Category Archives: Awards

Awards, News

Mrs Buckét Receives Female-Led Growth Award at the Prestigious Wales Fast Growth 50 2023

Mrs Buckét, a standout leader in the commercial cleaning industry, has been officially recognised with the Female-Led Growth Award at the Wales Fast Growth 50 awards 2023. This award celebrates the female role models within our community by recognising the best female-led businesses that have appeared on the Fast Growth 50 since 1999.

The Wales Fast Growth 50 2023 awards was a celebration of the fifty fastest growing businesses in Wales that took place at the Utilita Arena in Cardiff on the 30th of November. This ceremony saw accolades awarded to the fastest growing firms in categories that ranged from Consumer Products, Financial Services, Recruitment, and Green, to name a few.

Mrs Buckét was founded in Swansea by Rachael Flanagan, then just 18, in 2005, and has since grown to employ over 400 staff, with a turnover of £7.5 million. The firm aims to surpass the £10.5 million mark by the end of 2024.

This year’s Fast Growth 50 has been a showcase of growth excellence, with Mrs Buckét one of eight companies recognised for exceptional female-led leadership in Wales. This award is testament to the company’s relentless pursuit of excellence, innovative strategies, and unwavering commitment to its customers.

30.11.23 – Fast Growth 50 Wales 2023, Utilita Arena, Cardiff 

Rachael Flanagan, CEO, Mrs Buckét, said:

“Receiving the Female-Led Growth Award is a tremendous honour for Mrs Buckét. From our humble beginnings in Swansea in 2005, we’ve strived to not only excel in the commercial cleaning industry but also to inspire and empower women in business. This recognition is a testament to the dedication and hard work of our entire team. As we continue to grow, we remain committed to our values of excellence, innovation, and customer satisfaction. I am proud of what we have achieved, and this award motivates us to reach even greater heights in the coming years.”

 

Dylan Jones Evans, Founder of Fast Growth 50, said:

 “After 25 years of the Wales Fast Growth 50, the performance of Mrs Buckét demonstrates that entrepreneurial businesses are still driving prosperity and growth across the nation whilst generating wealth and jobs in their local communities. Most important of all, their success stories will hopefully inspire others to follow a similar journey.

“With fifty Welsh firms generating nearly £600 million of additional turnover and creating over 2,000 new jobs between 2020 and 2022, this year’s list demonstrates yet again how innovation, enterprise and sheer hard work can make a real difference in all sectors from construction to financial services to technology.”

 

The Wales Fast Growth 50, an annual event, identifies and celebrates the fastest-growing businesses across Wales. It offers a unique platform for companies to gain recognition for their achievements and contributes significantly to the regional economy. The winners are selected based on their percentage revenue growth over the last two years, showcasing their ability to scale rapidly and sustainably.

Mrs Buckét’s win is a clear indication of its robust growth trajectory and its significant contribution to the Welsh economy. The company’s success story serves as an inspiration to emerging businesses in Wales and beyond.

For more information about Mrs Buckét, please visit https://www.mrs-bucket.co.uk/

 

About the Wales Fast Growth 50:

The Wales Fast Growth 50 is a highly respected index that tracks and recognises the 50 fastest-growing businesses in Wales based on their turnover growth over a two-year period. The programme is more than just an awards platform; it builds communities to support, celebrate, and champion entrepreneurs at various stages of their journey.

Apprenticeships, Awards, Education News, News from Wales

Educ8 Training wins ‘People-Led Growth’ award at Wales’ Fast 50

Educ8 Training Group has won special recognition for ‘People-Led Growth’ at Wales’ 25th anniversary Fast Growth 50 Awards event in Cardiff.

This news follows on from the company being placed 5th in the ‘Best Large Company to Work For in the UK’ awards, where Educ8 proudly celebrated yet another milestone – retaining its place in the top 5 for the 3rd consecutive year.

