named on the company’s website, earned a place on The Sunday Times Young Power List 2026 as one of the UK’s most inspiring people under 30.

Television, technology and a national ambition

The retailer’s model combines the psychology of QVC-style television shopping with the reach and speed of social media. Powered by SPARK, its proprietary technology platform, the business recently launched what it says is the UK’s first AI-powered shopping channel across Sky, Freesat and YouTube, opening its reach to tens of millions of new customers. Its stated five-year ambition is for every UK household to own at least one Must Have Ideas product.

Must Have Ideas will now find out whether it takes the title when winners of The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award are revealed at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, the flagship ceremony of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

About Olive Dining

Olive Dining, a family-run catering specialist for the education sector, has been named a finalist in The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards. From its base in Oxted, Surrey, the company serves fresh, nutritious and culturally relevant meals to more than 150,000 students across 170 schools in London and the South East.

The shortlisting follows a period of rapid expansion. According to the business, it has grown by 70% within the last two years while holding a 100% client retention rate and a 93% staff retention rate, the record it will now put before the judges of the Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year category.

Stephanie Spratt founded the company in 2012 after concluding that school catering was largely driven by cost, reliant on processed ingredients and often out of step with the diverse backgrounds of the students it fed. Thirteen years on, Olive Dining has built a growing reputation for partnering with schools to support pupils’ physical and mental development through nutritious food, while working to create an inclusive experience in which every member of the school community feels valued and represented.

Widening access to a hot meal

Many of the schools it caters for sit in deprived areas of London, where a growing percentage of students qualify for Free School Meals (FSM) and some children may not have access to warm, healthy food at home. The company reports that its 1356+ team has used bespoke menus, engaging catering environments and strong community partnerships to lift average meal uptake from 60% to 95% in some schools, and that it has provided FSM for 68,225 students in total.

That work sits within a regulated sector. Under the government’s school food standards, food served in all maintained schools and academies in England must include daily portions of fruit, vegetables and starchy foods, while foods high in fat, salt and sugar are severely restricted.

Fresh ingredients, less waste

Olive Dining states that 98% of its ingredients are fresh and that it has cut food waste by 15%, evidence, it argues, that quality, sustainability and financial success can work together in the public sector. On its website, the caterer says 75% of its menus are plant based, with dishes inspired by many countries and cultures and options for specific dietary requirements such as halal.

Eyes on November

Looking ahead, the business plans to increase market share by engaging with Multi-Academy Trusts and larger scale secondary schools, and forecasts a further 25% of growth within the next 12 months. It adds that it will keep investing in people, innovation and technology while contributing positively to the local communities in which it operates.

Olive Dining will discover the result alongside its fellow finalists when the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awardsceremony takes place at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026, following the announcement of the shortlist in July 2026.

About Simple Online Healthcare

Simple Online Healthcare, a Glasgow-headquartered digital healthcare company trading in the UK as Simple Online Pharmacy, is a finalist in two categories at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026: The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award and The Inclusion Award. The business provides clinical assessment, prescribing and dispensing directly to patients, with a particular focus on weight management, GLP-1 treatment and metabolic health, alongside men’s and women’s health.

Founded in 2015 and fully self-funded, the company reports revenue growth from £24.3m in FY23 to £155m in FY26, a more than six-fold increase in three years. That record has earned it a place on the shortlist for the mid-market growth category, with winners to be announced at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

A regulated answer to a stretched system

According to the business, nearly two-thirds of UK adults find it difficult to access a GP, while obesity alone costs the UK economy over £126 billion a year. Its response is a fully regulated, end-to-end clinical pathway covering assessment, prescribing, dispensing and ongoing multidisciplinary support, built and vertically integrated in-house rather than assembled from fragmented providers.

That model operates under UK pharmacy regulation. Simple Online Pharmacy appears on the General Pharmaceutical Council’s register under number 9011287, and the regulator’s register entry records its Glasgow premises, its owner Simple Online Healthcare Ltd and a published inspection report.

Growth without external capital

The company says it has scaled while holding clinical standards firm, with same-day dispensing above 99% and prescribing error rates below 0.1%, figures it describes as more typical of a far smaller provider. The business is profitable, debt-free and self-funded, reinvesting profits in clinical governance, technology and its workforce rather than distributing them to investors.

According to the business, it has served over 1 million patients and expanded into Australia and Germany.

A second shortlist, for inclusion

The company is also a finalist in The Inclusion Award, and its entry for that category centres on patients that traditional healthcare routes underserve. According to the business, the service was built for people without access to 9-to-5 GP appointments, such as shift and night workers and those with caring responsibilities, and for patients for whom discretion is essential, since conditions it treats, from weight management to men’s and women’s health, often carry significant social stigma. Research commissioned by the company found that two-thirds of GLP-1 patients hide their treatment from friends or family, 38% report being judged for it, and only 26% of UK adults feel comfortable discussing GLP-1 use at all, findings it says shaped a service designed around privacy, discretion and compassion. Among its weight-management patients, the company reports, over 90% say their general health has improved and one in three say they would otherwise have gone untreated.

The same thinking runs through the workforce, the business says, citing a 0% gender pay gap, 100% equity participation, Living Wage employment with no zero-hours contracts, an on-site prayer room and flexible hours for its Muslim colleagues, and English tuition for refugee employees. Women hold senior leadership roles across the business, including Chief Operating Officer and Superintendent Pharmacist. Headquartered in Glasgow’s East End, with a team grown from 69 to over 150 people, more than 80% of them Scotland-based, the firm argues that inclusive design and commercial performance reinforce one another.

Recognition ahead of November

The firm’s progress has been recognised elsewhere. It was named Fast Growth Business of the Year at the Scotland Business of the Year Awards 2026, ranked 48th in the 2026 Sunday Times 100 as the second-highest ranked Scottish and healthcare business on the list, and featured in the inaugural Sunday Times Scotland Fast 50 in the Global Ambition category. Chief executive Addy Mohammed has been shortlisted for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, Scotland region.

Simple Online Healthcare’s case to the judges is that growth and scale can come as a result of, not in spite of, clinical excellence, rigour, safety and positive patient outcomes. It now awaits the verdict in both categories alongside its fellow finalists at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony in November.

About Totalmobile

Totalmobile, the Belfast-headquartered field service management (FSM) software business, has been named a finalist in The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards. The company, which describes itself as one of the UK’s leading FSM providers, builds AI-enabled workforce technology for organisations delivering critical frontline services across healthcare, housing, the public sector, emergency services, infrastructure and commercial markets.

Its place in the mid-market growth category, confirmed when finalists were announced in July 2026, follows a period of rapid expansion. According to the business, 2025 was the strongest commercial year in its history, delivering record revenues, record bookings, 22% growth in annual recurring revenue and the largest public sector contract it has ever secured.

Growth built on one platform

Over the past three years, the company reports, it has reshaped itself from a portfolio of separate products into a unified, platform-led business centred on Field First. That shift is supported by more than £5.3 million of annual investment in research and development, alongside a disciplined innovation model overseen by executive leadership, a formal AI Steering Group and an enterprise-wide Responsible AI framework.

The numbers reflect that discipline. From a turnover of £52.6 million in 2023, the business projects a growth of approximately 55% by the end of 2026.

From Belfast to the European stage

Headquartered in Belfast, as listed on the company’s website, Totalmobile has attracted investment from Five Arrows, the alternative assets arm of Rothschild & Co. On 24 February 2026 the business used its newsroom to announce a merger with Solvares Group, a combination also backed by funds advised by Deutsche Beteiligungs AG. The announcement stated that existing customers of both businesses would continue to receive the same products and support, with no immediate changes as a result of the merger. According to the company, the deal positions the combined operation as one of Europe’s largest field service management providers, employing more than 800 colleagues across Europe, North America and Australasia.

Recognition beyond the shortlist

Independent endorsement strengthens the entry. Totalmobile states that it is a five-time Deloitte Best Managed Company, was named Best Employer for Women in Tech 2025, and was ranked number one across all measured criteria in independent BCG research, with customers viewing it as a strategic partner rather than simply a software supplier. The company frames this record as evidence of disciplined innovation, inclusive leadership and responsible growth, with its stated purpose being to empower mobile workers and help frontline organisations deliver better outcomes for the communities they serve.

The winners will be revealed when the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony takes place on 10 November 2026 at Grosvenor House in London, where Totalmobile will learn whether its growth story converts a finalist place into the category title.

About Aquatrust

Aquatrust, a water hygiene and air quality specialist based in Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, has been named a finalist in The Dext Innovation Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The UK business helps organisations manage risk and stay compliant with regulations such as ACOP L8, the Health and Safety Executive’s Approved Code of Practice on Legionella control, through Legionella risk assessments, monitoring and system management.

The finalist place, announced in July 2026, recognises the company’s decision to build its own remote monitoring technology rather than settle for off-the-shelf devices. Winners across The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awardswill be revealed at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

Why remote monitoring

Aquatrust operates in a heavily regulated sector where clients depend on partners that can deliver consistent, auditable compliance. Under HSE guidance in ACOP L8, duty holders must identify and assess sources of Legionella risk, put a control scheme in place and keep records of precautions. As expectations around reporting and accountability have risen, the company says, so has the need for better data, clearer insight and more efficient ways of managing water systems at scale.

The rethink began after the business passed from father to son and several directors completed the government-backed Help to Grow programme, prompting a fresh look at where the industry was heading. At the same time, according to the business, one of its largest customers was expanding rapidly across the UK, and it became clear that a traditional service model, with engineers driving from the North to sites nationwide, was not sustainable. That experience pushed Aquatrust towards remote monitoring, an approach it says the sector has yet to fully embrace.

A sensor of its own

The firm initially trialled third-party devices but found they fell short, particularly on more complex water systems, so it chose to develop its own solution. Through a Knowledge Transfer Partnership with Leeds Beckett University, Aquatrust reports it has reached the final stages of developing a proprietary Legionella monitoring sensor, with the intellectual property held in-house. Leeds Beckett University announced the 32-month partnership in July 2023, describing a collaboration with its water quality, robotics and artificial intelligence academics, part-funded by the Government through Innovate UK, with Aquatrust then employing around 40 staff.

Alongside the hardware, the company is building an AI-led platform intended not only to manage compliance but to identify patterns, predict trends and help prevent issues before they escalate. Fully integrated with Aquatrust’s own systems, it is designed to give clients a single, end-to-end approach to Legionella control.

Positioned for proactive compliance

Aquatrust points to achievements including maintaining high standards within a demanding regulatory framework, investing in innovation through academic collaboration, and developing proprietary technology that challenges how water hygiene services are traditionally delivered. Together, the business believes, this puts it in a strong position to lead the shift towards smarter, more proactive compliance. It now awaits the judges’ verdict alongside its fellow finalists in The Dext Innovation Award 2026 category.

About Camlin Group

Camlin Group, the Lisburn-headquartered manufacturing and technology company whose monitoring systems keep watch over electricity networks around the world, has been named a finalist in The Dext Innovation Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The Northern Ireland business designs, develops and manufactures monitoring and analytics technologies that improve the performance, safety and reliability of electrical infrastructure, supporting the global energy transition. Finalists were announced in July 2026, and the winners will be revealed at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026.

Early warnings for the electricity grid

Camlin’s technologies, including LineSIGHT, TOTUS, PRESense, ForeSIGHT and Sapient, give utilities real-time visibility across transformers, substations, low-voltage networks and overhead lines. The aim is to detect emerging faults before they escalate into outages, safety incidents or costly asset failures, helping customers move from reactive maintenance to data-driven, condition-based operation, extend asset life, improve resilience and make smarter investment decisions.

As power systems become larger, more diverse and more distributed, the company says its solutions unlock additional capacity from existing assets, reduce outage and safety risks, and accelerate the decarbonisation of electricity networks at the lowest cost, supporting the smarter, safer and more resilient infrastructure needed for net zero.

According to the business, it holds successful partnerships with all GB distribution network operators as well as major utilities internationally, and is differentiated by its deep understanding of the electrical energy sector, its UK-based design and manufacturing capability, and a proven ability to turn innovation into deployed infrastructure. That track record underpins its place on the shortlist for The Dext Innovation Award this year.

A high-growth UK industrial story

The company reports that it employs more than 650 people in highly skilled engineering, manufacturing, software and data roles, supports hundreds of UK SMEs through its supply chain, and has operations and deployments in 17 countries. Turnover has grown from around £20m in 2018 to £88.2m in FY2024, according to the business, which projects revenue of more than £110m in 2026 and has earned recognition in the Sunday Times Tech 100.

An agreement with Siemens Energy

Camlin’s growth has not gone unnoticed. In 2026, Siemens Energy reached an agreement to acquire Camlin Group, subject to approval, a move the company says recognises the strength of its technology, skilled workforce, advanced software portfolio and customer relationships, and supports the next phase of its global growth.

In a recent press release, Siemens Energy said the acquisition would expand its digital grid portfolio at a time of accelerated global investment in electricity networks, with the transaction subject to regulatory approvals and expected to close before the end of 2026.

Camlin Group now joins finalists from across the UK ahead of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony in November, where the winner of each category will be announced.

About FunnelFuel

FunnelFuel, the London-based advertising technology company built to cut wasted spend from B2B digital campaigns, has been named a finalist in The Dext Innovation Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Founded in 2022 by Dan Shaw (CEO), Michael Harty (CPO) and Kevin Flood (Chairman), the business describes itself as the UK’s only purpose-built B2B digital advertising technology.

The finalists were announced in July 2026, and FunnelFuel will now compete alongside fellow shortlisted businesses at the ceremony at Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London, on 10 November 2026.

Tackling an expensive problem

According to the business, B2B marketers have long relied on platforms designed for consumer scale rather than lengthy, complex buying cycles, resulting in budget leakage, imprecise targeting and poor visibility of performance that makes return on investment difficult to prove. FunnelFuel’s answer is proprietary technology designed entirely for B2B, which the company says helps marketers build hyper-targeted audiences across multiple channels and every stage of the buying cycle. The result, it reports, is performance gains of around 60 per cent compared with conventional platforms.

The company’s website sets out an omnichannel managed service covering display, native, video, audio, connected TV, digital out-of-home and content syndication. 

That proposition has attracted 69 client companies across multiple sectors, according to the business, alongside some of the world’s Fortune 10 firms. “In FunnelFuel, we’ve found a strategic partner who can match the high levels of performance that we at Fox Agency stand for. They regularly exceed our expectations & have a great level of service!” said Chau Wang, Head of Media NAM at Fox Agency, in a testimonial the company also displays on its website.

Growth, culture and community

The company reports that revenue almost doubled year on year and that its team has grown more than sevenfold, expansion it attributes to a culture shaped by its people and a competitive benefits package. In 2024 the business scaled internationally, opening offices in Singapore, New York and Chicago.

External recognition has followed. FunnelFuel ranks 33rd in The Sunday Times 100 list of the UK’s fastest-growing companies, a placing the business highlights on its own site, and it holds two UK Company Culture Awards alongside a named place in the Culture 100 Awards. Staff volunteer regularly, and employees have chosen Alzheimer’s Society as the company’s annual charity partner for the second year running.

The road to Grosvenor House

The judging criteria for the category are set out on The Dext Innovation Award 2026 category page. FunnelFuel’s place among the finalists puts it in contention at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, billed by its organisers as the UK’s largest business awards programme.

Whatever the judges decide in November, the finalist berth caps a period in which FunnelFuel has set out to prove that B2B digital advertising can deliver accountable, measurable returns on marketing budgets.

About GenM

GenM, the business behind the MTick symbol for menopause-friendly products, has been named a finalist in The Dext Innovation Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The company, which describes itself as the Menopause Partner for Brands, certifies products that meet strict criteria for supporting one or more of the 48 recognised signs of menopause, and reports that the MTick is the world’s first symbol and certification of its kind.

GenM will now compete in The Dext Innovation Award 2026 ahead of the winners’ ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026.

