North West Business Masters: The Innovators

FIVE leading businesses, behind some truly ground-breaking products, will contest the North West Innovator category at this year’s coveted North West Business Masters awards.

The category, sponsored by Barclays Corporate, has attracted entrants from a wide range of sectors that have tackled new markets and pioneered fresh ways of working.

Our shortlist includes businesses that have pushed the boundaries in the fields of energy, telecoms, specialist foods, legal services, and even the way white lines are marked on sports fields.

Winners will be announced at on April 7 at a high profile awards lunch at The Point at Lancashire County Cricket Club.

Linemark has come up with a new way of marking sports pitches with white lines that uses a fraction of the water and gives better results. The firm, based in Rawtenstall, was set up by Tony Holt who has devised a unique paint – a ready-to-use concentrate – that needs no additional water. It has rapidly become a best seller in the UK and has already won product innovation awards, winning the support of local authorities and Premiership clubs such as Everton and Sunderland. The family-owned firm has enjoyed success with international sales, and exports have grown by 275% since the product first went on sale in 2008.

Vphase,  led by Rick Smith, has set out its stall as a key player in the push for a low carbon economy. The AIM-listed company, which is based in Chester, has developed a voltage management system that reduces and regulates incoming power and could save around 10% of a household’s power. The firm has been conducting trials with social housing providers and utilities companies and believes the technology should be used in all 27 million homes in the UK.

Food specialist Nutrition Point – recently rebranded as Dr Schar UK to reflect its ownership by the Italian food business – has pioneered a range of gluten and wheat-free products. Set up in 1998 by Chris Hook, who was frustrated by the lack of choice available to his wheat intolerant wife and son, the firm’s range includes pizzas, pies, sausage rolls and pasta under the ‘DS’ brand. Mr Hook sold to Dr Schar in 2002 and the Warrington business is now led by Bob Trice.

Elite Telecom specialises in the design and build of bespoke telecoms solutions to meet specific client needs. The company is not tied to one particular network or telecoms carrier, which allows it to offer a  range of products and services which include network interactive voice response, internet calls, queueing technology and video conferencing. Chief executive Matt Newing says one of the firm’s latest innovations is a technology that allocates customers an estimated waiting time at busy periods, after which they can call back and retake their place at the front of the queue without having to stay on the line.

Bolton-based Premex Services describes itself as the UK’s largest independent provider of medical reports and rehabilitation services used to assist in resolving cliams in relation to personal injury. It is owned by founders Bill Clynes, pictured, and Simon Margolis – the company’s MD and chief executive – and now employs around 250 people. It has adapted to Government reforms concerning the length of time dedicated to personal injury claims by developing an online system which allows insurers and solicitors to identify and book medical experts.

Click here to cast your votes for The North West Business Masters. See the candidates for NW Advisor, NW Ambassador and NW Grit by clicking on the link.