New awards for start-up businesses in Shropshire

 Leading consultancy Good2Great, who have now helped around 2,000 new enterprises in the county and neighbouring areas over the last decade, are behind the initiative, 

Eddie Allan of the Bridgnorth-based firm, said: "We have overseen the development of so many fledgling companies that we decided it was time to recognise their achievements.

“We received over 60 nominations for this new award scheme and were very impressed with the quality and level of detail, effort and time taken by the entrants to complete.

“We have loved reading the business journeys and stories, and after a lot of soul searching have now shortlisted the finalists for each category."

The Good2Great Start-Up Awards will be presented as part of the Shropshire Business Festival on March 6 2025 at Telford International Centre.

The categories and finalists are:  Service-based new business: Aliya Hussain, Skills Tuition Centre Ltd; Claire Hughes, Noah's Ark Childminding; Gina Saunders; G S Hypnotherapy, Jim Prescott, Allsports Coaches Coaching Academy CIC; Rob Griffiths, Blue Orchid Recruitment; Veronica Williams, Veronica Williams Counselling. 

Creative new business: Nina Finch, Running Wild Pottery; Kaye Heseltine, Kaye Heseltine Design; Lucy Caddel, Shropshire Tropicalia; Mel Fullerton, Silverlicious Artisan Jewellery.

Product-based new business: Kate Coady, Heartwood of Bridgnorth; Lucy Harper, A Taste of Heaven; Samantha Pallen, Sammy’s Sweet Shop; Suzanne Welland, The Brewood Pie Company.

Social/environmental impact: Aliya Hussain, Skills Tuition Centre Ltd; Keli King, The Little Green Pantry; Roxy Frances, Aurora’s Destination; John Franklin-Hackett, Frankly Farm Tours.

The start-up champion 2024: Claire Hughes, Noah's Ark Childminding; Keli King, The Little Green Pantry; Roxy Frances, Aurora’s Destination; Marieta Yaneva-Poole, Holiday Creations; Raj Findlay, Zeng Solutions Ltd.