A gap hiding in plain sight

GenM was founded in 2021 by Heather Jackson, who was navigating her own perimenopause when she was struck by how little accurate information, credible product choice and support was available. The problem she identified was a societal one that had gone largely unnoticed: 15.5 million women in the UK experiencing perimenopause and menopause who could not find products to support them. Rather than launch a product of her own, Jackson set up GenM with a mission to unite brands and retailers to improve women’s lived experience of menopause.

The scale of that audience is well documented. According to NHS guidance, menopause usually affects women between the ages of 45 and 55, and symptoms typically last for seven to nine years, sometimes longer.

From symbol to shelf

After conducting independent research into the needs of menopausal women, GenM concentrated on developing the MTick, which the company reports is the world’s first universal shopping symbol created to signpost menopause-friendly products in store and online. Products must satisfy strict criteria before they can carry the mark, helping consumers search, source and shop with confidence. The certification framework is set out in full on GenM’s website.

The MTick now spans categories from supplements and skincare to haircare and femcare, and according to the business more than 150 brands and retailers have united behind the standard, building what it calls a pioneering new retail category of menopause-friendly shopping. GenM also works directly with retailers to create dedicated menopause-friendly fixtures and aisles in store and online, with partners including Boots, Sainsbury’s, Tesco, Asda and Ocado. That retail rollout has attracted sustained coverage in the trade press, with titles including The Grocer and Retail Gazette reporting on dedicated menopause aisles and MTick product bays appearing across UK stores.

Research with a purpose

Certification is only part of the proposition. GenM produces proprietary research, including its Invisibility and Inclusivity Reports, which are designed to make information about menopause more accessible and to educate brands, retailers and consumers alike. All of it supports the company’s wider mission of empowering women to approach menopause with trust and confidence.

GenM now waits to learn the outcome alongside its fellow Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards finalists when the winners are revealed in November.

About HONA

HONA, a professional-only nail brand founded in Wales in 2021, has been named a finalist in The Dext Innovation Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, with the winners to be revealed in London this November.

The brand, short for Home of Nail Art, supplies nail technicians, salons, educators and aspiring professionals across the UK with hypoallergenic gel systems and professional education. Its place among the finalists, confirmed in July 2026, recognises innovation the company says was born out of a growing crisis in its own industry.

Answering an allergy crisis

According to the business, poor formulations, weak ingredient standards and a lack of education had fuelled an allergy epidemic that was putting careers at risk in a fast-growing, female-led sector. HONA’s response was what it describes as the UK’s first home-grown hypoallergenic gel system, created to prove that safety and performance can coexist. Its current range centres on hypoallergenic, HEMA free builder gels and gel polishes, sold through the pro-only channel via its own website.

The company argues that its impact has gone well beyond product development. Before HONA, it says, allergies, ingredient transparency and safety were too often treated as secondary to aesthetics. Since its launch, the business reports, those concerns have moved to the centre of how the professional nail market thinks, communicates and buys, with technicians asking harder questions and expecting more from the brands they trust with their livelihoods.

Built in Wales, not bought in

Rather than relying on white labelling or imported shortcuts, HONA chose the harder route of building product capability at home. From a purpose-built laboratory in Wales, the company develops, tests and refines its systems in-house, an approach it says proves that world-class beauty innovation can be built in the UK and used to protect careers in a sector that supports female self-employment, entrepreneurship and independent high streets. Its innovation work has been formally recognised through a successful HMRC research and development claim, according to the company.

The sector it serves is a substantial one. The British Beauty Council’s Value of Beauty 2026 report found that beauty and personal care contributed £28.3 billion to the UK economy in 2025 and supported more than 595,000 jobs, a workforce comparable in size to UK construction.

A voice beyond the business

HONA reports that it is a Patron of the British Beauty Council, a position it uses to contribute to conversations and think tanks aimed at improving standards, transparency and safety at both industry and policy level. The company frames its wider mission as protecting a crucial female-led industry through innovation that helps shape a safer, stronger future for everyone working within it.

HONA now joins the other shortlisted businesses in The Dext Innovation Award 2026 category and will learn the outcome when the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony takes place at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About Kelpi

Bristol sustainable materials company Kelpi has been named a finalist in two categories at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, The Dext Innovation Award and The Social & Sustainable Impact Award, with winners to be revealed at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026.

The double shortlisting reflects the two claims at the heart of the company’s entry: that its science is new, and that its impact is sustainable. Kelpi earns its place for a seaweed-derived coating that allows paper, card and fibre packaging to take the place of conventional fossil-fuel plastics. Developed in Kelpi’s Bristol laboratories, the proprietary biomaterial combines sustainably farmed seaweed with plant-based ingredients to produce ultra-thin barrier coatings that resist water, oxygen, grease and acidic contents while remaining recyclable, biodegradable and free from microplastics.

Taking on polyethylene and PET

Kelpi has set itself against the two plastics most commonly used in packaging, polyethylene and PET, and says its coatings can match or even exceed their performance. According to the business, that pairing of sustainability with proven functionality, delivered at a price point capable of engaging large industry, is what sets it apart, and it is what has allowed the firm to move beyond scientific innovation and demonstrate commercial viability with some of the world’s most recognised brands.

The company reports that it is already working with some of the world’s largest users of packaging across food and drink, cosmetics, personal care and household products, and that it has been procured for development and innovation partnerships with Diageo, Unilever, SC Johnson and Holland & Barrett. It attributes accelerating client demand to tightening regulations, ambitious corporate sustainability commitments and growing consumer expectations of environmentally responsible products.

That regulatory pressure is easy to trace in the UK, where HMRC’s Plastic Packaging Tax is charged at £228.82 per tonne from 1 April 2026 on plastic packaging containing less than 30 per cent recycled plastic, according to guidance published on gov.uk.

Recognition from a global giant

Independent validation arrived in January 2026, when Kelpi was chosen as one of the first 13 companies worldwide to join L’Oréal’s €100 million L’AcceleratOR sustainable innovation programme. Announcing the cohort on 14 January 2026, L’Oréal said it had reviewed nearly 1,000 applications from 101 countries for the five-year programme, which is run in partnership with the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership, and described Kelpi as harnessing seaweed to create recyclable, low-carbon packaging.

Purpose aligned with profit

The Social & Sustainable Impact shortlisting turns on the same evidence viewed from a different angle. A certified B Corp, Kelpi states that its ambition is bold but simple: to eliminate the need for fossil-fuel plastics in packaging without sacrificing performance, and that pioneering innovation, commercial success and environmental impact can go hand in hand. The business says it pursues that goal through advanced materials science, deep customer collaboration, rapid product development and a relentless focus on costs, and points to the demand it reports from major packaging users as evidence of the commercial case for a sustainable and ethical approach.

Kelpi now joins the other shortlisted businesses competing for The Dext Innovation Award and The Social & Sustainable Impact Award. Whatever the judges decide in November, the twin finalist places add two national awards shortlistings to a year that has already brought the Bristol company international recognition.

About Locate a Locum

Belfast software company Locate a Locum has been named a finalist in The Dext Innovation Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, earning national recognition for the platform it has built to digitise workforce management across the UK pharmacy and optometry sectors.

The company, often shortened to LAL, runs a dual-sided system serving healthcare employers on one side and self-employed locum professionals on the other. Its place on the shortlist, confirmed when finalists were announced in July 2026, puts the Belfast business among the contenders heading to the ceremony at Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London, on 10 November 2026.

From two founders to a 62-strong team

According to the business, Locate a Locum began nine years ago as a two-person startup and has grown into an organisation of 62 specialists working across product development, sales, marketing, operations, customer success, HR and finance. 

The problem the firm set out to solve is a familiar one in community healthcare. Locum cover has traditionally been arranged manually, a process the company characterises as fragmented, unpredictable and expensive. Its answer is a single digital process covering the whole booking cycle, sold to employers as software as a service. The company reports that 50,000 locum professionals are registered on its platform and that it holds preferred supplier status with many of the UK’s leading pharmacy and optical groups.

A flat fee in a pay as you go market

For employers, the LAL Unlimited system manages rota optimisation, leave, compliance and payroll. Where the sector has typically relied on pay as you go charging, LAL Unlimited applies a flat monthly fee per user for unlimited bookings, a pricing model the company says gives clients stronger value and financial predictability, and which it regards as its key point of difference from competitors.

For locum workers, the Locate a Locum mobile app offers real-time access to more than 100,000 shifts across 8,000 UK branches, according to the business, allowing self-employed professionals to manage their working lives in one place. A premium subscription, LAL Pro, adds expense tracking, instant invoicing and rapid payments, together with market rate insights the company describes as an industry first, giving locums data to inform their booking decisions.

The market the judges will weigh

The workforce involved is substantial. Register data published by the General Pharmaceutical Council recorded 67,306 pharmacists and 13,303 pharmacies in Great Britain on 30 June 2026, an indication of the scale of the staffing market a digital platform of this kind can address.

The category’s judging criteria are set out on The Dext Innovation Award 2026 category page, part of the wider programme run by the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, and the Belfast firm will learn the outcome alongside its fellow finalists on the night.

About Nyobolt

Nyobolt, the Cambridge battery technology company whose cells can charge in under five minutes, has been named a finalist in The Dext Innovation Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The University of Cambridge spinout, founded in 2019, reaches the shortlist on the strength of technology it says breaks sharply with convention: charge times below five minutes, thousands of charge cycles and a significant weight saving over conventional lithium-ion cells. According to its entry, these are not incremental improvements but a redefinition of what batteries can do in applications where speed, durability and reliability are non-negotiable. Winners will be revealed at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

From Cambridge lab to the AI datacentre

Central to Nyobolt’s case for The Dext Innovation Award is its Dynamic Response System (DRS), which addresses one of the most urgent infrastructure problems in AI: power grids cannot handle the extreme transient loads demanded by GPU clusters in modern datacentres. The company reports that its battery technology is now targeted at critical AI energy infrastructure, a strategic opportunity it says reflects both market intelligence and commercial ambition.

The direction of travel is visible in public announcements too. In May 2026 Nyobolt signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Indian state of Rajasthan to deliver more than 100MW of off-grid AI datacentre and power management infrastructure, according to the company’s newsroom.

Robots that cannot afford downtime

In robotics, Nyobolt powers the warehouse automation systems of Symbotic, the Nasdaq-listed supply chain robotics group. The partnership, the business says, demonstrates adoption at scale by industry leaders that cannot tolerate hours of downtime in 24/7 operations. In its Series C announcement of 6 May 2026, Nyobolt stated that its battery gives Symbotic’s SymBot mobile robots six times the energy capacity of the ultracapacitors previously used, is 40 per cent lighter and offers at least ten times the cycle life of traditional lithium-ion technology.

Symbotic did more than buy the product. It led Nyobolt’s $60 million Series C round, which valued the business at $1 billion, with participation from IQ Capital, Latitude, Scania Invest and CBMM, the same announcement confirmed. Nyobolt’s entry frames the investment as something beyond financial confidence: a strategic endorsement from one of the most sophisticated operators in physical AI and warehouse automation. The company also reported revenue growing five times year on year at the time of the raise.

An energy platform, not just a battery firm

Nyobolt’s entry argues that it is no longer simply a promising battery company but an energy technology platform at the centre of three of the decade’s defining industrial shifts: AI datacentres, physical AI applications and mobility. It enters its next growth phase, the business states, with validated technology, diversified revenue verticals and the financial backing to execute at speed.

Further detail on the technology is available on Nyobolt’s website. The winners across all categories at the British Business Excellence Awards will be revealed in November.

About thebigword

thebigword, the Leeds-founded language technology and services group, has been named a finalist in The Dext Innovation Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, with its AI-powered interpreting platform, WordSynk Virtual, central to the nomination.

Established in Leeds more than 40 years ago, the business has grown from a traditional translation provider into what it describes as one of the world’s largest technology-enabled language companies, supplying interpreting, translation, localisation and accessibility services at scale. Finalists were announced in July 2026, and winners will be revealed at a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026.

Technology built for time critical work

The company’s stated mission is to eradicate communication barriers and make essential services accessible to organisations and communities worldwide. thebigword works across public sector, healthcare, justice, legal, policing, local government, corporate and international enterprise markets, where accurate communication is often time critical and high risk. Clients depend on the firm to support multilingual service users, patients, citizens, customers and employees in both spoken and non-spoken languages. According to its website, the company covers more than 250 languages, and its WordSynk technology is used by clients including British and US government departments.

In a competitive global language services market, the business says it stands apart through secure technology, AI-enabled platforms and deep public sector expertise. WordSynk Virtual, its latest video and audio interpreting platform, offers round the clock access from any device, AI-powered interpreter allocation, automated workflows and rapid reconnection of dropped calls.

The numbers behind the nomination

According to the company, the platform is expected to handle 442,000 interpreting assignments in 2026, a 36 per cent increase on 2025. It also reports that WordSynk Virtual has contributed to a 25 per cent rise in new contracts, booking times that are 40 per cent faster and a customer retention rate of 97 per cent.

The financial picture has strengthened alongside the technology. The business reports that turnover grew from £71.3m in 2024 to £74.2m in 2025, while EBITDA rose from £7.5m to £9.4m over the same period.

Recognition ahead of November

The shortlisting follows a strong 2025 on the industry awards circuit. thebigword was named Company of the Year by the Association of Translation Companies and won Innovation of the Year at the British Business Awards. In an announcement published in October 2025, the company’s newsroom said the Association of Translation Companies had also named it Innovator of the Year for WordSynk Virtual at the trade body’s Language Industry Awards.

thebigword now joins the shortlist for The Dext Innovation Award 2026, one of the categories contested at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, the national programme celebrating UK business achievement. The company says it is continuing to scale internationally while improving access to essential services worldwide, an ambition it will carry into the ceremony this November.

About ZED PODS

ZED PODS Limited, a UK design and build SME specialising in zero-operational-carbon modular housing for public-sector clients across England and Wales, has been named a finalist in two categories at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, shortlisted for both The Dext Innovation Award.

The shortlisting recognises two sides of the same business. One entry highlights the innovation behind the company’s modular building system; the other its performance as a small to medium-sized enterprise in one of construction’s most demanding markets. ZED PODS operates across affordable housing, brownfield regeneration and the modern methods of construction (MMC) sector, with a deliberate focus on constrained land that conventional developers tend to avoid, including flood zones, car parks, garage courts and complex urban infill sites.

Homes on land others walk away from

At the heart of the innovation entry is the ZED PODS Podium-based Build System, which pairs a raised structural podium with factory-built volumetric modular homes. The company says the system enables high-quality homes rated EPC A, with SAP scores of 100 and above, to be delivered on sites previously considered unviable, while retaining up to 70 per cent of existing tarmac, reducing excavation and cutting embodied carbon. Because the homes sit above ground level, development becomes possible in flood-prone locations, and the business reports it secured the UK’s first Environment Agency approvals for podium-based social housing in flood zones. The company describes the homes as fabric first, designed to reduce energy bills for residents while supporting public-sector clients facing urgent housing, budget and climate pressures.

Bucking the trend in a tough modular market

The SME shortlisting places that innovation in a bracing commercial context. According to the business, modular housing has attracted major names and significant investment, yet more than 45 modular companies have failed in the last four years despite over £2bn of investment. ZED PODS presents itself as an SME punching above its weight, and says it has bucked that trend by declining to chase scale at any cost. Instead it has built an integrated model combining in-house design, planning, digital coordination, manufacturing knowledge and principal contractor delivery, giving clients a single accountable partner from feasibility through to handover and, it says, greater certainty on cost, quality, programme and long-term performance. According to the business, the system has been refined continually through BIM, design for manufacture and assembly, post-occupancy data and client feedback, making innovation an ongoing operating model rather than a one-off product.

From a Bristol car park to a national order book

Hope Rise in Bristol, a pioneering scheme built above a public car park, was showcased at COP26, where the company says it was the UK’s only residential modular new-build project featured in the Built Better Now pavilion, and achieved 104 per cent on-site energy generation. ZED PODS reports it has now delivered 145 zero-operational-carbon social homes and holds an order book of more than 1,000 homes from over 30 public-sector clients, evidence, it argues, that innovation on difficult land can be commercially viable, socially valuable and scalable. Through programmes such as Prisoners Building Homes and collaboration with local SMEs, the firm says its work creates wider economic and social benefit alongside strong commercial growth. Details of completed schemes are published on the ZED PODS website.