Celebrating 25 years and welcoming over 1,100 guests to the Utilita Arena in Cardiff, Wales’ Fast Growth 50 event marks the largest ever assembly of Welsh business talent, recognising the incredible achievements of the fastest growing businesses in Wales.

Since starting in 1999, Wales’ Fast Growth 50 have given a platform to businesses to gain recognition for their achievements and contributes significantly to the Welsh economy. As of this year, the Fast Growth 50 Index expanded its reach nationally, unveiling an extensive list highlighting the 50 fastest growing businesses across seven nations and regions of the UK.

Educ8 Training Group marked its inaugural invitation to the event this year, sharing the stage with AerFin, ALS People, CP Hire GB, FlyForm, Freshwater, Pro Steel Engineering Limited, Smart Solutions Group and Yolk Recruitment Ltd. Winners are chosen based on their turnover growth over a two-year period, recognising their ability to scale rapidly and sustainably. Sponsored by the Cardiff Capital Region, the ‘People-Led Growth’ award showcases Educ8’s people-led approach to phenomenal growth.

Grant Santos, Chief Executive at Educ8 said: “We are so proud to have won the special recognition for ‘People-Led Growth’ award. This is a superb achievement and recognises the substantial growth that we’ve have had over the last couple of years.

The award encapsulates who we are as a business. Our growth and success has, and will continue to be a result of the fantastic people who make Educ8 such a great place to work.”

This year Educ8 Training Group has gone from strength to strength and remains at the forefront of innovation in the sector. From launching their brand-new Energy and Carbon Management apprenticeship to help support the Welsh Government’s target of becoming a net zero nation by 2050, to pioneering Virtual Reality (VR) in hair salons across South Wales. Educ8 is dedicated to offering innovative programmes that empower individuals to excel in their role.

Jude Holloway, Managing Director at Educ8, added: “2023 has been a monumental year for us as a group and this award is a testament to our people and our values. This award recognises and celebrates all the hard work and dedication of our staff across the Educ8 Group.

Dylan Jones Evans, Founder of Fast Growth 50, said: “After 25 years of the Wales Fast Growth 50, the performance of Educ8 demonstrates that entrepreneurial businesses are still driving prosperity and growth across the nation whilst generating wealth and jobs in their local communities. Most important of all, their success stories will hopefully inspire others to follow a similar journey.

With fifty Welsh firms generating nearly £600 million of additional turnover and creating over 2,000 new jobs between 2020 and 2022, this year’s list demonstrates yet again how innovation, enterprise and sheer hard work can make a real difference in all sectors from construction to financial services to technology.”

If you’re interested in starting your journey with Educ8 Training Group, please visit www.educ8training.co.uk to discover the variety of qualifications and apprenticeships they have to offer.

Awards, Driving, News

Cargiant Triumphs at the Motor Trader Industry Awards 2023

Cargiant is proud to announce its recent triumph at the Motor Trader Industry Awards 2023, where the company was honoured to receive the “Used Car Retailer of the Year (100 Vehicles Plus)” award.

A spokesman for Cargiant said:

“This prestigious accolade marks a significant milestone in our journey, underscoring our unwavering commitment to excellence in the automotive retail industry.

“The award ceremony, which took place on November 22nd at the Grosvenor House Hotel, is a key event in the motor retail industry, recognising leaders in innovation and performance. Our success in this esteemed category demonstrates our commitment to offering a comprehensive range of high-quality vehicles and delivering superior customer service.

“Our path to this award has been marked by an unwavering focus on meeting and exceeding customer expectations, coupled with an in-depth understanding of the car retail market. Our extensive vehicle selection ensures that we meet the diverse needs of our customers, setting us apart in a competitive industry.”

The spokeman continued:

“This award is a reflection of the collective effort and dedication of the entire Cargiant team. Their commitment to providing a smooth and enjoyable car buying experience has not only earned us this prestigious recognition but also the continued trust and loyalty of our customers.

