Cheshire’s trailblazing new businesses to fly flag for region in LEP-backed start-up awards

Trailblazing new businesses from across Cheshire today find themselves in the running for a prestigious award backed by the region’s LEP.

Judges including Paul Chapman who heads up Cheshire and Warrington LEP’s Growth Hub have shortlisted five incredible Cheshire StartUp of The Year finalists who range from an eco-friendly stationery store to a “fast and friendly” junk removal specialist have been shortlisted.

The winner will be announced on Thursday, May 25 at the North West final of the 'The StartUp Awards which attracted 3,000 entries this year and recognise the achievements of people who had a great idea, spotted the opportunity and took the risks to launch a new product or service.

Applicants had to make their cases by telling judges everything from what makes their businesses special and stand-out from the crowd, challenges they overcame, what inspired the business launch and “what problems it strives to solve and the solutions it offers”.

The five shortlisted for Cheshire StartUp of the year at the The North West StartUp Awards are: The five shortlisted for Cheshire StartUp of the year at the The North West StartUp Awards are:

• The Little Green Paper Shop which describes itself on its website as “an eco-friendly stationery store aimed at reducing waste in the industry. We make greeting cards, wedding invitations, business cards and custom prints on a range of tree free and eco-friendly cardstock.”
  Judges were told the Sandbach-based company “addresses the problem of waste in the greeting card, business stationery and packaging industries by providing businesses of all sizes with sustainable alternatives.”
  It is also shortlisted in the Online Retail StartUp of the Year category.

• Monster Junk, whose HQ is in Cranage is also shortlisted with its entry revealing it “is the fast and friendly household junk clearance specialist. It reuses or recycles at least 96% of what it collects, diverting it from landfill. It can collect anything from a cardboard box to a grand piano - just point and it’s gone!”
  The business is also shortlisted in the Consumer Services of the Year category.
• Also shortlisted is HACE: Data Changing Child Labour after judges heard the Knutsford-listed company “provides data-driven insights to help companies address the root causes of child labour in their supply chains. Using AI, they have created community data sets that provide unprecedented visibility into sourcing communities.”
  It is also a finalist in theTechnology Services StartUp of the Year category.
• Chester-based Moda PR are also in the running with judges told it is “driven by a passion for creating extraordinary work with meaning. It has developed a niche for working with celebrities and leaders who are driving a positive change in the world. Each client is seamlessly managed by tapping into our wealth of experience, industry insight and exceptional relationships”.
  The business is also a finalist in the Marketing and PR StartUp of the. Year category.
• And also shortlisted is Sandbach-based Duncan Edward Photography with judges told its work “is a celebration of lives and love in all their splendour and variety. Duncan is a proponent of photography that celebrates beautiful, unscripted moments and spontaneity.” The business is also shortlisted in the Creative StartUp of the Year category.

Cheshire and Warrington LEP’s Growth Hub, which provides bespoke support to businesses of any size and sector at every stage of their growth journey, is among those officially backing this year’s awards.

And Growth Hub Manager Paul Chapman said judging the Cheshire StartUp award was no easy task.

“Cheshire and Warrington are home to some of the finest entrepreneurs in the UK, so it was no surprise to see the incredibly high quality of entrants. Congratulations to all those shortlisted, I was blown away by their drive and ambition to offer something unique and they are truly trailblazing businesses.”

The StartUp Awards is a collaboration between the founders of the Great British Entrepreneur Awards - an established national programme receiving over 5,000 applications annually - and the Wales Start-Up Awards, the only national and regional awards currently celebrating new businesses in the UK.

The StartUp Awards recognises the achievements of amazing individuals who have had a great idea, spotted the opportunity and taken the risks to launch a new product or service.

The North West final takes place at Camp & Furnace, Liverpool on Thursday, May 25.

The  Local Enterprise Partnership the growth of the Cheshire and Warrington economy through a powerful partnership between the private, public, and voluntary sectors.

The Local Enterprise Partnership Board sets strategic direction for the economic development of Cheshire and Warrington. This is based on an objective assessment of the region’s opportunities and challenges. 

The LEP is supporting the Leaders' board with the charter consultation.

As an organisation Cheshire and Warrington LEP listens to the needs of businesses and communities. It wants to build connections with any organisation and individual in Cheshire and Warrington who is prepared to help improve the local economy.

We also work closely with partners across the Northern Powerhouse. We are proud of our ability to make things happen. Over recent years we have invested over £200 million of Local Growth Funding. We provide advice and support for businesses through our Growth Hub; improve skills and training in partnership with schools, colleges, and the University of Chester; and promote the region as a great place to live, work, invest, visit, meet and study through Marketing Cheshire.