The company has twice received His Majesty The King’s Awards for Enterprise, for Sustainable Development in 2024 and for Innovation in 2026. The King’s Awards for Enterprise blog on GOV.UK set the official announcement date for the 2026 recipients at 6 May 2026, and ZED PODS confirmed its Innovation award through its own newsroom.

Attention now turns to Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026, where ZED PODS will learn the outcome of The Dext Innovation Award 2026 alongside its fellow finalists.

About GMS Agency

GMS Agency is the world’s largest independent full-service golf marketing agency, delivering strategic, creative and results-driven services across six specialist divisions. With offices in London, Portugal, Dubai and North America, GMS partners with leading brands, clubs and destinations, providing fully in-house expertise and building long-term relationships that drive measurable success. GMS Agency has been shortlisted for The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About Abbey Group

Abbey Group is a Yorkshire-based property services company delivering plumbing, heating, building, joinery and homecare solutions. Built on trust, quality workmanship and excellent customer service, the business supports homeowners, landlords and businesses across the region, creating jobs while helping customers maintain, improve and protect their properties with confidence and care. Abbey Group is a finalist in The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About Pharmazon HomeCare

Pharmazon HomeCare are leaders in UK Private & NHS Pharmacy Home Delivery Services, operating from Harley Street W1 & Wycombe. Working with leading private clinic operators across the UK, to provide a cost-effective and reliable service to patients. Specialities include ADHD, Weight Loss, Fertility and more. Pharmazon HomeCare has been shortlisted for The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About Emergency Hero

Emergency Hero is the UK's first transparent, on-demand emergency trades platform — the Uber of home repairs. Customers book a vetted engineer in under 60 seconds, see a fixed price upfront, and track their Hero live. Founded in Manchester, they're redefining a broken, opaque market affecting nearly 30m households nationwide. Emergence Hero has been shortlisted for The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About NM Productions

NM Productions creates commercials, branded content, social campaigns and stills for clients across automotive, fashion, luxury, hospitality and sports. They handle every stage of production, from development and planning to shoot and delivery. With a calm, collaborative approach, they produce ambitious, well-crafted work that connects with audiences. NM Productions has been shortlisted for The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About Quality Bearings Online

Quality Bearings Online (QBOL) are an award-winning high-growth global distributor, of precision bearings and advanced lubricants. A team of 30 ambitious, high-performing people based at a headquarters in Leeds. QBOL is a values-led organisation, that builds engaged teams, delivers standout customer experiences, and continually innovates to drive our shared success. Quality Bearings Online has been shortlisted for The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About b. the communications agency

b. the communications agency is a creative communications consultancy for leading, pioneering, and next generation fashion, beauty, wellness and lifestyle brands. PRWeekUK Top 150 #16 consumer agency, they work with brands from seed to scale to sale. b. the communications agency is a finalist in The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About Swimsation Swimming Lessons

Swimsation Swimming Lessons is an award-winning, inclusive swimming provider transforming aquatic education across the UK. Founded by 24-year-old entrepreneur Niamh Davidson, we deliver personalised, high-quality lessons for over 2,000 swimmers, specialising in autism-friendly programmes, innovative learning resources and exceptional instructor development, making swimming accessible, enjoyable and life-changing for every learner. Swimsation Swimming Lessons has been shortlisted for The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About Senior Stairlifts

Senior Stairlifts has transformed mobility support through rapid growth, exceptional customer service and innovative solutions. Since launch, the business has expanded across the UK, helping thousands of customers while earning outstanding reviews. Alongside commercial success, the exceptional culture, environmental initiatives, and charitable support make it a true industry leader. Senior Stairlifts has been shortlisted for The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About Boom Radio

Boom Radio is a new national station, available across the UK on DAB and online, serving the country's Baby Boomers with a rich mix of music and personality presenters. launched in the middle of Covid, the station's DJs broadcast from their sheds and back bedrooms to now over 1m listeners. Boom Radio has been shortlisted for The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About The Gym Kitchen

The Gym Kitchen is one of the UK’s fastest-growing FMCG challenger brands, making healthier convenience food accessible, affordable and genuinely tasty. Founded by Segun Akinwoleola, the brand operates across chilled, frozen, food-to-go, yogurts, snacks and ambient categories, with national distribution across major UK grocery retailers. The Gym Kitchen has been shortlisted for The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About Island Larder

Island Larder is a family-run Shetland business creating handmade confectionery and bakery products inspired by local culture and storytelling. Combining craftsmanship, innovation, and community spirit, the business has built a loyal customer base, created local employment, and brought a distinctive taste of Shetland to customers across the UK. Island Larder has been shortlisted for The Dext Small Business of the Year Award.

About Sharing in Growth

Sharing in Growth is a business transformation organisation helping UK manufacturers achieve sustainable growth, improved productivity and stronger competitiveness. Through hands-on coaching, leadership development and operational excellence, they build lasting capability that delivers measurable results, strengthens supply chains and enables businesses in aerospace, defence, nuclear and renewable energy to thrive. Sharing in Growth has been shortlisted for The Business Enabler of the Year Award.

About Nexa Law

Nexa Law is a UK law firm built on a modern consultancy model, giving experienced lawyers the freedom to practise with greater flexibility while benefiting from the infrastructure of an established national platform. The firm supports lawyers who want to practice without the burden of a traditional law practice. Nexa Law has been shortlisted for The Business Enabler of the Year Award.

About Nexus Rental

Nexus Rental, the UK’s leading B2B vehicle and plant hire solution, enables businesses' flexible mobility requirements, through access to more than 550,000 vehicles/assets – including 125,000 specialist and commercial vehicles and 50,000 HGVs and plant machinery, across 2,000 UK locations – via their industry leading rental platform, Iris®. Nexus Rental has been shortlisted for The Business Enabler of the Year Award.

About Tessiant

Tessiant is a practitioner-led consultancy that helps organisations improve performance, unlock growth and deliver complex business change. Built by leaders who have held executive roles themselves, Tessiant combines strategic expertise with hands-on execution. Over the last year, it delivered 99 projects across 27 organisations, generating measurable commercial outcomes. Tessiant has been shortlisted for The Business Enabler of the Year Award.

About Embridge Consulting

Embridge Consulting enables organisations to unlock lasting value from technology through its proprietary Elastic Change™ methodology. Combining emotionally intelligent leadership, strategic advisory and innovative transformation services, Embridge becomes a trusted extension of clients' teams, accelerating adoption, improving productivity and creating sustainable competitive advantage across public and private sectors every day. Embridge Consulting has been shortlisted for The Business Enabler of the Year Award.

About Micom

Micom enables organisations to transform customer communications through one secure platform. Combining print, digital delivery, and intelligent automation, we help businesses improve the customer experience, increase operational efficiency, and communicate with confidence. Trusted across regulated sectors, we turn communication into a measurable business advantage. Micom has been shortlisted for The Business Enabler of the Year Award.

About YOUR Personal Training

YOUR Personal Training is the UK's largest PT licensing and education network, 550+ trainers across 700+ gym sites. They enable trainers to build sustainable businesses and operators to deliver outstanding member experiences. Their trainers stay in post for 30.1 months on average, five times the industry norm retention as advantage. YOUR Personal Training has been shortlisted for The Business Enabler of the Year Award.

About Rothamsted Enterprises

Rothamsted Enterprises drives commercial innovation at Rothamsted, the world-leading agri-tech campus with over 180 years of scientific heritage. They support scientists and entrepreneurs, start-ups and scale-ups to grow, collaborate and commercialise; helping deliver the UK Government's ambitions on food security, sustainable farming, and economic growth. Rothamsted Enterprises has been shortlisted for The Business Enabler of the Year Award.

About Inventya

Inventya is an innovation and scale-up consultancy helping deep tech and innovation-led organisations turn opportunity into measurable growth. Through funding and blended finance, commercialisation, IP, digital capability, internationalisation and scale-up support, we connect businesses, capital, markets and expertise to unlock growth, investment and sustainable competitive advantage. Inventya has been shortlisted for The Business Enabler of the Year Award.

About Let’s Go

Let's Go is a consulting practice specialising in collaboration. They help iconic organisations like Warner Bros. Discovery, Lloyds Banking Group, and Ghirardelli cut through complexity to get things done together. Their work is built on The Let's Go Model® and our practical tools are used by thousands of leaders worldwide. Let's Go has been shortlisted for The Business Enabler of the Year Award.

About sparemytime

sparemytime helps growth-minded businesses run as brilliantly as the work they do. sparemytime uncover what is holding them back across operations, finance, people, marketing and admin, rebuild the structure behind the scenes, and place the fractional team that keeps everything running. Our team is 100% women, 100% mothers. sparemytime has been shortlisted for The Business Enabler of the Year Award.

About iplicit

iplicit brings modern finance to the UK mid-market: rescuing organisations that have been neglected by the providers of outdated, on-premises tech. Since launching in 2019, the Sunday Times top 5 employer has more than doubled its YoY revenue, on average, every year and now serves over 3,000 businesses and charities. iplicit has been shortlisted for The Technology Business of the Year.

About Quantexa

Founded in 2016, Quantexa is a UK-headquartered decision intelligence (DI) software company that uses AI to help organisations understand complex data, uncover hidden risk, and make better decisions at scale. Quantexa is known for pioneering the use of entity resolution, graph analytics, and contextual intelligence to solve complex challenges. Quantexa has been shortlisted for The Technology Business of the Year.

About ANS

ANS is a leading digital transformation provider and Microsoft’s UK Partner of the Year 2025. Headquartered in Manchester, they’re on a mission to make technology accessible for all.Offering public and private cloud, data services, security, business applications and low code, they serve enterprise, SMB and public sector organisations. ANS has been shortlisted for The Technology Business of the Year.

About InstaVolt

InstaVolt is the UK's largest public ultra-rapid EV charging network. Founded in 2016, it operates 3,700+ chargers across 900+ locations nationwide and internationally. Pioneering tap-to-pay charging, battery storage innovation and renewable energy integration, InstaVolt is committed to making EV charging fast, reliable and affordable for every driver. InstaVolt has been shortlisted for The Technology Business of the Year.

About BrightHR

BrightHR is a fast-growing SaaS platform that helps SMEs and mid-market employers manage people, compliance, and workplace risk. It combines HR, payroll, health and safety, and employment law support in one system, backed by 24/7 expert advice, enabling businesses to save time, reduce risk, and focus on growth and productivity. BrightHR has been shortlisted for The Technology Business of the Year.

About Simpson Associates

Simpson Associates is an award-winning UK Data, AI and Managed Services consultancy helping organisations unlock the power of data for good. For over 30 years, they have combined Microsoft innovation, industry expertise and purpose-led delivery to drive growth, improve outcomes and create lasting value for organisations, communities and society. Simpson Associates has been shortlisted for The Technology Business of the Year.

About Chip

Chip is a London-based digital wealth app used by over 400,000 people and with £6bn AUA. The company provides a single app that allows customers to manage and build their long-term wealth across savings and investments. Chip has been shortlisted for The Technology Business of the Year.

About Aurrigo International

Aurrigo International is leading the world in smart airside solutions and delivering access to the latest autonomous technology. Operating from its new Advanced Engineering Centre in Coventry, the company designs, develops and builds a range of driverless vehicles that are currently deployed in twelve airports across the world. Aurrigo International has been shortlisted for The Technology Business of the Year.

About Purple

Purple is a B Corp certified provider of guest, staff and multi-tenant WiFi, deployed across 80,000+ venues worldwide and recognised as a Visionary in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Indoor Location Services. Its cloud-based platform turns WiFi into a commercial and civic asset, trusted by businesses, retailers and councils. Purple has been shortlisted for The Technology Business of the Year.

About Lunio

Lunio is the independent platform that protects advertisers from invalid traffic, the bots, scrapers and fraudulent clicks draining ad budgets. Using machine learning, it detects and blocks invalid activity in real time across Google, Microsoft, Meta and LinkedIn, ensuring more of every marketer's spend reaches genuine, high-intent customers. Lunio has been shortlisted for The Technology Business of the Year.

About Invinity Energy Systems

Invinity Energy Systems (AIM:IES) is the world’s leading manufacturer of vanadium flow batteries. Proudly Made in Britain, their cutting-edge technology has dispatched gigawatt-hours of clean electricity for grids and industry worldwide. In short, they unlock the power of renewable energy for our customers by delivering energy storage without limits. Invinity Energy Systems has been shortlisted for The Technology Business of the Year.

About Connect Therapy Services

Connect Therapy Services, the independent occupational therapy provider trading as Connect Specialist Therapy Services, has been named a finalist in The Inclusion Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Based in Hull and East Yorkshire, the specialist service supports children and young people with special educational needs, particularly neurodivergent individuals and those with complex sensory, emotional and functional needs. It was established to address a significant gap in local provision, and offers assessment, intervention, school support, training and community-based wellbeing services for children, families, schools and organisations.

A neuro-affirming approach

Operating within the health, education and wellbeing sector, Connect works across clinics, schools, homes and community settings. It supports young people who may experience challenges with sensory processing, emotional regulation, anxiety, school attendance, motor skills and participation in daily life, taking a holistic, neuro-affirming and trauma-informed approach that places wellbeing, inclusion and meaningful participation at the centre of all support.

According to the business, it is currently the only independent occupational therapy service in Hull and the East Riding with a dedicated focus on children and young people with special educational needs, alongside a mission centred on advocacy, wellbeing and community impact. The service is recognised, it says, for pushing boundaries, developing bespoke partnerships with schools and organisations, and creating opportunities for children and families who may otherwise feel excluded or unsupported.

Partnerships and lived experience

Connect has built collaborative relationships with local schools, charities and community organisations, including Aim Higher, helping to improve access to support and social inclusion opportunities. Alongside direct therapy, it delivers training and awareness sessions for schools and professionals to raise understanding and acceptance of neurodivergent individuals across the region.

A key strength, the company reports, is its values-led team culture. The organisation actively embraces lived experience and is proud to employ and support a neurodivergent workforce, recognising the importance of representation, authenticity and understanding within service delivery. That commitment aligns closely with the criteria for The Inclusion Award, which celebrates organisations demonstrating exceptional commitment to inclusivity.

Growing impact across the region

Significant achievements reported by the business include the rapid growth of the service across Hull and East Yorkshire, the development of specialist school partnerships and wellbeing programmes, and the expansion of community-based group interventions. Through innovation, advocacy and compassionate practice, Connect continues to make a meaningful and lasting impact within its sector and local community.

The winner of The Inclusion Award will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About Corecom Tech Academy

Corecom Tech Academy, the Leeds-based talent provider building inclusive routes into technology careers, has been named a finalist in The Inclusion Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

The fast-growing business tackles two of the UK’s most pressing workforce challenges at once: digital skills shortages and the lack of diversity in technology. Through its Recruit Train Deploy model, it combines paid employment, industry-aligned training and sustained development support for people traditionally underrepresented in the sector, including women, global ethnic majority communities, career changers, neurodiverse talent and those from low socio-economic backgrounds.

A people-first model

What sets the Academy apart, the business says, is its people-first approach. While many training providers concentrate solely on technical skills, it builds two years of pastoral support into every Associate’s programme, covering personalised coaching, skills development, industry-recognised certifications and wellbeing support, so that Associates develop the core capabilities needed for long-term careers in technology.

Outperforming the sector on diversity

Having exceeded its initial target of 60 new tech opportunities by 2025, Corecom Tech Academy has grown from 2 to 76 team members and supported more than 150 people into roles across software, data, platform and cloud, cyber security and business analysis, while keeping staff turnover below 5 per cent, according to the company. Against a UK tech sector where diversity levels sit at around 28 per cent, it reports 61 per cent female representation, 42 per cent representation from global ethnic majority communities, 17 per cent neurodiversity and more than half of Associates coming from low socio-economic backgrounds.