“In addition to our sales achievements, our dedication to customer care extends to after-sales service, ensuring ongoing support and assistance to our customers post-purchase. This holistic approach to car retailing solidifies our position as a leading figure in the industry.

“In summary, our recognition at the Motor Trader Industry Awards 2023 is a testament to our status as a leading used car retailer. Focused on quality, customer service, and a vast range of vehicles, we continue to set benchmarks in the automotive retail industry. We look forward to continuing our journey of providing our customers with exceptional choices, significant savings, and unparalleled service.”

 

Awards, News

Matthew Hayes wins Midlands Global Entrepreneur of the Year 2023 award – Great British Entrepreneur Awards

“Being a good entrepreneur always starts with a good idea and endless determination.

But ultimately, I put my success down to having a top-quality team behind me. Every successful business thrives due to having a hard-working and gifted team.”

MATTHEW Hayes, managing director of business growth consultant Champions (UK) plc, is celebrating being named as the Midlands Global Entrepreneur of the Year at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards.

Mr Hayes’ win is a recognition for his work leading Champions (UK) plc into becoming a major business growth partner based in the Midlands.

The business was started by Matthew and his father John Hayes 20 years ago, and specialises in being a strategy-led growth and implementation partner for businesses.

Matthew received his gong on November 20 at a ceremony in London which was attended by 1,500 exceptional entrepreneurs. Out of over 5000 hopeful applicants, a handful of the leading minds in UK business were selected as winners.

Judges recognised Matt for his work in boosting the growth of businesses in a wide range of industries from around the world.

Commenting on the win, Matthew said: “Winning any award is a satisfying moment of recognition and flattery. However, winning Entrepreneur of the Year is particularly special for me. Previous winner Steven Bartlett dubbed it as ‘the Grammys of entrepreneurship, and I completely agree.”

Discussing what he thinks it takes to be a high-level entrepreneur, Hayes explained: “Being a good entrepreneur always starts with a good idea and endless determination.

“But ultimately, I put my success down to having a top-quality team behind me. Every successful business thrives due to having a hard-working and gifted team.

“This award is for my team who have made me so proud over the last 20 years. I can’t thank them enough.”

 

Explaining how he measures his success via his clients’ success, Hayes added: “The real award for me will always be seeing the success of our clients. We’ve been business and growth partners to some incredible businesses over the last 20 years.

“Whether it be through increasing sales and revenue growth, helping them execute a successful investment round or exit, assisting them in growing and running their team, enabling technology innovation within their business or the range of other ways we boost our business partners’ success; the ultimate reward is seeing our clients thrive and grow.”

Awards, Healthcare Tech, Manchester, News, Technology

Former NHS Nurse Wins ‘Innovator of the Year’ at Women in Tech Awards

A Nurse turned health-tech founder who lives in Greater Manchester has won an award at this year’s Computing Women in Tech Excellence Awards.

The awards, in their seventh year, recognise top-performing women from across the technology space and play an important role in increasing diversity in tech across the UK.

Emma-Louise Fusari, 42, the founder of health-tech startup In-House Health, won the ‘Innovator of the Year’ award for developing her data-informed workplace health and wellbeing solutions and for her commitment to helping business leaders establish and eliminate the root cause of issues causing work-related ill-health.

Emma-Louise said, “I’m delighted and very proud to have won this award, especially as I was up against women from household-named businesses such as Lloyds Bank, Natwest, BT, Amazon Music and Transport for London. I would like to thank the judges for recognising that I’m changing the status quo of current workplace wellbeing and that there is a better way of working that will impact and improve health, productivity and economic outcomes.”

 

Having built a business that allows her to use her 21 years of nursing knowledge and experience in chronic disease management and public health promotion, Emma-Louise is enabling organisations to make a measurable impact on their people, performance and profits through her newly developed clinically led and evidence-based health and wellbeing risk audit and programmes.

