We’d like to offer a huge congratulations to FIVE of our members who have been shortlisted as finalists at the Wales Start Up Awards! Well done to Big Lemon Creative, Youth Development Agency, Signum Health, Peak Performance Fitness Solutions and Happus. The Awards will recognise the outstanding achievements of start-ups in the Welsh economy.
The Wales Start-Up awards are a little different to other ceremonies in Wales. Gone is the usual black tie approach and instead they are held in an informal setting at the award-winning Depot in Cardiff, an entrepreneurial start-up business where guests can enjoy street food and craft beer.
Big Lemon Creative have been shortlisted for Creative Start-up of the Year. This award recognises those start-ups that are operating in the highly important creative sector. Co-founder, Owen Richards was thrilled to be shortlisted and said:
“We’re super excited to have been shortlisted for Creative Start-Up of the Year at the second annual Wales Start Up Awards.
Over the last year we’ve worked super hard on fun and creative client projects with businesses including brewery Tomos Watkin, the University of Trinity St David and fellow ICE members Impact School Improvement, and we’ve been lucky enough to run a side hustle in the form of Boma Camp.
We’re really happy to be recognised for all the late nights, multiple coffees and stressful hours we’ve put in – plus, who doesn’t love an awards ceremony?”
Youth Development Agency are finalists in the Global Start-up of the Year category. This award is for those ‘born global‘ start-ups who have been trading internationally since the business was established. Founder, David Williams said:
“As an entrepreneur it’s sometimes difficult to look up from the day to day and work to promote and look for recognition for your work. That’s why being part of a community like Welsh ICE is so important, without the reminder and encouragement we would never have entered the Wales Start-up Awards. Now we have been short listed for Best Global Start-up and we are so excited!”
Meanwhile, Signum Health have been shortlisted for Life Sciences Start-up of the Year, an award open to any start-up based in the life sciences industry in Wales and operating in sectors such as medical technology, medical biotech, pharmaceutical and diagnostics.
Happus have been named a finalist for Retail Start-up of the Year. This award is open to any start-up based in the retail sector in Wales, including both those with a shop front and trading online.
And Peak Performance Fitness Solutions have been shortlisted for Services Start-up of the Year. This award is open to any start up operating in the business-to-business, or business-to-customer services industry in Wales. Managing Director Lewis Peach said:
“We are delighted to be have been shortlisted for the award, we have a fantastic team that have all worked incredibly hard to get us to this point. Hopefully we can go onto win the award.”
On the awards, Welsh ICE CEO, Gareth Jones said:
“The start-up scene in Wales has changed radically over the course of the last five years. Highlighting the winners of these awards has helped bring investment into the area, and puts Wales and Welsh businesses on an international stage. Being shortlisted puts you in great company, and winning can be the difference that gets you through the right doors.”
The Wales Start Up Awards will be held on Friday 15th September 2017 at 6:30pm. You can view the full shortlist here.