That record has earned coverage in the Yorkshire Post, The Business Desk and Prolific North. The Yorkshire Post has profiled the Academy as a Yorkshire firm with social mobility at its heart, aiming to put thousands into work, while TheBusinessDesk.com has reported on its publicly stated ambition to create 1,000 tech roles across the UK and Prolific North covered the moment it passed its original 60-role target.

Strengthening the wider tech ecosystem

The Academy co-designs bespoke academies with industry-leading organisations to address critical skills shortages, delivering strong employer outcomes, repeat business and a growing reputation as one of the UK’s most inclusive and socially driven tech academies, the business reports. Beyond its own programmes, it has engaged over 1,300 students nationwide through community partnerships and voluntary mentoring, alongside sponsorships and participation in industry events including the Leeds Digital Ball, Leeds Digital Festival and Manchester Tech Fest.

By removing barriers into technology, the Academy empowers underrepresented talent to build lasting careers while giving employers access to diverse, project-ready professionals, an approach now recognised by its shortlisting for The Inclusion Award. The winners will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About Lyreco UK

Lyreco UK, one of the country’s largest distributors of workplace products and services, has been named a finalist in The Inclusion Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards, recognition for a business that has made inclusive employment a central part of a century-old trading story.

The company is part of the global Lyreco Group, whose heritage stretches back to 1926, when it began life as a small family paper business in France. It has since grown into an international organisation operating across Europe and Asia, supplying businesses of every size with essential workplace solutions.

From office supplies to next-day logistics

Lyreco UK & Ireland today provides a comprehensive range of products and services spanning office supplies, facilities management, personal protective equipment and workplace essentials. The business pairs strong digital capabilities with a highly efficient logistics network, allowing it to deliver next-day services to customers across both the public and private sectors. According to the company’s website, the wider group is the European leader and the third largest distributor of workplace products in the world, and the UK and Ireland business completed more than 2.5 million deliveries to over 40,500 customers in 2024, drawing on a range of more than 60,000 products across 18 categories.

A leader in sustainability and social value

Lyreco reports that it is widely recognised within its sector for operational excellence, customer service and strong supplier partnerships, and that it has established itself as a leader in sustainability and social value, embedding responsible practices into sourcing, operations and customer solutions. This includes offering extensive ranges of environmentally responsible products, improving supply chain transparency and supporting customers in reducing their own environmental impact. The company’s published commitments include powering its 22 UK and Ireland sites entirely through renewable electricity.

Inclusion built into the business

The business is equally committed to social impact, it says, with a strong focus on inclusive employment practices, community engagement and ethical standards across its value chain. That focus sits at the heart of its shortlisting for The Inclusion Award, which celebrates organisations that have demonstrated exceptional commitment to inclusivity and proved the commercial case for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Through continuous innovation, customer-centric services and a responsible approach to business, Lyreco reports that it has built a reputation as a trusted, forward-thinking partner, playing a key role in shaping more sustainable and efficient workplaces across the UK and Ireland.

Lyreco UK Ltd now joins fellow finalists from across the country ahead of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony, which takes place at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026, where the winner of The Inclusion Award will be announced.

About Snowball Community

Snowball Community, the company behind the disability accessibility app Snowball, has been named a finalist in The Inclusion Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Described by the business as the world’s largest disability accessibility app, and often called the TripAdvisor for the disabled community, Snowball is available free on iOS and Android and helps people find accessible places to visit, live, work and travel, all in one platform. Its mission is simple: everyone deserves everywhere.

Real-time accessibility information

Snowball operates within the global accessibility, travel and smart cities market, supporting more than one billion disabled people worldwide alongside their families, carers and wider communities. The platform combines user-generated reviews with professional accessibility assessments to provide clear, real-time information about venues, transport and public spaces, from step-free access and Blue Badge parking to sensory ratings for neurodivergent users.

Unlike traditional providers relying on long, static reports, the company says, its app-first ecosystem delivers instant, mobile-friendly accessibility data with integrated directions via Google Maps. The platform introduces a National Disability Access Rating alongside a Stimulation Rating for sensory accessibility, which the business describes as an industry first. Businesses can join through affordable options, including a £49 ten-minute checker, making accessibility scalable and inclusive for organisations of all sizes. The company is also building what it reports is one of the most comprehensive accessibility datasets globally, supporting governments, transport systems and organisations in improving inclusion and informing sustainable urban planning.

From Dragons’ Den to the national stage

Snowball has achieved significant traction and recognition. Founder and chief executive Simon Sansome, a wheelchair user from Leicestershire, started the business after a spinal injury in 2014, as reported by BusinessCloud. Following his appearance on Dragons’ Den, where the business received offers from all five Dragons, the app saw tens of thousands of downloads, reached number five in the UK app charts and generated millions of social media views. The pitch, in the final episode of series 22, was also featured on an official gov.uk blog in January 2026, and trade titles including BusinessCloud and Insider Media have reported on the full house of offers and the company’s subsequent partnership with Google for Startups.

The business reports partnerships with leading organisations including Google, Santander, Barclays and multiple universities, and has won several major awards, including the Santander Global Award and a Best Digital & Tech Award.

Snowball is redefining accessibility, the company says, turning fragmented information into a single platform that empowers users and drives real-world change. That commitment to inclusion has now earned a place on the shortlist for The Inclusion Award, with the winner announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About Structura UK

Structura UK, the carbon-neutral architectural glazing specialist whose work spans some of Britain’s best-known buildings, has been named a finalist in The Inclusion Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

For 35 years the business has designed, fabricated and installed commercial glazing solutions across the UK and Ireland, trusted by leading architects, surveyors, building owners and facilities managers to extend the serviceable lifespan and transform the energy efficiency of high-profile commercial buildings and landmarks. Its portfolio of complex retrofit projects includes iconic sites such as The National Gallery, The Royal Academy of Arts and Heathrow Airport.

Made inside the M25

What sets the firm apart, it says, is a holistic commitment to sustainable development combined with an industry-leading inclusive culture. Structura designs and fabricates all of its work in a custom-built facility within the M25, allowing it to manage complex logistics and maintain the highest safety standards while installing in busy central city locations. The company’s website also notes that it works almost exclusively as a retrofit specialist and is a London Living Wage employer.

The company reports that it pioneers sustainability practices in its sector, implementing innovative processes to recycle and enable low carbon glass and aluminium, targeting and reducing embodied carbon, and holding Certified Carbon Neutral status for more than five years. Its commitment to the circular economy includes the National Gallery Sainsbury Wing project, which featured innovative glass recycling and enables future low carbon glass products.

An inclusive culture recognised at gold standard

Following a transformational five-year roadmap focused on People, Planet and Prosperity, the business reports significant commercial success, placing it in the top tiers of its industry. Its key achievements include fostering an outstanding workplace culture, evidenced by a multi-year neurodiversity initiative that earned Gold status in the Neurodiversity Employers Index run by the autism research and campaigning charity Autistica, described by the charity as an evidence-based benchmark for workplace neuroinclusion.

The company also reports doubling its female representation, which now stands at almost twice the industry average, and it completed a transition to an Employee Ownership Trust in 2026, giving employees a stake in the business they help to build. These are the credentials that earned its place on the shortlist for The Inclusion Award, which recognises organisations proving the commercial case for diversity, equity and inclusion.

Inclusion driving commercial results

That commitment appears to be paying off with customers too: the business reports that 100 per cent of its clients agree its service was a good investment and that they would recommend the firm.

The winner of The Inclusion Award will be announced at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About Opinium

Opinium is an award-winning strategic insight agency, twice MRS Agency of the Year. With global offices, they deliver impactful, evidence-based insights that drive action. Combining robust methodologies, creativity, and AI, they help organisations navigate complexity, shape debate, and turn research, data, and insights into effective strategy and measurable outcomes. Opinium has been shortlisted for The Inclusion Award and The Employer of the Year Award.

About Simple Online Healthcare

Simple Online Healthcare, a Glasgow-headquartered digital healthcare company trading in the UK as Simple Online Pharmacy, is a finalist in two categories at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026: The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award and The Inclusion Award. The business provides clinical assessment, prescribing and dispensing directly to patients, with a particular focus on weight management, GLP-1 treatment and metabolic health, alongside men’s and women’s health.

Founded in 2015 and fully self-funded, the company reports revenue growth from £24.3m in FY23 to £155m in FY26, a more than six-fold increase in three years. That record has earned it a place on the shortlist for the mid-market growth category, with winners to be announced at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

A regulated answer to a stretched system

According to the business, nearly two-thirds of UK adults find it difficult to access a GP, while obesity alone costs the UK economy over £126 billion a year. Its response is a fully regulated, end-to-end clinical pathway covering assessment, prescribing, dispensing and ongoing multidisciplinary support, built and vertically integrated in-house rather than assembled from fragmented providers.

That model operates under UK pharmacy regulation. Simple Online Pharmacy appears on the General Pharmaceutical Council’s register under number 9011287, and the regulator’s register entry records its Glasgow premises, its owner Simple Online Healthcare Ltd and a published inspection report.

Growth without external capital

The company says it has scaled while holding clinical standards firm, with same-day dispensing above 99% and prescribing error rates below 0.1%, figures it describes as more typical of a far smaller provider. The business is profitable, debt-free and self-funded, reinvesting profits in clinical governance, technology and its workforce rather than distributing them to investors.

According to the business, it has served over 1 million patients and expanded into Australia and Germany.

A second shortlist, for inclusion

The company is also a finalist in The Inclusion Award, and its entry for that category centres on patients that traditional healthcare routes underserve. According to the business, the service was built for people without access to 9-to-5 GP appointments, such as shift and night workers and those with caring responsibilities, and for patients for whom discretion is essential, since conditions it treats, from weight management to men’s and women’s health, often carry significant social stigma. Research commissioned by the company found that two-thirds of GLP-1 patients hide their treatment from friends or family, 38% report being judged for it, and only 26% of UK adults feel comfortable discussing GLP-1 use at all, findings it says shaped a service designed around privacy, discretion and compassion. Among its weight-management patients, the company reports, over 90% say their general health has improved and one in three say they would otherwise have gone untreated.

The same thinking runs through the workforce, the business says, citing a 0% gender pay gap, 100% equity participation, Living Wage employment with no zero-hours contracts, an on-site prayer room and flexible hours for its Muslim colleagues, and English tuition for refugee employees. Women hold senior leadership roles across the business, including Chief Operating Officer and Superintendent Pharmacist. Headquartered in Glasgow’s East End, with a team grown from 69 to over 150 people, more than 80% of them Scotland-based, the firm argues that inclusive design and commercial performance reinforce one another.

Recognition ahead of November

The firm’s progress has been recognised elsewhere. It was named Fast Growth Business of the Year at the Scotland Business of the Year Awards 2026, ranked 48th in the 2026 Sunday Times 100 as the second-highest ranked Scottish and healthcare business on the list, and featured in the inaugural Sunday Times Scotland Fast 50 in the Global Ambition category. Chief executive Addy Mohammed has been shortlisted for the EY Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and the Great British Entrepreneur of the Year Awards, Scotland region.

Simple Online Healthcare’s case to the judges is that growth and scale can come as a result of, not in spite of, clinical excellence, rigour, safety and positive patient outcomes. It now awaits the verdict in both categories alongside its fellow finalists at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony in November.

About The Empathy Business

The Empathy Business, founded by Belinda Parmar OBE, is a boutique consultancy that makes empathy measurable. They work with organisations including Barclays, BlackRock and GCHQ to improve leadership, customer experience and culture. In an age of AI, they help companies stay human and prove that empathy drives commercial performance. The Empathy Business has been shortlisted for the Inclusion Award. 

About Yorkshire Financial Services

Yorkshire Financial Services, a family-run mortgage and protection brokerage based in Doncaster, has been named a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The firm provides fee-free independent advice on remortgages for existing homeowners, mortgages for first-time buyers, buy-to-let lending for landlords and investors, and mortgage and family protection cover. Its place on the shortlist rests on loyalty figures most advice firms would envy: the company reports a client retention rate of 98.7 per cent, with almost 99 in every 100 clients coming back when their initial mortgage term nears its end.

Growth built on referrals

According to the business, its strategy has been to double down on what it does exceptionally well, high-quality, fee-free independent mortgage and protection advice, rather than spreading itself thin. Organic growth comes chiefly from existing clients. Through its Recommend a Friend initiative, 91 per cent of new business in 2025 arrived via client referrals, the company reports, with each existing client introducing an average of 3.8 people.

That loyalty is underpinned by reach. Yorkshire Financial Services says it has built relationships with national mortgage lenders and mortgage clubs that unlock exclusive products members of the public cannot obtain by going direct, and that it can place cases with every lender in the country operating an intermediary arm, more than 110 in total, from High Street names to specialist providers.

Culture and practical help

The brokerage credits its culture, saying ethics and morals guide every member of the team each day and that recruitment focuses on finding a mutual fit before training begins. Over the past 12 months the small, family-run firm has also produced practical tools in response to a clear client need, including budgeting spreadsheets for first-time buyers and a free First-time Buyers Step-by-Step Guide reminding clients what happens at each stage of the mortgage process, work the business says has contributed directly to its growth.

Publicly available records support the firm’s local footing. Incorporated on 30 January 2014, according to its Companies House record, Yorkshire Financial Services operates from Armstrong House at Doncaster Finningley Airport, and its website says it serves first-time buyers and homeowners across Doncaster, Huddersfield and the wider county. The company states it is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, appearing on the Financial Services Register under reference 841681.

A night at Grosvenor House

Announced among the finalists in July 2026, Yorkshire Financial Services now competes for The Customer Loyalty Award, which recognises businesses that retain, engage and grow loyal customer bases. Winners across The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be revealed at a ceremony at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026. For a brokerage whose new business comes overwhelmingly from people its existing clients send through the door, the shortlisting reflects loyalty earned one recommendation at a time.

About Westminster Wealth Management

Westminster Wealth Management, the Chartered and fully independent wealth management firm based on Fleet Street in London, has been named a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The firm, known as WWM, provides holistic financial planning across pensions, investments, protection and corporate benefits, serving both private clients and corporate employees across the UK, with advice designed to improve financial security and support better financial decision-making. Finalists were announced in July 2026, and the winners will be revealed at Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London, on 10 November 2026.

Independence in a consolidating market

The UK wealth management sector is increasingly shaped by consolidation, restricted advice models and rising regulatory demands, according to the firm’s entry. WWM says it stands apart through complete independence, free from product providers, private equity ownership or external shareholders, allowing it to give genuinely whole of market advice with low, transparent fees and recommendations focused solely on client outcomes, combined with the scale, security and expertise of a large firm.

The business reports assets under management of around £3 billion, supported by a team of more than 60 independent financial advisers delivering personalised, long-term advice. Companies House records show the limited liability partnership was incorporated on 6 July 2006 and is registered at 167 Fleet Street, London. On its website, westminster-wealth.com, the firm states that its full independence allows it to access any solution available in the market to meet client needs.

Client feedback at the centre

The firm’s loyalty credentials rest on its review record and repeat business. WWM reports more than 4,400 verified client reviews with an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 on VouchedFor, and says client feedback is embedded directly into adviser training, governance and continuous improvement processes. According to the business, 99 per cent of its new business is driven by existing clients and referrals, which it presents as evidence of consistently strong relationships and high quality outcomes.

Widening access to advice

Innovation and accessibility form a further strand of the entry. The firm’s FCA-authorised digital advice platform, AllAdvised, is designed to address the UK advice gap by providing scalable, regulated financial advice to employees across more than 30 local authorities, extending access beyond traditional wealth demographics.

WWM also points to external recognition, reporting nine consecutive years in the FT Top 100 Financial Advisers, including a fourth-place ranking in 2023, alongside client service awards including VouchedFor Firm of the Year and Client Champion.

A place on the shortlist for The Customer Loyalty Award recognises that record. The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards celebrate the achievements of UK businesses of every size, and the firm says that through independence, transparency and innovation it will keep raising client-centric standards across the wealth management industry.

About Thrive Learning

Thrive Learning, the Nottingham-headquartered learning technology company, has been named a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026. The business describes itself as one of Europe’s fastest-growing learning technology companies, using a single AI-powered platform to help employers develop workforces that are more skilled, more engaged and better connected.