 

“To be recognised for doing what I love, which is making a difference for those I have the pleasure of working with and supporting, is truly humbling. For others to see and share my vision is phenomenal too and to be acknowledged and celebrated in a prestigious tech award is also pretty cool,” added Emma-Louise.

 

Computing’s Women in Tech Excellence awards took place at Magazine London on Thursday 23rd November and received more than 3,000 nominations. At the ceremony guests were welcomed by international rugby star Maggie Alphonsi and the awards were hosted and presented by comedian Lucy Porter.

For a full list of those highly commended and the winners, visit https://womenintechexcellence.co.uk/womenintechexcellenceawards2023/en/page/2023-winners

 

Automotive, Awards, Commercial Vehicles, News, Vehicle Finance

Hawkstone Commercials named as “Start-up Entrepreneurs of the Year – Wales” at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards 2023.

Held Monday evening at the iconic Grosvenor Hotel in London with over 1,500 in attendance, Hawkstone Commercials secured the most prestigious business award in the UK in being named at Start-up Entrepreneurs of the Year.

Previous winner James Watt, founder of BrewDog, said that winning was “better than winning the World Cup.” Steven Bartlett has gone as far as to dub the awards as “The Grammys of Entrepreneurship,”

With a turnover approaching £20 million in the first eighteen months of trading, 14 fulltime employees on boarded and multiple awards success in 2023, Hawkstone is one of Wales’s trailblazing businesses.

Oliver Lewis, Co-director of Hawkstone Commercials said,

“The past 18 months have been a bit of a whirlwind. With a target of £150,000 and 2 fulltime employees, we have shattered all expectations. To win at the Great British Entrepreneur Awards is something we could only have dreamt of a few years ago. Winning this award signifies that we have done something unusual for a start-up, especially in the midst of the most difficult of economic headwinds.”

 

Paul Ricketts, Co-director says,

“As a team we are delighted to have won on Monday evening. However, Monday evening leaves the business at a crossroads. We’re going to take the final few weeks of the year to review the business and exactly where we are. It’s apparent to us that we are well on course to become THE van and commercial vehicle leasing agency in the UK. The question we need to answer is how far we progress; do we look outside of the UK towards Europe or beyond over the coming year or two.” 

With a stellar year behind Hawkstone Commercials and some big decisions on the horizon, 2024 is set to be a crucial year for the business.

 

Awards, Beauty, Hair and Beauty, News, Skin Care

You Beauty! Revive Active’s Collagen Super Supplement Lands Top UK Skincare Award

Revive Active, Ireland’s No1 Supplement Brand, is delighted to announce that Beauty Complex has been declared Winner of the Best Collagen Supplement in the prestigious Marie Claire UK Skin Awards 2023 – the industry’s original skin-only awards.

The Marie Claire UK team were joined by a panel of expert judges including dermatologists, facialists, doctors, journalists, sustainability champions and beauty experts who trialled and tested all products. The calibre of entries was outstanding this year, with the judging panel wishing Revive Active “Huge congratulations from the Marie Claire UK team”.

Beauty Complex was voted the stand-out category winner in the competitive Best Collagen Supplement category, with no Highly Commended product selected on this occasion, despite significant submissions. The announcement of Winners is highly anticipated, with millions of beauty lovers viewing it as the ultimate list of “must-have” beauty buys.

Revive Active was honoured to attend the virtual ceremony on Wednesday 22nd November to receive the Award. In addition, Beauty Complex is featured on a dedicated winners hub written by the beauty team on marieclaire.co.uk – reaching an 8.6m strong audience.

