App55 wins technology award

APP55,the fledgling online payments business based in Salford Quays, has picked up an award for Best eCommerce Payment Innovation at the eCommerce Awards for Excellence in London.

The award was for App55’s Card Hub system, which allows users to pay with a single password using any computer, smartphone or tablet.

The white-label system means card details are stored securely and consumers can pay retailers from inside their own-branded payment pages.

App55’s CEO Richard Beaton said: “We are thrilled to receive this prestigious award as recognition from the industry of our Card Hub product.

“Being a new company, we are extremely proud to share the winners’ stage with retail giants such as John Lewis and ASOS. This award confirms that industry experts share our ideas on how mobile payments will develop and that Card Hub is a game-changer for online retailers”.

Meanwhile, the company has also secured a £50,000 loan from Business Finance Solutions – a small loans provider run by Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce.

The loan was provided as part of a package to help with the costs of bringing App55 to market.

Paul Breen, fund manager at Business Finance Solutions, said: “We are really pleased to be able to assist such an innovative company with their expansion.

“App55 Ltd received a loan from our ERDF priority two fund, which has to be allocated to companies within the technology sector.

“They were also able to produce a viable business plan and could prove that they had been rejected in part or whole by mainstream lenders, such as banks or building societies.

“We still have some priority two funds available, so urge businesses within the technology field to get in touch if they are seeking a loan.”  

Business Finance Solutions provides loans of between £3,000 and £50,000 to businesses based in Manchester, Salford, Stockport, Trafford, Tameside and Cheshire. So far, it has provided loans worth over £5.7million.