Founded in 2018, Thrive began as a challenger to established learning management systems and now positions itself as a global employee enablement platform. It will compete for The Customer Loyalty Award, which recognises businesses that turn outstanding service into lasting customer relationships.

One platform, beyond the course catalogue

The company combines learning, communication, knowledge sharing, skills development, mentoring and coaching in one place, supporting millions of users across retail, financial services, hospitality, aviation, manufacturing, healthcare and the public sector. Where traditional learning platforms concentrate on course management and compliance, Thrive says it helps organisations solve wider business challenges, from onboarding and employee engagement to leadership development, knowledge retention and workforce transformation. AI-powered search, content creation, skills mapping, mentoring and coaching tools aim to put the right knowledge and expertise in front of people exactly when they need it.

Long-term partnerships with household names

Customer success sits at the centre of Thrive’s growth. The platform powers learning and development for some of the world’s most recognisable brands, including Volvo Cars, Emirates, Vodafone, Avon, National Highways, Burger King and Jet2, the company reports, with partnerships built on long-term relationships, measurable outcomes and a sustained focus on customer value. According to the company’s website, Thrive is trusted by more than 500 organisations and five million users in more than 60 countries, with offices in the UK, UAE and United States. Records at Companies House show Thrive Learning Limited remains an active private limited company registered in Nottinghamshire.

Investment, acquisitions and recognition

Over the past 18 months, Thrive says it has quadrupled its investment in product development and expanded its AI capabilities. The business has also acquired Huler and Guider, adding employee experience, coaching and mentoring capabilities and strengthening its position as a category leader. Both deals were announced on the company’s own newsroom, and technology title BusinessCloud reported that the Huler acquisition completed just weeks after a multi-million pound deal for Guider.

That momentum has been matched by multiple industry awards, the company reports, including wins at the Learning Technologies Awards, the Brandon Hall Excellence Awards and the Learning Excellence Awards, alongside recognition as one of Europe’s fastest-growing technology businesses.

As employers navigate rapid technological change, Thrive aims to redefine what workplace learning can be, helping customers build the skills, knowledge and connections needed to perform today and adapt for the future. Its shortlisting at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards puts that customer-first record before the judges, with winners revealed at Grosvenor House on 10 November 2026.

About Octopus Electric Vehicles

Octopus Electric Vehicles, the London-headquartered electric car leasing specialist, has been named a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026. The company provides expert advice, smarter home charging, easier public charging, tax-efficient salary sacrifice schemes, maintenance and grid integration, and says that by simplifying the transition to electric it has become the leading one-stop solution for customers.

The business will compete for The Customer Loyalty Award at a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026, alongside fellow finalists from across the UK.

Salary sacrifice that widens access

According to its entry, the company’s customer engagement strategy is accelerating the UK’s transition to green transport by removing friction from EV adoption. Its salary sacrifice scheme for businesses makes electric vehicles available to employees for as little as £200 a month, delivering tax savings of up to 40 per cent and cutting 1.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide per driver each year, the company reports. The service spans bespoke payroll integration, home charging, maintenance and expert guidance, and the business says it has enabled thousands of employers to engage and retain staff. A Sunday Times Best Place to Work, it adds that a well cared for team is free to focus its attention on customers.

“Our mission is simple; to make going electric easy, so driving is cleaner. And we know it’s about more than just the car,” says chief executive Gurjeet Grewal in the company’s entry. “It’s about making sure your car works with the grid, not just for you…. That’s the future we’re building at Octopus EV.”

Loyalty measured in numbers

The company reports that prioritising value and partnership has produced tangible results. As of January 2026 it had taken 41,000 EV orders, a 51 per cent year-on-year increase, while expanding its client base by 33 per cent. A 98 per cent client retention rate, it says, shows that businesses stay because of the genuine value provided, while a 4.8 Trustpilot score significantly outperforms the 3.4 industry average. To date, the business has delivered 61,500 tonnes of CO2 savings, according to the entry, and it continues to innovate so that switching to electric rewards employer and employee alike.

A regulated operator with a public record

Public records support the picture of an established business. Companies House shows Octopus Electric Vehicles Limited as an active private limited company, incorporated in 2017 and registered on Oxford Street in central London. According to its website, the firm is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under firm reference number 809736 and is a member of the British Vehicle Rental and Leasing Association. In 2023 the business, part of Octopus Energy Group, announced a salary sacrifice offer for second-hand electric cars through the Octopus Energy newsroom, a move designed to make EVs more affordable and one covered by trade titles including Fleet News.

For Octopus Electric Vehicles, loyal partnerships and cleaner transport go hand in hand. Whether that record convinces the judges at the British Business Excellence Awards will be revealed when the winners are announced in November.

About Maxton Design

Maxton Design are always striving to provide a unique and excelled level of customer experience. As the market leader in automotive styling kits, it’s paramount that the level of service they provide is to the quality of products on offer.

Maxton Design has been shortlisted for The Customer Loyalty Award.

About London Box Sash Windows

London Box Sash Windows Ltd, a family-run manufacturer and installer of bespoke timber sash windows and doors for period homes across London and the South East, has been named a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Operating in the premium home improvement and heritage property market, the company combines traditional joinery, conservation expertise and modern manufacturing to produce high-quality, energy-efficient windows that preserve the character of Victorian, Georgian and Edwardian houses. Its shortlisting recognises a service record the business says is built on doing what it promises: arriving on time, communicating clearly and resolving issues properly.

Craftsmanship meets continuous improvement

What sets the firm apart, according to the business, is an unusual blend of craftsmanship, technology and people-first leadership. It has invested heavily in machinery, training and its own bespoke CRM and manufacturing system, designed to give customers a more reliable experience from survey through to installation. Lean manufacturing, Kaizen-style improvement and defect logging are embedded in weekly meetings, helping the team raise quality, cut waste and solve problems quickly.

The company reports that it is the number one rated timber sash window company for London and the South East on Which? Trusted Traders, supported by genuine positive reviews.

People kept, profits reinvested

Growth has been steady and, the company reports, achieved without churn. From two people the business has grown into a 21-strong group spanning London Box Sash Windows and its sister glass business, Lead Designs, while maintaining zero staff turnover over the past five years. More than £4m has been reinvested in plant, machinery, systems and people, according to the business, and apprentices have progressed into management roles. Staff benefit from above-industry pay, profit share, half-day Fridays, regular catch-ups and an in-house gym, support the company links directly to the consistency of its customer service.

Sustainability is a growing focus too. Timber offcuts are turned into wildlife products through the firm’s Sawn To Be Wild initiative, trees are planted for products sold, and waste reduction is a standing priority, according to the business.

Recognition at Grosvenor House

The company’s roots run deep. Its website records that engineer John Ellis founded the business in 1980, with sons Jack and Patrick now running day-to-day operations from its Croydon workshop and the firm states it is FENSA registered, approved to self-certify that window and door installations comply with building regulations in England and Wales.

London Box Sash Windows says it stands out because it has modernised a traditional craft without losing its family values, long-term customer relationships or commitment to quality. Announced among the finalists in July 2026, it now competes for The Customer Loyalty Award, with winners across The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards revealed at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About Insignia Crisis Management

Insignia Crisis Management, a specialist crisis management consultancy headquartered in Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, has been named a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The firm prepares business leaders to respond confidently when things go badly wrong. Demand for specialist crisis management has grown significantly, the company reports, as organisations face increasingly volatile risks, from cyber attacks and geopolitical instability to AI-driven threats and reputational crises that can escalate within hours. Insignia’s stated purpose is to end the needless harm caused by mishandled crises, protecting businesses, employees, investors and communities from financial loss and reputational damage.

Specialists rather than generalists

Registered at Companies House as Insignia Crisis and Reputation Management Limited and incorporated in 2008, the consultancy works with leaders to ensure they can do and say the right things on the worst days of their business lives. It uses a proprietary method, the Crisis Proof Approach, built on six essential elements: Commitment, Culture, Foresight, Foundations, Skills and Confidence.

Its team of ten crisis management specialists works exclusively in this field, a deliberate contrast, the company says, with the Big Four consultancies that offer crisis management as one service among many. That focus, according to the business, delivers deeper expertise from a team that cares. The client list includes some of the world’s most prestigious organisations, among them Sky, Royal London, National Grid, Heineken, Hyatt Hotels, Mott MacDonald, Virgin Atlantic, Network Rail, London Stock Exchange, HS2 and Lidl, with work delivered across five continents.

Loyalty measured in referrals

The clearest evidence for the consultancy’s place on this shortlist is where its work comes from. The company reports that 56 per cent of new business arrives through referrals and recommendations. Its commitment to the profession also extends beyond client work: the annual Insignia Crisis Management Conference, now in its fourth year, brings together senior crisis professionals to share experience, challenge thinking and strengthen the capability of the industry as a whole.

In October 2025 the firm transitioned to an Employee Ownership Trust, a move it says protects its independence and preserves the expertise, relationships and quality of service that clients rely on. The company’s own newsroom announced in November 2025 that it had become 100 per cent employee owned after 17 years in business.

Recognition across the sector

Managing director Jonathan Hemus received the Lifetime Achievement award at the Continuity Insurance and Risk (CIR) Business Continuity Awards 2024, which honours outstanding professional excellence and leadership in business continuity, resilience and risk management, and Insignia itself was named Consultancy of the Year at the same awards in 2023 and 2025.

The Customer Loyalty Award recognises businesses whose customers keep coming back, and this year’s finalists were announced in July 2026. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be revealed at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London on 10 November 2026. More about the consultancy is at insigniacrisis.com.

About Hallmaster

Hallmaster, the Dorset software business whose venue booking platform is used by community halls, churches and charities across the UK and beyond, has been named a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Founded in 2010 to solve the day-to-day operational headaches of shared venues, the company reports that its software now supports more than 3,500 organisations around the world, handling bookings, invoicing, payments and administration through a single system. Finalists were announced in July 2026, with winners revealed at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London on 10 November 2026.

Built for volunteer-run venues

Hallmaster operates in the venue management software market, serving village and community halls, churches, charities, sports clubs, theatres, golf clubs, schools, meeting spaces, local authorities and commercial venues. Many of its customers are volunteer-led organisations, which the business says makes ease of use, reliability and responsive support critical.

Rather than building features for their own sake, the company says every development is driven by direct customer feedback and practical operational need. The platform brings together bookings, invoicing, online payments, reporting, recurring bookings, resource management and integrations covering remote heating, payment, accounting and building access, helping venues cut administration and eliminate double bookings.

Loyalty measured in decades

The finalist entry leans heavily on longevity. More than 68 organisations have remained Hallmaster customers for over 12 years, according to the business, while independent reviews consistently highlight its knowledgeable UK-based support team. In the past year alone, the company reports welcoming more than 280 new organisations, delivering 12 major software updates, maintaining system uptime above 99.9 per cent and supporting over one million bookings annually. Growth, it says, has been built on long-term relationships and consistently strong customer service.

Backing the community venue sector

Beyond the software itself, Hallmaster works with sector bodies including Action with Communities in Rural England (ACRE) and the Scottish Council for Voluntary Organisations (SCVO), providing training, guidance and support. ACRE, whose annual Village Halls Week campaign champions the contribution of England’s more than 10,000 village halls, lists Hallmaster among the sponsors of the event and has published guest articles from the company on its website.

According to the company’s website, ACRE has chosen Hallmaster to be promoted as its preferred booking system for village halls in England and Scotland.

By reducing the time volunteers spend on paperwork, the company says it helps organisations focus on serving their communities, enabling millions of people each year to connect, learn, volunteer and take part in local activities. Hallmaster now joins the other finalists shortlisted for The Customer Loyalty Award, a category recognising companies that turn dependable service into enduring customer relationships, with the winners announced when The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony takes place on 10 November 2026.

About Crystal Auras

Crystal Auras, an ethical crystal and jewellery retailer based in Enderby, Leicestershire, has been named a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Founded in 2020 by Nyree Brough, a breast cancer survivor, certified crystal healer and former corporate data analyst, the business sells crystals, jewellery and spiritual tools to an international customer base. What began as a personal healing project has become, the company says, a mission to bring transparency, ethical sourcing and genuine education to a market that has traditionally offered little of any of them.

Sourcing that customers can trace

The UK crystal and wellness trade is largely unregulated, and Crystal Auras describes much of it as dominated by anonymously sourced products with no traceable supply chain. The company positions itself against that norm. Brough audits suppliers in person and visits mines herself, including the Herkimer Diamond mines, collaborating with industry experts along the way. Every crystal is consciously sourced, every supplier personally vetted and every price set to reflect true market value, according to the business, which also refuses to take part in Black Friday or discount cycles because, it argues, fair pricing reflects fair pay at every stage of the supply chain.

That stance carries independent endorsement. Crystal Auras is a recommended company of the International Amber Association, a status the business says is held by only a small number of firms worldwide recognised for ethical practice in the gemstone industry.

A community built on live selling

Customer loyalty is cultivated in real time. The retailer holds live selling events every Sunday, Monday and Tuesday evening and broadcasts directly from international trade shows, including the JOGS shows in Tucson and Las Vegas, Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines in France and Amberif in Poland, bringing world-class gem events to customers who could never attend themselves. That approach has built a following of more than 158,000 on Instagram, which the company reports is more than ten times the audience of its nearest ethical UK competitor, alongside 100 monthly community subscribers. The company’s website also carries a free education hub and crystal guides, in keeping with its stated aim of making crystals accessible to all.

The business reports 361 five-star Google reviews, describing the record as perfect. In 2022 Brough was invited to collaborate with luxury skincare brand REN Skincare on ethical crystal sourcing, and in 2025 the company won Best Social Media Customer Service at Business Awards UK.

On the shortlist

The Customer Loyalty Award recognises businesses that turn customers into long-term advocates, and this year’s finalists were announced in July 2026. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be revealed at a ceremony at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London on 10 November 2026. More on the business can be found at crystalauras.com.

About British Gas

British Gas has been named a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Award at The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, shortlisted for British Gas Memberships, a programme the company says is designed to simplify home ownership through ongoing support, protection and value-added benefits.

The finalists were announced in July 2026, and the winners will be revealed at a ceremony at Grosvenor House, Park Lane, London on 10 November 2026. For British Gas, the shortlisting recognises a deliberate move beyond traditional energy supply into a broader service relationship with its customers.

From transactions to relationships

Operating in the UK energy and home services market, British Gas combines energy, servicing, repair and smart technology in a single subscription-led experience. According to the business, what sets the proposition apart is the integration of essential home services with personalised, membership-based benefits, shifting interactions from one-off transactions towards longer-term relationships.

The company reports that its engineer network, combined with digital innovation and data-driven insight, allows it to deliver convenience, peace of mind and proactive care. Memberships are built around real customer needs, it says, with bundled services, exclusive rewards and proactive maintenance intended to improve reliability, deepen engagement, increase retention and create a more predictable, resilient business model.

Free to join, built to keep

Details published on the British Gas website show that Membership is free to join and open to all British Gas customers, with a digital Membership Wallet giving access to member-only offers, savings on repairs and servicing, and regular competitions and giveaways. The site states the programme launched in 2025, and in summer 2026 the supplier was running a prize draw offering more than £24,000 in bill credits, including the chance for five members to have their energy paid for a full year. Members redeem offers through their online British Gas account, with help available by phone or live chat.

Scaling a new proposition

Among the achievements set out in its entry, the company points to the successful launch and scaling of the membership proposition, growing customer adoption of subscription-based services, and closer collaboration across product, digital, field operations and customer service teams, which it says has enabled faster innovation and improved service delivery, supported by targeted engagement strategies.

British Gas is part of Centrica, which describes the supplier on its corporate website as the UK’s leading energy and services company, providing gas, electricity and energy services to residential and small business customers. According to the business, the membership model is helping to lead a wider transition towards service-led, relationship-driven energy provision, delivering growth alongside meaningful differentiation in a rapidly evolving market.