Nicola Fitzmaurice, Head of UK Marketing at Revive Active, comments, “We’re absolutely over the moon that Beauty Complex has been voted the Marie Claire UK Skin Awards Best Collagen Supplement for 2023. Since launching the product in the UK three years ago, this scientifically formulated super supplement has gained legions of beauty fans. We know that this ever-growing and loyal customer base love the product for its ability to nourish hair, skin and nails – in one handy, daily sachet. The success of the product is down not only to its superb formulation, with quality key ingredients working in synergy to deliver nutrients most effectively, but also its outstanding value for money. A truly premium product at a very affordable price point’

“Winning this Award is a team effort – from the expertise of our formulation team, and our supportive UK retailers and distributors, to our Brand Ambassadors, and of course, our customers. As the Marie Claire UK Collagen Supplement of the Year, we’re confident that Beauty Complex will go from strength to strength.” 

Beauty Complex is so much more than a collagen supplement, it is a super supplement that contains 7,000mg of Type 1 Hydrolyzed Marine Collagen Peptides, 100mg of Hyaluronic Acid, 10mg of Phytoceramides, three Vitamins (C, E, Biotin) and two minerals (Selenium, Copper) for all round nourishment and support of skin, hair and nails.

What makes it different to other products is not just its effective powdered delivery system and convenient sachets, it’s the powerful combination of eight scientifically selected active ingredients that work in synergy for optimum benefits. To match the ingredients in one sachet of Beauty Complex, you would need to take 19 regular size capsules.

Beauty Complex’s formulation was developed to compensate for declining Collagen, Ceramides and Hyaluronic Acid in the body and for those who want to support their skin, hair, and nails.

RRP:  £49.95 for 30 daily sachets available at www.reviveactive.com

Also available at selected Holland & Barrett stores, Well Pharmacies, Revital, Wholefoods plus many independent health stores and pharmacies.

Awards, News, Waste and Recycling

Forward triumphs, securing prestigious National Recycling Award

Leading Welsh environmental services specialist, Forward, has clinched a coveted National Recycling Award.

Forward emerged victorious in the Employee Training and Skills category at the ceremony in London on 16 November, the largest and most prestigious event in the recycling and resource management sector calendar.

Forward beat the competition thanks to its ‘bringing values to life’ project, set to reaffirm the company’s five core values: trust, preparation, thoroughness, creativity, and persistence. Over the past twelve months, Forward has actively revitalised these values, aligning them with the evolving work landscape post-Covid, inspiring existing team members and guiding new recruits.

Judges commented that “Not many organisations take the time and effort to instil their values, so it was excellent to see this business lead with and reinforce its values. The re-induction process was a key and valuable element to the success of this initiative”.

 

Lyndon Ward, the Founder and CEO at Forward, said: “Winning the National Recycling Award in the Employee Training and Skills category is a tremendous honour for Forward. This achievement underscores our dedication to excellence and innovation in environmental services.

“I am genuinely pleased that our ‘bring values to life’ initiative has not only been recognised but celebrated for its impact on our positive workplace culture. This accolade is a testament to the hard work and commitment of our team, and we are excited to continue making a positive impact in the recycling and resource management sector.”

 

Forward is the trading name of Forward Waste Management Limited, a Welsh environmental services specialist established in 2006, providing total waste management solutions for the manufacturing industry. The company also owns subsidiary Enviroquip, which was formed in 1998 and manufactures compactors, balers, containers and other handling equipment for waste and recycling applications across the UK. Enviroquip is the largest manufacturer and fabricator of waste handling equipment in Wales.

 

Automotive, Automotive Tech, Awards, Driving, Driving Tech, Health & Safety

Pocket Box Scoops Northern Ireland Road Safety Award for Fleet Technology Innovation

Pocket Box, the vehicle and driver management software specialist, was a winner at the Northern Ireland Road Safety Awards. The company received the business category for the development of innovative fleet technology applications that are helping vehicle operators to improve road safety, protect drivers and enhance compliance.

“Our cloud-based software is focused on optimising road safety by creating a holistic fleet ecosystem that ensures vehicles are kept road legal and safe, while staff are fit and eligible to drive,” explains Jim Finnegan, CEO of Pocket Box Ltd. “We are delighted to gain this this award from Road Safe NI, which is recognition for the progress we have made this year and the commitment of our entire team.”