British Gas now joins the other businesses shortlisted for The Customer Loyalty Award, which celebrates companies that turn consistently strong service into lasting customer relationships. The winners will be announced when The Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards returns to Grosvenor House on 10 November 2026.

About Product Marketing Alliance

The Alliance is a global, community-led ecosystem connecting senior leaders across functions to learn, share, and grow together. We deliver practitioner-led insights, peer-to-peer learning, and curated experiences that make leadership development more accessible, practical, and connected, enabling members to learn faster and create real impact within their organisations. Product Marketing Alliance  has been shortlisted for The Customer Loyalty Award.

About Everflow

Business utilities provider Everflow has been named a finalist in two categories at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, The Blick Rothenberg Mid-Market Growth Business of the Year Award and The Customer Loyalty Award, with the winners to be revealed at Grosvenor House, London on 10 November 2026.

Founded in 2015, Everflow supplies water, waste management and connectivity services to businesses, and now supports more than 120,000 customers across over 200,000 supply points, according to its awards entry. Its place on the shortlist for the mid-market growth category follows a period of rapid expansion, with the company reporting a 62% rise in turnover between 2023 and 2025.

Simplifying a crowded market

Everflow competes in Britain’s open business water market. According to Ofwat, the water regulator, more than 1.2 million businesses, charities and public sector bodies in England and Wales have been able to choose their supplier of water and wastewater retail services since the market opened in April 2017, making it the largest competitive water retail market in the world.

It is a sector many customers associate with complexity and frustrating service, and Everflow’s stated mission is to “make utilities simple” by pairing intuitive digital tools with proactive support and transparent value. The approach appears to have resonated. Over the past three years, the company reports, more than 25% of all business water switches have gone to Everflow, almost double the share of its nearest competitor, giving it 8% of the UK water retail market.

Betting on automation and AI

Technology sits at the centre of the growth story, with heavy investment in automation, AI and customer self-service. In 2025 Everflow launched Project Merlin, an AI-enabled knowledge platform that gives customer service teams instant access to operational information. According to the business, Merlin has cut case resolution times by 35% and significantly improved response times.

Customers manage their utilities through an online Customer Portal, while automated monitoring tools alert more than 2,000 customers each month to potential water leaks. In 2025 alone, the company says, the small businesses it supplies saved an average of 30% on their water bills.

A second shortlist for keeping customers

The strength of those relationships has earned Everflow a second nomination, as a finalist in The Customer Loyalty Award at the 2026 programme. The figures at the heart of that entry are the same ones underpinning its growth case: the business cites a 97% customer retention rate and a 4.7-star “Excellent” Trustpilot rating drawn from more than 6,000 reviews. In a sector where switching is easy and loyalty is hard won, Everflow argues that proactive service, from leak alerts to transparent pricing, is what persuades customers to stay year after year.

Growth with a green pledge

Commercial momentum has been matched by environmental commitments. Everflow says it was the first water retailer to pledge Net Zero by 2040, and it continues to invest in water efficiency, renewable energy and carbon reduction initiatives. In its entry, the business argues that this blend of innovation, sustainability and customer service has reset expectations of what a utilities provider can be.

Finalists for the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards were announced in July 2026. Everflow will discover whether either of its shortlistings converts into a win when the ceremony takes place in November.

About Carrington West

Carrington West is a specialist technical recruitment business operating across the UK's built environment. Founded 15 years ago with a simple ambition to be better, the business has grown to £85.1m turnover, placing permanent and contract professionals across the highways, infrastructure, water, nuclear, rail, town planning, property, buildings, and housing. Carrington West has been shortlisted for The Lloyds Outstanding Mid Market Business of the Year Award and The Employer of the Year Award.

About Fleximize

Fleximize is a multi-award-winning UK fintech lender dedicated to empowering SMEs with fast, flexible business loans. Headquartered in Ipswich, we've deployed over £650m to more than 11,000 businesses since 2014 – backed by a 100+ strong team, a 5-star Trustpilot rating, and a people-first culture that drives everything we do. Fleximize has been shortlisted for The Employer of the Year Award.

About Potentia Insight

Potentia Insight is an award-winning, UK-based digital market research agency that provides high-quality data collection, online surveys, and strategic insights. Founded in 2022, the London-based company specialises in both B2B and B2C audiences across 100+ countries. Potentia Insight has been shortlisted for The Employer of the Year Award.

About Paysafe

Paysafe is a global payments platform powering the experience economy, with a strong focus on the iGaming, video gaming, e-commerce, online trading, retail, travel and hospitality sectors. With 30 years of expertise in payment technology, Paysafe helps businesses and consumers lift every experience through seamless, secure payment solutions. Paysafe has been shortlisted for The Employer of the Year Award.

About JAT Stores

JAT Stores is an award-winning independent convenience retailer operating across South Wales. They are committed to exceptional customer service, employee development, innovation, and community engagement. Through responsible retailing, local partnerships, continuous investment in their people, high-quality food, and free home delivery across our villages and local communities, they thrive. JAT Stores has been shortlisted for The Employer of the Year Award.

About IFF Research

Established in 1965, IFF is an independent social research agency that helps government, businesses and third sector organisations make better informed decisions. Their collaborative and human-first culture is what makes them stand out to both employees and clients. IFF has been shortlisted for The Employer of the Year Award.

About Care First 24

Care First 24 is built on compassion, trust and the belief that people thrive when they feel valued. They invest deeply in their workforce, creating meaningful careers and delivering exceptional, person-centred care. Their teams bring skill, kindness and professionalism to every interaction, transforming outcomes for individuals, families and communities. Care First 24 has been shortlisted for The Employer of the Year Award.

About WRK Digital

WRK Digital deliver expertise that transforms how technology in businesses. As a UK-wide recruitment and consultancy partner, they connect exceptional talent with organisations to drive impact. Their vision: be the UK’s trusted tech partner, built on honesty, passion, care and focus, offering authentic, pragmatic, transparent, and responsive service every hiring journey. WRK Digital has been shortlisted for The Employer of the Year Award.

About Opinium

Opinium is an award-winning strategic insight agency, twice MRS Agency of the Year. With global offices, they deliver impactful, evidence-based insights that drive action. Combining robust methodologies, creativity, and AI, they help organisations navigate complexity, shape debate, and turn research, data, and insights into effective strategy and measurable outcomes. Opinium has been shortlisted for The Inclusion Award and The Employer of the Year Award.

About fulfilmentcrowd

fulfilmentcrowd is a tech-first, global fulfilment provider helping brands scale via a one partner, one platform approach to worldwide logistics. Combining powerful, in-house technology with long-term investment in people, fulfilmentcrowd has built an engaged, high-performing workforce that continuously delivers exceptional service, innovation and sustainable growth to over 250 brands worldwide. fulfilmentcrowd has been shortlisted for The Department for Business & Trade International Expansion of the Year Award and The Employer of the Year Award.

About HR Dept

HR Dept is a specialist outsourced HR consultancy supporting SMEs across London and Scotland. Founded and led by Olivia Flattery MCIPD, the business provides retained HR partnership to several clients, supporting employees across sectors including professional services, healthcare, hospitality, the rural economy and the third sector. Its model is deliberately practical: clients receive experienced HR support without the cost of building a full internal function. HR Dept has been shortlisted for The Employer of the Year Award.

About Apex Fostering

Apex Fostering, an independent fostering agency working across the East of England, has been named a finalist in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026. The agency recruits, trains and supports foster carers to provide safe, stable and nurturing homes where children who cannot live with their birth families can heal, grow and thrive.

Finalists were announced in July 2026, and the winners will be revealed at a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026. The shortlisting for The Purpose Beyond Profit Award follows a period in which the agency has built its case around a simple stated belief: when carers are supported, children do better.

Children shaping the service

According to the business, that belief informs every decision it makes, from carefully matching children with families to declining placements where it does not believe long-term outcomes will be positive, an approach it describes as putting purpose before short-term gain. Young people are not only supported by its services; the agency reports that they contribute to foster carer recruitment, influence training, improve organisational processes and play a meaningful role in the decisions that affect them.

Apex was founded by Sali Walker, who is both care-experienced and a foster carer, a combination the company says allows it to pair lived experience with professional expertise.

A national platform for care-experienced voices

Over the past 18 months, the agency’s philosophy has extended beyond its own walls. Apex launched File Not Found, a national art exhibition and competition for care-experienced young people staged at London’s OXO Tower Wharf Gallery. The initiative was developed with support from The Fostering Network, The Rees Foundation, The Share Foundation and Fatima Whitbread’s campaign supporting children and young people with care experience. Its aim, the company says, is to give care-experienced young people a platform to share their stories, challenge perceptions and influence conversations about the future of care. Details of the exhibition and competition are published on the Apex Fostering website.

Recognition and results

The business reports high foster carer retention and strong advocacy from its carers, and points to a Good rating from Ofsted, a shortlisting at the Children & Young People Now Awards and a Best Company Culture Award as external recognition of its culture. Ofsted’s records show that Apex Fostering Limited, based in Epping, Essex, registered as an independent fostering service in July 2021 and received its most recent full inspection in November 2024; the regulator publishes its inspection reports online.

Apex is one of the finalists competing across this year’s Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards programme. Whatever the result in November, the company says its focus remains the same: placing children at the centre of every decision to create better outcomes for young people, while helping to shape a stronger future for fostering across the UK.

About Cotswold Fayre

Speciality food wholesaler Cotswold Fayre has been shortlisted for The Purpose Beyond Profit Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, taking its place among the finalists announced in July ahead of the ceremony at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November.

The company was launched in 1999 after founder Paul Hargreaves became aware of how difficult independent retailers were finding it to source the growing variety of British speciality food for their stores. His answer was a one order, one delivery, one invoice service that significantly reduced the administrative burden on these growing shops and enabled them to stock a much wider range of interesting artisanal food products. The model also proved to be massively carbon reducing, the business says, and that benefit is now a much larger part of a company plan aiming for net zero by 2030.

An early British B Corp

Cotswold Fayre reports that it was one of the first B Corps to be certified in the UK, in 2015, and that by size it now sits in the top 2 per cent of UK B Corps. The company is listed in B Lab’s official directory of certified B Corporations. Since certifying, it has actively encouraged its suppliers to become more environmentally and socially responsible, and as of March 2026 more than 90 of them had achieved B Corp certification of their own, according to the business.

The wholesaler believes its impact and influence on suppliers have started to change the face of the wider food and drink sector. According to its awards entry, it supplies most of the best food stores in the UK and attracts many of the best brands as partners, and it argues that, partly as a result, consumers across the country are buying and eating better quality food than when it was founded, food that is better for them and better for the planet than 25 years ago. Its speciality and fine food wholesale website describes a business supplying independent retailers throughout the UK.

From wholesale into retail and hospitality

After more than two decades of supplying retailers, Cotswold Fayre opened its first retail and hospitality site, Flourish, situated between Bristol and Bath, in 2021. The company describes the venue as a huge asset, both for the gravitas it brings with customers and because running a consumer-facing operation has helped it develop its culture in a more tangible way. A second site, also in Somerset, opened in November 2024, and the business plans to grow its estate to five retail sites by 2030, by which time it expects to reach £100 million in revenue.

Cotswold Fayre now awaits the judges’ decision in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award, at this year’s British Business Excellence Awards, with the winners due to be revealed on 10 November 2026.

About EPIC Global Solutions

EPIC Global Solutions, an international education and consultancy business that helps organisations prevent gambling-related harm by drawing on lived experience, has been named a finalist in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

The finalist line-up was confirmed in July 2026, and the winners will be revealed at a ceremony at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026. For EPIC, founded in 2013, a place on the shortlist recognises more than a decade of work in a sensitive field, helping to reduce the harm that gambling can cause to individuals, teams and whole organisations.

Prevention built on lived experience

The business operates across the gambling, sport and education sectors, delivering learning and consultancy programmes that bring together first-hand storytelling, behavioural insight and evidence-led teaching. Its clients include leading global operators, sports organisations, educational institutions and governing bodies, united, the company says, by a shared commitment to building safer environments.

What sets EPIC apart, according to the business, is that its programmes are developed and delivered with people who have personally experienced gambling-related harm. That first-hand perspective, it reports, makes the learning credible, engaging and capable of influencing real-world decision-making, and has helped the firm establish a distinctive position in player protection and prevention.

From founder-led consultancy to 24 countries

Over the past decade, EPIC has grown from a founder-led consultancy into an international prevention and education business operating across 38 countries. During 2025, the company reports, it delivered programmes to more than 23,000 NCAA student-athletes and staff across 94 institutions, while its digital learning solutions reached 68,435 learners. Independent evaluation across multiple programmes has demonstrated significant improvements in awareness of gambling-related harm, confidence to seek support and understanding of integrity risks, according to the business.

The company’s website lists its head office in Wigan, Greater Manchester, and its newsroom reports that its ISO 9001 quality management certification has been renewed for a seventh consecutive year.

EPIC’s work sits against a backdrop of sustained public attention on gambling in Britain. The Gambling Commission’s Gambling Survey for Great Britain, which the regulator describes as one of the largest studies of gambling behaviour in the world, gathers data from around 20,000 respondents each year to track participation and the consequences of gambling. The survey is carried out for the regulator by the National Centre for Social Research in collaboration with the University of Glasgow.

The road to Grosvenor House

The Purpose Beyond Profit Award asks entrants to show how purpose has been brought to life across an organisation, and how a purpose-led approach has supported commercial success or social impact. According to the awards organisers, judges also consider how leadership supports and incentivises purpose, and how being purpose-led has helped a business attract and retain both customers and employees. EPIC now joins fellow finalists from across the country ahead of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards ceremony in November, where the winner in each category will be announced.

About Eternal Paws

Eternal Paws, a Cheshire veterinary practice specialising in palliative and end-of-life care for elderly pets, has been named a finalist in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Founded in 2017 by Dr Anita Bhanja, the practice was established in direct response to what she saw as the cold, clinical character of traditional veterinary environments, and it places the emotional wellbeing of pets and their owners at the heart of every decision.

Finalists were announced in July 2026, and winners will be revealed at a ceremony at Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London, on 10 November 2026. According to the awards organisers, the category celebrates businesses that put purpose before profit and prove that ethics, integrity and a social conscience can make commercial sense.

Care designed around pets and their owners

The practice takes a holistic, patient-centred approach. Dr Bhanja offers laser therapy, acupuncture, reiki and private, respectful cremation, a suite of services designed to minimise pain and maximise quality of life. An owner-inclusive theatre suite and a 24/7 home euthanasia service are intended to keep pets comfortable, settled and surrounded by love at their most vulnerable moments.

According to the practice’s website, Dr Bhanja qualified from the Royal Veterinary College in 1994 and is a member of the International Association of Animal Hospice and Palliative Care and the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, alongside almost three decades living and working in Cheshire.

Trust that travels

The company reports that its growth has been driven entirely by organic word of mouth, with families travelling from as far as Dubai to seek Dr Bhanja’s guidance. It also points to consistently outstanding five-star feedback, with clients highlighting the difference the service makes during traumatic transitions. One client, quoted in the firm’s awards entry, said: “Your help, love, support and spiritual guidance helped immensely with our grief after having to let our lovely dog go after 17 years.”

Purpose in a market shaped by corporate interests

Eternal Paws presents itself as a challenger in a sector dominated by corporate interests. That picture chimes with the work of the Competition and Markets Authority, which concluded its market investigation into veterinary services for household pets in 2026 and set out a package of reforms to how veterinary businesses operate.

Against that backdrop, the business says it reinvests profits into specialist facilities and is developing training programmes to share its palliative expertise more widely, an approach it believes leaves a legacy of compassionate care in the sector. That mix of day-to-day empathy and longer-term ambition helped secure its place on the shortlist for The Purpose Beyond Profit Award.

For Dr Bhanja, the argument put to the judges of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards is a straightforward one, according to the entry: when purpose is the foundation of a business, the result is not just commercial success but a transformative experience for everyone involved.

About Evac+Chair International

Evac+Chair International, the Solihull-based manufacturer known as the original maker of the evacuation chair, has been named a finalist in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

Founded in 1982, the company describes itself as the global leader in emergency evacuation solutions, with the aim that nobody is left behind in an emergency.

The Purpose Beyond Profit Award recognises businesses whose mission extends beyond the bottom line, and the company’s stated purpose is to enable the efficient and dignified evacuation and transfer of people with reduced mobility, temporary injuries, invisible disabilities and other access barriers.

British manufacturing, global reach

Headquartered in Solihull, Birmingham, the business designs and manufactures its products in the UK using locally sourced components. It reports offering the industry’s largest range of evacuation solutions, supplying manual and powered evacuation chairs, transfer chairs, evacuation mats and accessories through partners in more than 70 countries, complemented by training and maintenance services across the UK.

Its customers span every sector where buildings with stairs demand safe, compliant and inclusive evacuation, from healthcare, education and transport to workplaces, hospitality and public buildings. Alongside its products, the firm offers complimentary evacuation assessments, training and maintenance to help organisations meet their legislative responsibilities, including duties placed in England and Wales on the responsible person under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, published by legislation.gov.uk.

Innovation with inclusion in mind

Innovation remains central to the company’s claim to market leadership. In 2025 it launched Evac Xpert™, which it describes as the industry’s first digital evacuation assessment tool, helping organisations identify inclusive evacuation solutions. Its Evac+Power 1000H offers what the business reports is the world’s highest payload capacity for a powered evacuation chair, enabling the safe evacuation of a wider range of individuals while reducing manual handling. The Voyager® range supports dignified passenger transfer across aviation, maritime and rail environments. The company also cites its expertise, British manufacturing, award-winning research and development, customer-led innovation and quality assurance as the qualities that set it apart.

Purpose earning recognition

Beyond commercial success, the business says it is helping to shape inclusive emergency evacuation. Its award-winning Risky Business whitepaper highlighted gaps in evacuation planning, according to the company, raising awareness of inclusive emergency preparedness and the need for improved education and accountability. The firm reports that this commitment has driven growth, international expansion and high customer satisfaction, alongside accolades including West Midlands Medium Business of the Year and the Accessibility in Action award at the 2025 Birmingham Business Awards.

A finalist place at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards adds national recognition to that list. As the original manufacturer of the evacuation chair, the company says it sets the benchmark for inclusive emergency evacuation through pioneering innovation and a commitment to improving preparedness, helping people evacuate safely, efficiently and with dignity. Further details are available on the Evac+Chair website.

About Five Rivers

Five Rivers, a social enterprise working in England’s children’s social care sector, has been named a finalist in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Founded in 1989 with the aim of making real, lasting change in children’s lives, the organisation provides fostering, residential care and education services to around 1,300 children, many of whom have experienced abuse, neglect, trauma or family breakdown.

The shortlisting, announced in July 2026, recognises a business model built explicitly on purpose. As a social enterprise, Five Rivers reinvests a minimum of 51 per cent of its surplus back into services that directly benefit children and the people who care for them, according to the business. That reinvestment, it reports, allows it to go beyond statutory requirements by funding enhanced clinical provision, specialist training and additional support designed to improve outcomes for children.

Therapeutic support woven into daily care

Working in partnership with more than 100 local authorities, Five Rivers delivers integrated specialist support across fostering, residential, education and clinical services. At the centre of this model sits an embedded clinical approach known as attachment and trauma-informed care, or ATIC®, which underpins every aspect of the organisation’s work.

According to the business, this clinically informed practice means children are supported emotionally and therapeutically as well as practically. Carers, practitioners and educators are equipped to understand behaviour through a trauma lens, build trusting relationships and create the conditions for healing and growth as part of everyday practice, rather than as an optional extra.

Evidence that shapes the wider sector

Five Rivers describes itself as a research-led organisation. Its in-house clinical team generates evidence through practice, and its investment in clinical research and development includes work published in peer-reviewed journals, sharing learning that the organisation says continues to influence best practice across children’s social care.

The business also points to Investors in People Platinum accreditation, recognising excellence in leadership and people practices, and to all of its provision being rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted. Alongside these accolades, it highlights the ongoing outcomes achieved by the children it supports. The organisation’s website carries the strapline of turning children’s lives around, and states that it has been helping children rediscover their childhoods since 1989 from its base in Salisbury, Wiltshire.

A shortlist decided in November

Five Rivers now joins the other finalists in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award, a category that celebrates organisations demonstrating that social conscience and commercial success can go hand in hand. Winners across the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards programme will be revealed at a ceremony at Grosvenor House on Park Lane, London, on 10 November 2026.

For an organisation whose founding purpose still shapes its daily work nearly four decades on, the nomination places its commitment to purpose over profit on a national stage.

About Forensic Analytics

Forensic Analytics, a digital forensics business supporting law enforcement agencies around the world, has been named a finalist in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

The company provides software, hardware, training and specialist services that enable police to process and analyse complex communications data quickly, accurately and to evidential standards.

The shortlisting recognises a purpose-led approach to tackling serious crime, safeguarding victims and delivering justice more efficiently. Finalists were announced in July 2026, with winners to be revealed later this year.

From days to minutes

At the heart of the offer is CSAS, the company’s core software platform for the rapidly evolving digital policing market. According to the business, CSAS reduces the time taken to analyse large and increasingly complex volumes of data from days to minutes, enabling investigating officers and analysts to produce court-ready evidence at pace. The firm reports measurable impact across policing, including improved charge rates, shorter investigation timelines and significant cost savings.

Where many competitors offer software alone, Forensic Analytics pairs its technology with specialist expertise, City & Guilds accredited training, casework capabilities that are ISO 17025 accredited and compliant with the Forensic Science Regulator, and ongoing customer success support. The company says this end to end model positions it as a trusted partner to law enforcement rather than a vendor, and its work has contributed to nationally and internationally significant operations against county lines drug gangs, homicides and people smuggling. Details of its products, accredited courses and professional services are published on the Forensic Analytics website.

Recognition from the College of Policing

The clearest illustration of purpose in practice is Operation Atlas, a Metropolitan Police initiative supported by CSAS. According to the company, the operation increased charge rates for stalking and harassment from 12% to 66% and reduced case resolution times. With stalking and harassment sadly a precursor to an escalating pattern of violence, particularly against women and girls, the initiative has been recognised by the College of Policing as an exemplar of best practice. Operation Atlas also features in the College’s published practice bank on digital capabilities in stalking-related cases.

A pathway to national scale

Operation Atlas is proven and scaling within the Metropolitan Police, the business reports, and engagement is building across multiple UK forces, including Scotland, the Police Service of Northern Ireland and Thames Valley, supported by regional influence through Regional Organised Crime Units. That leaves the company credibly placed, with 6 to 9 forces engaged or influenced and a clear national expansion pathway taking shape.

With strong growth and an expanding international presence, Forensic Analytics says it continues to lead innovation in digital policing while delivering tangible societal impact. The company now joins the other finalists shortlisted for The Purpose Beyond Profit Award, part of the wider Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards programme, ahead of the ceremony at Grosvenor House on 10 November 2026.

About The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS)

The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland (MDDUS), a not-for-profit mutual defence organisation safeguarding the careers and wellbeing of more than 70,000 UK medical and dental professionals, has been named a finalist in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

For MDDUS, the shortlisting recognises a mission it has pursued for more than 120 years: to support and protect healthcare professionals throughout their career. Founded in 1902 and registered in Glasgow, according to its website, the mutual provides a safety net for clinicians facing complaints, investigations and negligence claims.

A safety net for professionals under strain

The pressures on the sector are stark. MDDUS reports that almost 15,000 members contacted it for advice in 2025, and it cites research indicating that 19% of health professionals had considered self-harm or suicide in the previous year, a finding it handles through what it describes as a life-changing service built around four customer promises.

Central to that service is a large in-house legal and advisory team, which the organisation says comprises 45 lawyers and more than 35 specialist advisers, including doctors and dentists, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. The aim, according to MDDUS, is to connect members instantly with an empathetic expert who can act swiftly and deliver peace of mind.

Influence beyond casework

MDDUS states it was the first organisation to sign the 2025 Medical Defence Organisations Voluntary Code of Practice, becoming a signatory on 6 January 2025 according to its own corporate governance pages. It also points to legal precedents it has secured, contributions to national debates such as assisted dying legislation, and work to mitigate emerging risks, most recently bespoke AI training for ethical practice.

The organisation says its internal culture mirrors that outward commitment, reporting industry-high employee engagement and staff development that includes Samaritans training, so that compassion is embedded at every level.

The road to Grosvenor House

Those themes sit at the heart of its entry for The Purpose Beyond Profit Award, one of the categories at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards. MDDUS says it supports members from the start of their career to retirement through proactive education, preventative resources and lobbying for robust protective laws, alongside a line of communication it believes might just save a life.

One doctor, quoted in the entry, put it simply: “Just to Say thank you for 44 yrs service. I have felt very well supported and well advised over the 4 decades.” Whether that career-long promise carries MDDUS to the trophy will be decided when the winners are unveiled at Grosvenor House this November.

About OXCCU

OXCCU, a University of Oxford spin-out that makes jet fuel from waste carbon, has been named a finalist in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The company’s case rests on a stark premise. Aviation is one of the hardest sectors to decarbonise, because long-haul flight cannot be electrified and needs a dense, drop-in liquid fuel. Today’s sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) is scarce and dominated by waste-oil HEFA, whose rising price, the business says, is drawing virgin food crops into the market. OXCCU’s route uses only waste-stream carbon, whether captured CO₂, forestry residues or biogas, so it never competes with land or food.

One step from CO₂ to jet fuel

Spun out from Oxford in 2021 and built on a decade of peer-reviewed research, OXCCU has patented a one-step catalytic process that converts CO₂ and green hydrogen directly into jet-fuel-range hydrocarbons, consolidating the conventional two-step Reverse Water Gas Shift and Fischer-Tropsch route into a single reaction. According to the business, independent techno-economic modelling indicates roughly 50% lower capital cost and about 25% lower fuel cost than conventional e-SAF, while its third-party-audited greenhouse gas model puts lifecycle carbon intensity at around 5.7 gCO₂e/MJ, about 94% below fossil jet fuel.

Purpose priced into the product

Central to the entry is the claim that purpose is built into the product, not bolted on. The founders deliberately chose the harder waste-carbon route over the easier crop- and waste-oil-based SAF that dominates today, the company says, because the business only works if emissions fall and food security is protected. Policy sharpens that alignment. The UK SAF Mandate, which the Department for Transport says starts in 2025 at 2% of UK jet fuel demand and rises to 10% in 2030 and 22% in 2040, pays more for lower-carbon fuel, so cutting emissions directly raises revenue. Mission and margin, in the company’s framing, are the same decision, which is precisely the logic The Purpose Beyond Profit Award exists to recognise.

From Oxford lab to airport demonstration

The company reports that OX1, its demonstration plant commissioned at London Oxford Airport in September 2024, is to its knowledge the world’s first single-step CO₂-to-jet demonstration plant, a milestone covered by the Financial Times, Reuters and The Times. OXCCU says it has raised around £41m of equity, including an oversubscribed £20.75m Series B in 2025 backed by IAG (British Airways) and Safran, plus £8.75m in non-dilutive UK grants. It has created 32 skilled jobs, records an employee net promoter score of 73, and welcomed His Majesty The King on a visit in 2025.

More on the technology is available on the OXCCU website, and the full 2026 shortlist can be found at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

About Principle Consulting

Principle Consulting, a not for profit social enterprise helping charities achieve change through policy, public affairs and creative campaigns, has been named a finalist in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award at the 2026 Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

The consultancy reached the shortlist announced in July 2026 and will learn the result at the ceremony at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026. According to its entry, purpose is its core business and every client engagement advances a vital social cause.

Built to widen access to influence

Principle was founded in 2005 to fill a gap in a market it describes as dominated by commercially-focused consultancies, where small charities often struggle to access strategic support. The business says it provides high impact advice at affordable rates to organisations with limited budgets, without compromising on quality. Since 2017 it has been formally structured as a registered social enterprise, permanently embedding purpose within its governance. According to its website, Principle Consulting is the trading name of Principle Affairs Ltd, company number 05467588.

Two decades of policy results

The entry highlights a 20-year partnership with The Hepatitis C Trust that secured Government commitment to the elimination of hepatitis C in the UK. NHS England said in December 2022 that the health service was on track to eliminate hepatitis C ahead of the World Health Organization’s 2030 global target. Principle also reports ensuring St John Ambulance secured £6.8 million in government funding to pivot to Covid support during the pandemic, securing the first ever NICE Quality Standard for rare diseases, transforming care for patients with 8,000 rare conditions, and securing a wide-ranging NHS review of the sickle cell care pathway, which resulted in new specialist NHS sickle cell centres across the country. The firm also coordinated the Children’s Charities Coalition campaign that won the PRCA Public Affairs Awards Consultancy Campaign of the Year.

Over 20 years, the business reports supporting more than 60 third sector organisations across 10 policy sectors, organising over 100 parliamentary events and producing 40 reports driving legislative change. It is a three-time winner of the Better Society Consultancy of the Year Award and an accredited Living Wage Employer.

Profits reinvested in people

Principle says it is deeply committed to co-producing policy solutions with people who have lived experience, ensuring those closest to the issues drive the change. The company reports reinvesting 100 per cent of its profits into subsidising its affordable rates and widening access to its sector for people of all backgrounds and life experiences. That includes an annual paid internship programme, which has funded seven internships since 2020, each followed by a year of post-placement mentorship, an investment of more than £110,000 of profits. It also funds a work experience partnership with Uxbridge College for students learning English as an additional language, now in its ninth year.

Principle now awaits the judges’ decision in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award, one of the categories at this year’s Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards.

About Royal British Veterans Enterprise (RBVE)

Royal British Veterans Enterprise (RBVE), the charity and social enterprise formerly known as Royal British Legion Industries, has been named a finalist in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The organisation creates paid, skilled employment for veterans and disabled people who are furthest from the labour market, then surrounds that employment with homes and community support so that independence lasts.

Its place among the finalists in The Purpose Beyond Profit Award, announced in July 2026, recognises a model in which inclusive employment is built into commercial delivery rather than layered on top of it. RBVE will learn the outcome alongside its fellow finalists at Grosvenor House in London on 10 November 2026.

Manufacturing at commercial pace

RBVE runs two commercial manufacturing businesses, Britain’s Bravest Manufacturing Company and Scotland’s Bravest Manufacturing Company, which produce more than 250,000 road, rail and commercial signs a year alongside print, embroidery and fulfilment services for clients including Network Rail and National Highways. More than 70 per cent of the paid workforce in these factories are veterans, disabled people, or both, according to the charity. It competes directly with mainstream manufacturing and fulfilment suppliers rather than operating in a sheltered or subsidised market, and says it chooses contracts for the jobs and progression they create, not simply the margin they return, with every commercial contract funding paid, supported employment.

A year of expansion

The organisation reports a run of milestones this year: planning permission secured for a new £15 million social enterprise factory with a dedicated Training Academy, a 60-year partnership with Network Rail, a National Highways Social Value Challenge that has grown to £1.6 million, and £7.5 million secured in donations and pledges to fund further growth. The charity, which traces its history to 1919 according to its website, adopted the RBVE name in November 2025, a change reported by Kent Online and reflected on the Charity Commission register, where it is listed as Royal British Veterans Enterprise Ltd, charity number 210063.

Measuring the social return

Independent evaluation cited in RBVE’s awards entry shows that every veteran who moves into paid work saves society at least £39,000 through reduced welfare costs and increased local spending, while the charity’s own measured social value from disability employment in its factories reached £2.4 million in 2025. Its employability programme, Lifeworks, reached more than 1,000 veterans and family members this year, with 80 per cent moving into paid work, training or volunteering within twelve months, most of them facing significant barriers including mental health conditions and physical disabilities.

The case RBVE puts before the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards judges is a simple one, the organisation says: as the business grows, so does the number of people it moves from exclusion into independent, paid work.