 

Pocket Box Fleet is web-and app-based management tool that is designed to streamline fleet-related tasks for both businesses and drivers, providing a simple way to maintain compliance, reduce risk and save time and money. Launched at the end of 2022, the company is on track to reach over 5,000 managed vehicles on the system this year, with an exciting roadmap of future enhancements and integrations with complementary fleet technologies and applications planned.

The Northern Ireland Road Safety Awards, organised by Road Safe NI, took place at Cultra Manor in Holywood. A total of 14 awards were presented to individuals, organisations and special projects from across the voluntary, education, emergency service, public and business sectors, recognising their contribution to helping improve road safety in their communities. This year’s event was hosted by broadcaster and journalist, Frank Mitchell, and supported by headline sponsor, CRASH Services.

 

David Jackson, Chairperson of Road Safe NI, commented: “Pocket Box has made giant strides in the past 12 months, developing safety and compliance tools that are already benefitting many thousands of individual consumers and commercial fleet users. We are thrilled to celebrate their success that is making such a contribution to road safety in Northern Ireland, and which makes this award richly deserved.”

Awards, Disaster Recovery and Business Continuity, News, Tech

11:11 Systems Recognised as an Aspiring Provider in the 2023 Gartner Peer Insights™ Voice of the Customer for Disaster Recovery as a Service

11:11 Systems (“11:11”), a managed infrastructure solutions provider, was named an Aspiring provider in the 2023 Gartner Peer Insights™ Voice of the Customer for Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) report.

11:11 Systems is one of seven companies included. Customers lauded the organisation for its exceptional commitment, noting they are an “outstanding team dedicated to our account, and these specialists are top of their game.” 

The dependability and consistent positive outcomes of 11:11 Systems’ offerings earned them widespread acclaim, with reviews highlighting the “very reliable DRaaS solution that has managed to deliver excellent outcomes over the past years.” Clients also praised 11:11 Systems for its expertise and ongoing support, emphasising that “they know their products very well and they continue to provide exceptional support after implementation.” 

“We believe our inclusion in the ‘Voice of the Customer’ report reaffirms our strategy and commitment to pushing the boundaries in DRaaS innovation while maintaining our customer-first approach,” said Kaushik Ray, chief experience officer at 11:11 Systems. “We believe this acknowledgment reflects our customers’ trust in our solutions and the tangible impacts we have made in their businesses. We’re not just a vendor but a partner in our clients’ accomplishments.” 

11:11 Systems’ broad DRaaS offerings are designed to protect businesses from unplanned downtime and meet diverse recovery requirements. 11:11’s industry-leading solutions provide reliable, end-to-end protection of workloads running on the customer’s premises or in AWS and Azure cloud environments that leverage AWS, Veeam and Zerto technology. Whether facing cybercrime, natural disasters, hardware failure or any unplanned incident, 11:11 Systems ensures a speedy and successful recovery, safeguarding businesses’ operational continuity. 

Gartner Peer Insights is a respected platform that collects and curates unbiased reviews and ratings from IT professionals, offering invaluable insights into various IT software and services. Its comprehensive “Voice of the Customer” report distils real-world client experiences and feedback, playing an instrumental role in aiding purchase decisions across the technology spectrum.  

Gartner, Voice of the Customer for Disaster Recovery as a Service, Peer Contributors, 31 October 2023 

Gartner® and Peer Insights™ are trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Gartner® Peer InsightsTM content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences, and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. 

ABOUT 11:11 SYSTEMS 

11:11 Systems is a managed infrastructure solutions provider that holistically addresses the challenges of next-generation managed cloud, connectivity and security requirements. The 11:11 model empowers customers and partners to “Rethink Connected,” which includes integrated services that deliver increased performance, optimisation and savings. Learn more at 1111Systems.com.