About Kelpi

Kelpi, the Bristol based sustainable materials company turning seaweed into an alternative to fossil-fuel plastics, has been named a finalist in The Social & Sustainable Impact Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

From its laboratories in Bristol, Kelpi has developed a seaweed-derived coating that enables paper, card and fibre packaging to replace conventional fossil-fuel plastics. Its proprietary biomaterial technology combines sustainably farmed seaweed with plant-based ingredients to create ultra-thin barrier coatings that, the company reports, deliver excellent resistance to water, oxygen, grease and acidic contents while remaining recyclable, biodegradable and free from microplastics.

Taking on polyethylene and PET

The company pairs scientific innovation with a firm commercial focus on the world's largest industrial users of plastic packaging. Its stated ambition is bold: to eliminate the need for fossil-fuel plastics in packaging without sacrificing performance. By combining materials science, close customer collaboration, rapid product development and a focus on cost, Kelpi is tackling one of the packaging sector's hardest problems, replacing plastic coatings with a sustainable alternative that matches or even exceeds the performance of polyethylene and PET, the two plastics most commonly used in packaging.

Kelpi is already working with some of the world's largest packaging users across food and drink, cosmetics, personal care and household products. Demand, the business says, is being accelerated by tightening regulations, ambitious corporate sustainability commitments and growing consumer expectations for environmentally responsible products.

Global brands sign up

In 2026 Kelpi was chosen for L'Oreal's 100 million euro L'Accelerator sustainability programme, one of the first 13 companies selected worldwide, an announcement confirmed through the beauty group's official newsroom in January 2026. The company has also been procured for development and innovation partnerships with Diageo, Unilever, SC Johnson and Holland & Barrett. In June 2026, as reported by Packaging Europe, Kelpi and global packaging manufacturer Amcor announced a partnership to integrate the seaweed-derived coatings into Amcor's fibre-based packaging portfolio.

What makes Kelpi unusual, according to the business, is its ability to combine pioneering sustainability with proven commercial performance, matching the functionality of plastic at a price point that engages large industry. That breakthrough has allowed it to move beyond scientific innovation and prove commercial viability with some of the world's most recognised brands. Kelpi is a certified B Corp, listed in the official B Lab directory with a B Impact score of 95, evidence for its conviction that pioneering science, commercial success and environmental impact can advance together rather than pulling in opposite directions.

A November date in London

Kelpi now contests The Social & Sustainable Impact Award alongside the category's other finalists. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About MTArt Agency

MTArt Agency, the London based artist talent agency founded by Marine Tanguy, has been named a finalist in The Social & Sustainable Impact Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The agency was built around a single conviction: that art should sit in the middle of everyday life, in streets, parks, hospitals and schools, where everyone can access it, rather than behind gallery doors.

The business argues that public art and visual storytelling help shape cities that are more inclusive, more democratic and more reflective of the communities they serve. Over the past 11 years the agency reports it has delivered more than 300 public art projects, work it describes as transforming the visual public realm from a site of passive consumption into a living infrastructure of community, culture and care.

Reclaiming the public realm

MTArt's case starts with a critique. The imagery filling shared spaces, it argues, is increasingly dominated by commercial interests, with streets, transport hubs and urban environments saturated by messaging that treats people primarily as consumers. According to the business, these messages often promote consumer debt or harmful beauty standards, deepening existing power dynamics rather than addressing challenges such as social cohesion and environmental sustainability. The company contends that advertisers profit from spaces that belong to everyone, while communities bear the social and environmental costs, from eroded local identity to declining wellbeing.

Art, the agency believes, changes this. Its answer is a participatory model that places community voices at the heart of decision making, fostering collaboration among artists, local authorities, cultural agencies, businesses, schools and civil society so that cities can co-create visual environments that celebrate shared values, reflect local histories and tell the authentic stories of their people. Public art, in this vision, becomes a catalyst for social and political renewal, challenging dominant commercial narratives while amplifying marginalised voices.

Credentials beyond the canvas

There is verifiable substance behind the mission. MTArt Agency appears in the official Certified B Corporation directory with a B Impact score of 93.5, and the company states it was the first in the UK art sector to gain B Corp status. Founder Marine Tanguy has also taken the argument to print: her book The Visual Detox was published in March 2024 by Square Peg, a Penguin Random House imprint, examining how the images we consume shape us.

The road to Grosvenor House

MTArt Agency now joins the other finalists contesting The Social & Sustainable Impact Award, a category recognising organisations that align profit with purpose across society, environment, economy and governance. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026, where the agency will discover whether its decade long campaign to democratise art earns one of UK business's most prestigious honours.

About Paysafe

Global payments platform Paysafe has been named a finalist in The Social & Sustainable Impact Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, recognition for a business that has spent three decades simplifying complex payments while building sustainability, financial inclusion and community impact into its strategy.

About Lyreco UK

Lyreco UK & Ireland, one of the country's leading distributors of workplace products and services, has been named a finalist in The Social & Sustainable Impact Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, recognition for a century old business that has made sustainability and social value central to how it trades.

Part of the global Lyreco Group, the company traces its heritage to 1926, when it began as a small family paper business in France. It has since grown into an international organisation operating across Europe and Asia, supplying businesses with essential workplace solutions. Today Lyreco UK & Ireland provides a comprehensive range spanning office supplies, facilities management, personal protective equipment and workplace essentials, combining strong digital capabilities with a logistics network that delivers next-day services to customers across both public and private sectors.

Sustainability embedded in the offer

Lyreco is widely recognised within its sector for operational excellence, customer service and strong supplier partnerships. It has also established itself as a leader in sustainability and social value, embedding responsible practices into sourcing, operations and customer solutions. That includes offering extensive ranges of environmentally responsible products, improving supply chain transparency and supporting customers in reducing their own environmental impact.

The credentials are externally validated. The Lyreco Group announced in 2025 that it had achieved the EcoVadis Platinum medal with a score of 86 out of 100, placing it in the top one per cent of companies assessed, according to the group's own newsroom. In the UK, the company's sustainability record includes one of the country's most significant corporate solar installations: its site reports 13,680 solar panels on the roof of its National Distribution Centre in Telford, paired with a large scale battery storage system.

People and communities

The company is equally committed to social impact, with a strong focus on inclusive employment practices, community engagement and ethical standards across its value chain. Its published commitments include corporate membership of the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower scheme and a signed Armed Forces Covenant, listed on gov.uk.

Through continuous innovation, customer-centric services and a responsible approach to business, Lyreco has built a reputation as a trusted, forward-thinking partner, playing a key role in shaping more sustainable and efficient workplaces across the UK and Ireland.

In the running for November

Lyreco UK & Ireland now joins the shortlist for The Social & Sustainable Impact Award, a category that recognises organisations aligning profit with purpose across society, environment, economy and governance. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026, where the distributor will learn whether a hundred years of heritage and a modern sustainability agenda add up to a win.

About EWI Store

EWI Store, a specialist supplier at the heart of the UK's home retrofit and energy efficiency market, has been named a finalist in The Social & Sustainable Impact Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

The business operates largely within the retrofit, social housing and energy efficiency markets, supporting contractors, housing providers, local authorities and installers across both public and private sectors. Its focus, the company says, is on nationally funded retrofit programmes, regulatory compliance and long-term building performance.

Supplying the decarbonisation agenda

EWI Store operates at the forefront of the UK's decarbonisation drive and reports active involvement in flagship government schemes including the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund, which helps properties move towards EPC Band C, and ECO4, the government energy efficiency obligation that requires larger energy suppliers to fund measures in eligible households. As one of the leading suppliers supporting ECO4 delivery, the company says it plays a critical role in enabling installers and managing agents to deliver compliant, fabric-first retrofit solutions that address fuel poverty, improve energy performance and reduce carbon emissions at scale. Case studies referenced in its annual social value report demonstrate what the business describes as tangible social impact, including reduced energy stress for vulnerable households, improved living conditions and durable, safe building upgrades.

Responsibility as a differentiator

What sets EWI Store apart, according to the company, is its commitment to conducting business responsibly. It runs supplier evaluations to ensure a responsible supply chain, sharing feedback with suppliers, while looking after staff wellbeing and giving back to the wider community through social value and charitable projects.

One initiative the team highlights with particular pride is its involvement in the Employer's Gateway at HMP Deerbolt, providing training to inmates nearing release. Three delegates went on to find employment in the external wall insulation industry after leaving prison. The company states that its responsible business practices are reinforced by a Silver Corporate Social Responsibility accreditation alongside ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 certification, demonstrating that ethical practice, environmental responsibility and social value are embedded in day-to-day operations rather than treated as standalone initiatives.

Other achievements cited by the business include recognised leadership in skills development and policy engagement, measurable reductions in operational carbon and support for award-winning low-energy housing outcomes. Whether litter-picking, woodland conservation, carbon reduction or working with the armed forces, EWI Store says it is always looking for ways to be part of solutions rather than problems.

Waiting on the winners

EWI Store now competes for The Social & Sustainable Impact Award against the category's other finalists. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About Berkeley Group

Berkeley Group, one of the UK's leading property developers and housebuilders, has been named a finalist in The Social & Sustainable Impact Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026, recognition for a business that has made brownfield regeneration and biodiversity central to how it builds.

Established in 1976, Berkeley Group delivers high-quality homes and large scale mixed-use communities across London, Birmingham and the South of England. Its key differentiator is its focus on brownfield regeneration, with the majority of its homes delivered on previously developed land. The company transforms these sites into sustainable neighbourhoods combining homes, public spaces, transport links, community facilities and commercial premises, with a strong emphasis on restoring nature, placemaking and stewarding long-term social, environmental and economic value.

Building where others will not

In the past year the business delivered 4,203 sustainable new homes with an emphasis on under-supplied regions of the UK, 90 per cent of them built on underused land within designated urban regeneration areas. Berkeley delivered some 10 per cent of all private and affordable homes built in London over the last five years, at a time when housing delivery in the capital, one of its core markets, has fallen to record lows.

The wider public contribution is substantial. The company reports that its projects contributed £530 million of investment in community infrastructure and benefits this year, along with £98.5 million in tax for public services. Few business models, it argues, deliver that level of public benefit.

Nature and climate commitments

Berkeley describes its approach to biodiversity net gain as industry leading, and its public record supports the claim: the company states it was the first UK homebuilder to commit to biodiversity net gain on every site, years before it became mandatory. According to the entry, 56 of its developments are delivering biodiversity net gain, creating more than 1,200 acres of new or substantially improved habitat. Its climate strategy has so far delivered more than 80 embodied carbon assessments to help drive down emissions, while 100 per cent of electricity across UK operations comes from renewable sources and 87 per cent of operational energy consumption is renewable.

The developer is widely recognised for a broad range of properties, from family homes and luxury apartments to senior living, urban mixed-use projects and, more recently, build-to-rent complexes. Its purpose is to build quality homes, strengthen communities and make a positive difference to people's lives, using sustained commercial success to make enduring contributions to society, the economy and the natural world, outcomes it credits to the passion and commitment of its people in the most challenging of market conditions.

The final furlong

Berkeley Group now competes for The Social & Sustainable Impact Award, with winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards announced at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About NOSY Creative Agency

NOSY Creative Agency, a purpose-led creative agency that has turned down more than £900,000 of work to protect its values, has been named a finalist in The Social & Sustainable Impact Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

NOSY provides strategy, branding, digital and content services, operating within the highly competitive creative sector and helping organisations tackle complex challenges across sustainability, technology, infrastructure, education and public services. Its core mission is to help these businesses communicate clearly, build trust and engage the audiences that matter most.

Purpose before profit, by the numbers

What differentiates NOSY from its competitors, the agency says, is an unwavering commitment to putting purpose before profit. The creative industry is facing significant disruption from AI, causing many traditional agencies to shrink. Against that trend NOSY has continued to grow, because clients actively seek the authentic purpose, ethical alignment and human connection that technology cannot replicate. Over the last three years the agency reports it has actively turned down over £900,000 of misaligned project work in order to build a resilient and ethical client base.

The commercial case for that discipline is visible in its results. After pivoting to a values-first model, NOSY recovered from a financial loss to achieve sustained profitability. Crucially, the business says it has decoupled financial growth from environmental harm, reducing its annual carbon emissions from 23.6 tonnes of CO2e to 18.46 tonnes.

Leading the fight against greenwash

Within its industry NOSY is leading the charge against misleading sustainability claims. The team developed the Greenwash Scorecard, a tool funded by Innovate UK to help businesses and consumers transparently navigate environmental communications, a project also documented on the agency's own site. It has introduced a rigorous client impact scoring methodology, ensuring that over 65 per cent of current clients actively drive environmental or social progress.

Beyond daily operations, NOSY is a Living Wage accredited employer paying over 20 per cent above the local average, and donates to environmental causes as a member of 1% for the Planet, a membership confirmed through its own reporting. Its award-winning work delivers tangible social value, including a recent Gold Award at the Smiley Charity Film Awards, a result listed by the awards organiser in April 2026, which directly secured £3,000 in vital funding for a local hospice.

NOSY, in its own words, proves that a creative agency can push boundaries, lead with principle and still achieve commercial success.

Eyes on the November ceremony

The agency now contests The Social & Sustainable Impact Award alongside businesses many times its size. Winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards will be announced at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About Osprey Charging Network

Osprey Charging Network, one of the UK's largest public rapid electric vehicle charging networks, has been named a finalist in The Social & Sustainable Impact Award at the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards 2026.

Osprey operates 1,500 high-powered chargepoints across 400 sites from John O'Groats to Land's End. The company designs, funds, builds and operates rapid and ultra-rapid charging infrastructure, refuelling thousands of EV drivers every day and powering every session with 100 per cent renewable electricity. It is the second largest public DC network in Great Britain.

Quality and inclusion over speed of rollout

Osprey operates in a fast-scaling market where, the company argues, rapid expansion too often comes at the expense of quality, reliability and inclusion. Osprey treats sustainability and accessibility not as features but as the foundation of a commercially robust business. It reports it was the first UK operator to adopt the PAS 1899 accessibility standards in its site designs, the first to partner with independent auditor ChargeSafe, and the first to integrate directly with the Motability Scheme to serve its fleet of more than 915,000 customers.

The company's proprietary Osprey Iris software platform, and its position as the first UK network to deploy dynamic load balancing, give it control over reliability and customer experience along with what it describes as the most comprehensive payment and roaming options of any UK network. A full Scope 1 to 3 carbon assessment underpins a data-led Carbon Reduction Plan reaching across the supply chain, not just its energy.

Growth backed by government money

The approach is delivering measurable results. Over the past 18 months, charging on the network avoided 52.4 million kg of tailpipe CO2 while energy delivered grew 35 per cent. Commercially, revenue rose from £12.7 million to £23 million across FY23 to FY25, a 158 per cent three year compound growth rate that earned tenth place in The Sunday Times 100 Tech. In 2025 the business secured a £110 million senior debt facility from four institutions including the UK Government's National Wealth Fund, which confirmed its £25 million share in July 2025.

Recognition has followed across the sector: NetZero Strategy of the Year at the 2025 Edie NetZero Awards, Fast Track Company of the Year at the 2025 UK Green Business Awards, and Charge Point Network of the Year at the EVIEs three years running. Osprey is also the only network to hold Zapmap's Driver Recommended badge, voted for by drivers, for six consecutive years.

The road to Park Lane

Osprey now competes for The Social & Sustainable Impact Award, with winners of the Lloyds British Business Excellence Awards announced at Grosvenor House, London, on 10 November 2026.

About Seedling

Seedling is a Bath-based carbon management platform helping small and mid-market businesses measure, reduce and report their carbon emissions with confidence. Combining intuitive software with one-to-one expert support, they guide businesses through full Scope 1-3 reporting and reduction aligned to the GHG Protocol. Trusted by 500+ businesses, 95%+ year-on-year retention.

Seedling has been shortlisted for The Social & Sustainable Impact Award.

About Belu Water

Belu is a purpose-driven water brand and social enterprise on a mission to change the way the world sees water. Founded in the UK, Belu supplies premium British mineral water in glass bottles, recycled rPET bottles, cans and water filtration systems to the hospitality sector and workplaces. Belu has been shortlisted for The Social & Sustainable Impact Award.